Hmmmm....no replies yet, so I looked at some other mopar forum sites and came across some info from others on my own. I hope it's OK if I post this here for you all to read and provide feedback. Read this and let me know your verdict. Since my car is not going to be an autocross car and is meant to be a well handling street car with once a year trips to the drag strip since it's a 2hr drive for me, I'm thinking I should stick with the stock shackles.
Agree or disagree?
According to an Afco white paper:
"The angle of the shackle can stiffen or soften a spring's normal rate. The AFCO leaf spring sliders eliminate the up and down movement of the rear spring eye caused by shackles moving through their arcs during suspension travel. Consequently, the rear suspension's loading points displace less during suspension movement. Sliders, depending on their installed angle, generally reduce the shackle effect and provide more consistent spring rates than shackles. . . Since sliders are usually more rigid than shackles, they have less tendency to bind laterally during cornering. In general, sliders improve the handling consistency and predictability of leaf spring equipped race cars."
From Moparts forum:
It allows it to sit 1/2 to 3/4" lower in the rear which is what I wanted. Only difference I noticed is on the street they pop at times when I turn sharp but I have a Dana with a spool. If you install them make sure to have the slide bolt set 3/4 of the way to the rear with the weight of the car on them or they will bottom out during the launch as the spring arches.
The sliders were designed for circle track cars so I really dont see how they are a gimmick
I'm not sure how long the slot is in these sliders are, but if they ever bottom out the slot during chassis rise, the spring becomes solid and will unload the rear tire, much like having rear shocks that are too short.
The slot is around 4 inches,maybe longer, I think. Mine have never bottomed out on compression or rise.
This is true but this is also where good shocks come
in to play. The reason I dont care for sliders is
that if they get dirt and crap into them they can
and will bind up throwing the chassis off
I have them in my car
Put them in this year
Didn't notice any difference other then lowering the car in the rear
Sliders may help in some combos, and are high techno looking. But shackles really work just fine, IMO and are also better in some/Most combos. But there are the exceptions!
Me talking again - hope to hear from anyone else, especially if they've installed AFCO sliders and wish they hadn't.
