Slider boxes, in front?

XJsavage

XJsavage

CounterCulture
Joined
Aug 15, 2009
Location
Lyle's Ford SC
Since leaf spring slider boxes have been around the off-road world for quite some time now, I'm sure most folks have seen them on the trail and may have even owned a set. This next rig I build will not be a buggy like the last rig was, but rather a simpler, more comfortable functional rig but still packing LS power and will still get a set one tons. I'm wanting to keep it leaf spring f/r for now and stick with a combination I had years ago and loved, which was stock YJ springs up front and XJ leafs in the rear. Most slider box applications I've seen in person or elsewhere have been in the rear of a vehicle. Makes sense. But how would they work in the front, with factory jeep spring configuration and SOA, and is there a reason nobody runs them there? I'll be out boarding my front springs to accommodate for the Superduty 60 38" spring pad location so steering box clearance won't be an issue that I can foresee. Is there any reason not to use them for this?
 
And dangit.. Meant to land this in the other tech section
 
@HAPPY has them on the front of his J truck with tons. @BUCKEYE PERFORMANCE INC. made the sliders and built the rig. I am not sure what springs are on it. They seem to work perfectly. Maybe they will chime in with more details.

I almost put a set on my SOA shackle reversed Cruiser, but had some free shackles that I used instead.
 
Who's the guy on here with the SAS Ranger? He's got sliders up front too. I'm pretty sure there are a few more guys with them as well, just can't think of any names right off hand. They seem to work great and all of them I've seen have been at the back of the front leaf spring.
 
I'm going to be buying a set anyways. I'll mock em up in the front to see how they look and if nothing else I planned on running them in the rear.
 
Im planning on running them on the front of my k5 just so i dont have to dick around with the factory shitty shackle hangers. When i was researching them, everyone loved them but its just not widely used
 
Right now I'm torn between doing a slider box in place of a shackle on the front, or using a slider box in like a shackle reversal setup. I've always done a frontward facing shackle on a leaf spring front suspension. Not sure if I want to change up a good combination.
 
XJsavage said:
Right now I'm torn between doing a slider box in place of a shackle on the front, or using a slider box in like a shackle reversal setup. I've always done a frontward facing shackle on a leaf spring front suspension. Not sure if I want to change up a good combination.
Click to expand...

I prefer that too because of the change in pinion angle with the shackle on the back. But with slider boxes is there no change since the rear of the spring doesnt move vertically and just horizontal?
 
They are suppose to have a slight angle in travel to them. The boxes I'm looking at are the Liquid iron industries product. They are made to mount to the bottom of a flat horizontal frame section but have the proper movement angle built in.
aliquidironindustries_com_image_php_474d29a84f14b933a4adaba03709624a._.jpg
 
Better picture:
upload_2015-8-6_12-44-32.jpeg
 
Still not the huge arch a 7.25" shackle will have
 
iwaxmyjimmy said:
Still not the huge arch a 7.25" shackle will have
Click to expand...
Nope. I'm looking at doing a 5" or so shackle on the front of the jeep, if I did. Looking at it now, it looks like it'll be tough to package the boxes in my application being there's the extra meat hanging off the front. But on a positive note, slamming a shackle and vending/breaking a main leaf wouldn't be a concern. When I pick up a set to do my rear I'll see how they look. If its doable, I'd buy another set.
 
When I looked at doing a yj swap with superduty front axle my plan was to do like the guy with the ranger did and mount the sliders at the rear with fabricated boxes. Then mount the front of the spring off the backside of the front bumper tying into the frame.

* here's the build thread to the ranger. Pretty good ideas in there.
03 Ranger D60 swap w/ sliders
 
I've tossed that idea around as well. There is of course the debate of which works better off-road: front shackle or rear shackle. My 82 Toyota was rear shackle and my 87 YJ was front shackle. Theres way to many variables to compare which one did better.
 
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