Auto-X / Roadrace rear suspension 1969 Valiant
So this is by far the best information I have on leaf spring sliders, and actually some really good info just on leaf spring handling in general...
It's from the AFCO instructions, and getting it easily readable is a pain in the ***. So I pulled the text out of it....
"Leaf mounting angles
The geometry of a leaf spring suspension appears to provide the best overall handling whenever the front eye is mounted below the rear eye. If you lower the front eye of the leaf 1” or more and readjust the chassis back to its original ride height, you can expect the following:
Mounting the leafs so that the front eyes are slightly inboard of the rear eyes will cause the leafs to have more lateral stiffness. This can make the chassis feel tighter and may help prevent the rear suspension from binding due to excessive lateral deflection of the leaf. However, if the leafs are offset too much the suspension becomes too stiff laterally and rear side bite is lost.
Whenever the body slides over the rear end during cornering, the splayed leafs can cause rear steer that will help the car to turn. Also, if the right front spring eye is mounted more inboard than the left eye (measured from the corresponding tires), the right rear tire will tend to be loaded less than the left rear tire during acceleration. As a result, the chassis will tend to be tighter off the corner. Corner exit handling tends to be loose under opposite conditions.
Generally, moving the front spring eye 1-1/2” laterally will produce a noticeable effect in corner exit handling.
ILLUS. 2
SUGGESTED LEAF MOUNTING ANGLES
(CHRYSLER TYPE LEAFS)
55” TO MIDDLE OF SLIDER
ONE INCH SPACING
6 1/2"
SLIDER EQUPPED 14”
54 1/2”
SHACKLE EQUIPPED 14”
1 1/2” TO 3”
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT
YOUR COMBINATION OF VEHICLE WEIGHT AND LEAF SPRING RATE MAY REQUIRE THIS DIMENSION TO BE ADJUSTED. SLIDERS SHOULD BE MOUNTED SO THAT THE REAR SPRING EYE IS LOCATED 1/2" REARWARD OF THE CENTER OF THE SLOT. SHACKLES SHOULD BE MOUNTED TO PROVIDE A SHACKLE ANGLE OF 90° OR LESS."
So this is by far the best information I have on leaf spring sliders, and actually some really good info just on leaf spring handling in general...
It's from the AFCO instructions, and getting it easily readable is a pain in the ***. So I pulled the text out of it....
"Leaf mounting angles
The geometry of a leaf spring suspension appears to provide the best overall handling whenever the front eye is mounted below the rear eye. If you lower the front eye of the leaf 1” or more and readjust the chassis back to its original ride height, you can expect the following:
- More "tight" roll steer (may tighten handling)
- Increased rear suspension stiffness
- Lowered roll center (increases body roll and rear side bite -handling tightens)
- Less body / tire separation during acceleration (may reduce forward bite)
Mounting the leafs so that the front eyes are slightly inboard of the rear eyes will cause the leafs to have more lateral stiffness. This can make the chassis feel tighter and may help prevent the rear suspension from binding due to excessive lateral deflection of the leaf. However, if the leafs are offset too much the suspension becomes too stiff laterally and rear side bite is lost.
Whenever the body slides over the rear end during cornering, the splayed leafs can cause rear steer that will help the car to turn. Also, if the right front spring eye is mounted more inboard than the left eye (measured from the corresponding tires), the right rear tire will tend to be loaded less than the left rear tire during acceleration. As a result, the chassis will tend to be tighter off the corner. Corner exit handling tends to be loose under opposite conditions.
Generally, moving the front spring eye 1-1/2” laterally will produce a noticeable effect in corner exit handling.
ILLUS. 2
SUGGESTED LEAF MOUNTING ANGLES
(CHRYSLER TYPE LEAFS)
55” TO MIDDLE OF SLIDER
ONE INCH SPACING
6 1/2"
SLIDER EQUPPED 14”
54 1/2”
SHACKLE EQUIPPED 14”
1 1/2” TO 3”
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT
YOUR COMBINATION OF VEHICLE WEIGHT AND LEAF SPRING RATE MAY REQUIRE THIS DIMENSION TO BE ADJUSTED. SLIDERS SHOULD BE MOUNTED SO THAT THE REAR SPRING EYE IS LOCATED 1/2" REARWARD OF THE CENTER OF THE SLOT. SHACKLES SHOULD BE MOUNTED TO PROVIDE A SHACKLE ANGLE OF 90° OR LESS."
