P.S. Also noticed your shackles in the back there - seems like they work well for you that way, but I'd be interested in how you got to having the bends turned that way (seems like that's the opposite of what I've seen in the instructions for other "bent" shackles you can buy online). Is there a bit more about those somewhere earlier in this thread?
shape of the shackles is irrelevant as long as they don't hit anything!
Just went back a couple years and breezed through your posts about the coilovers install. You definitely have my gears turning about whether or not I want to take the plunge for CO's up front. There is just something special about CO's and leaf springs working together.
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I'm wondering somewhat about how coilovers would be substantially different for front suspension flex than separate shocks and springs. From a functional perspective, a difference I see is that the factory spring setup requires that the coil spring accommodate the tilt of the axle both fore-aft and side-to-side. Not sure if that makes the front suspension any less compliant or significantly changes the linearity of the spring rate to either rising or falling.
My understanding is the only practical difference in performance comes from the ability to tune the spring rates and shock valving precisely. With traditional coil springs, we're kinda stuck with the spring rate we get. The closest alternative is something like the Metalcloak progressive springs. With coilovers, the primary and secondary rates can be finely tuned to have a soft rate around ride height and get progressively stiffer as the suspension compresses further.
The soft spring is also great for retaining the coils on droop because they will be compressed several inches while at ride height. This can be made even better with the use of a helper spring to keep the coils in place even if the main spring moves away from the upper spring seat.
Then, of course, damper adjustability, which is a whole 'nother level of tuning most of us will never need.
Packaging is a big point as well. Putting the shock inside the coil takes much less space than outside. Also the coils are typically much more narrow. Evan's mounts on the axle side really show the benefit of a coilover mount vs traditional coil.