Can't say I'm impressed after waiting for weeks to land these things only to see for myself they aren't going to work with the Belltech 3/4 kit installed. I kind of knew I was screwed when I finally found a traction control related post last week that said the Metco's wouldn't work with the lowering. Today I confirmed it... So for the record so no one else makes the mistake, don't buy them if your L is lowered. Don't want to throw blame around but I wish Mark at LFP never told me about them when I was enquiring about traction control options back in Dec. , not that he was the supplier in this case (it was SFPHQ - they never asked whether my truck was lowered). Anyway, can't do a lot about it now aside from shelve them. Before anyone says send them back, that would cost me more than $100 in shipping from here.

So now do I go for the truck-tracs or something else, bearing in my my original logic was increase traction but avoid compromising handling ?

 

sorry to hear that man. that sucks...
anyway i have been told that the truck-tracks work really well with lowered Ls. i dont know about the 3/4 drop but if you talk to sal or jay lincoln im sure they can help you out.

 

Hey,

Metco has New Lower track links that will work with your drop.

I have them on my truck and here is a picture of them. They developed these to be used by people who drop their truck all the way around. I have a 2 inch drop on the back of my L.

They hook up great and are very quiet.

Maybe Mark didn't understand that you were dropping your truck, maybe he did and just made a mistake. Give him a call and see if you can work something out.

 

Jay sells his stuff Here

I definatley recommend them they work great on the street and the strip.

--Joe

 

With my 3/4 kit I have tried 2 setups...

The Truck Tracs & Caltracs.....


I would use the Caltracs with the 3/4 kit... They work FLAWLESS!!!

 

Guys I must say thanks for the advice. Interesting to know Metco have the lower arms available. I also got a note from JL telling me he is about to start selling traction bars for lowered L's. Good to know I've got some options.

Just one thing, what's the effect of truc-traks or cal-tracs on handling?

Andrew

 

Speaking for the Truck Traks, there is no effect at all. As a matter of fact you don't even know they are there.....until you launch

--Joe

 

I'm liking the sound of the Cal-tracs from what ICULOKN says about using them with the same drop. I'm also going to wait for JL to release his. He's always one to do his homework and I notice he hasn't sold any traction bars until now, so I figure he's been working on it for a while.

 

OZ,t The Truck-Traks are a "slapper bar" type of traction bar. There is no mechanical coupling between the traction bar and the chassis. They don't really affect the ride and handling until they come into contact with the leaf spring, which occurs during acceleration or hard cornering.

A couple of my customers are actually using them for autocross. You might ask them for their impressions. I know thepawnis one of them. I believe that they increase the clearance between the snubber and the spring when they road race.

Doing the 3/4 Belltech was quite a challenge. ICULOKN really helped me, but at his power level, the Truck-Traks had trouble controlling the axle ***'y with a serious set of slicks (Hoosier Quick Time Pros). I believe that there is a limit to the amount of torque and MASS that the slapper bar can take, w/o some serious shock tuning.

If you are putting out 500+ Hp at the rear wheels, I would probably recommend the CalTracs.

Dale01 was running 12.60's and 12.70's with Truck-Traks this weekend at Carlsbad, and was also using the Hoosiers. I belive that he runs the stock rear springs.

 

Jay is very right, we did try a few things. I am pretty sure his bars were not my problem. I think my New slicks were the real issue...

For the money they are well worth it.. I just had to many problems at once and didnt take the time to SINGLE the problem out...

But with Jay L's customer service, you cant go wrong....

 

Thanks Jay and ICULOKN for the info. Jay, looking at my set up I've just moved up to long tubes and have pretty much all the serious mods except nitrous. So by what your suggesting I'm probably wise to look at the Cal-tracs too. Also not forgetting to check out JL's bars when they come out in few days time.

Again thanks everyone for the info. I'm now confident of making the right choice this time around.

Andrew

 

Oz, you might contact Sal at PSP for his opinion. He has a lot more experience with the Truck-Traks than I do, in high horsepower applications. He has run both on his truck. He makes as much HP an anyone, maybe more.

 

Sal ran a 11.20@118 with a set of truck tracs on. 1.5x 60 foot time. I am pretty sure my problem wasnt to much HP it was GREEN slicks. I should have tried them again to make sure but I would bet money that was it.

If you want to put the Truck Tracs on with a 3/4 drop kit. The only real differance is you will need the Snubber spacers that Jay sells. They cleared my Bassani fine and I could get them right @ the eyelet of the leaf spring.

JLP's bars are going to be very similar to the JDM bars. They should work well with a drop kit IF they are properly installed. The JLP & JDM bars are not adjustable with out modifying them. The Truck Tracs & Caltracs are...

 

Very helpful, thanks ICULOKN. I will take the adjustabilty of the truck-tracs and Cal-tracs into account when making the decision and I'll drop Sal a line to see what he can tell me as well.