Well I got the Metco bars installed on Saturday.

First the review:
They work GREAT. Wheelspin is greatly reduced and the truck feels solid. No impact on suspension travel or feeling. They work about as well as Truck-Traks worked on my stock spings.

The bars look amazing, all grade 8 hardware, massively over engineered. Definetely a pro piece

Now about the install:
sigh. It was an amazing pain. Hopefully it won't be for others (I'm talking to Metco on Monday)

First off: The passenger side support bracket didn't fit around my exhaust (long tubes with single muffler silver-bullet). I had to cut out a gusset to get it to fit.

Next: I wasn't sure how the spring eye bolt was supposed to go in, but with the support bracket installed, one end is inaccessible. I chose to cut the bolt a bit so that I could install it with the nut facing outward. (cutting big grade 8 bolts what fun)

Then: The rear u-bolts are designed to fit with the stock springs (4 leaf) and not the Hotchkis (2-leaf). Out comes the cutter again. Due to te design of the bracket, the bolts must be limited in length.

Then! The rear U-bolt nuts are almost impossible to tighten. With a 22mm thin-wall swivle, you MAY be able to tighten them. Otherwise it's the classic socket on sideways deal (and tightening to 80ft-lbs)

Finally: The instructions were lacking. They were very clear, but obviously written for someone who knows wat they are doing. I really like idiot proof instructions that I can check every couple of steps instead of master instructions that I have to know to insert steps...

I just want to say again how great Metco is and how amazingly well they work once I got them on. I'll update the thread once I've talked to them about them problems I hit.

Coldie

 

Coldie: I'm interested in hearing how you compare the Metcos to the T-Ts after you get more drive/drag time.

Dan

 

Thanks for the info, Coldie. A couple of questions:

Are yours the upper link-style?

Did you take any pictures?

I have a set of Upper Links waiting to install. Damn the instructions are bad. Not a single photo. You'd think for over $400 you would get better.

Thanks,

TLS

 

Well I've had a couple of days to drive around. The Metcos seem to work better than the truck tracks (at least of the lowered truck). There isn't the feeling of hitting the slapper bars, just fluid weight transfer.

I've got the lower bars, no way the uppers would work for me.

Tim: If you want me to help you through it, Throw me an e-mail and I can try and help you out.

Coldie

 

Coldie - how did the Truck Tracs work with the hotchkis springs?

 

The Trcuk Traks didn't work as well on the Hotchkis springs. Jay can (of course) explain better than I, but basically there are two problems:

1) The angle from axle to eyelet is changed, so you need some spacers etc.

2) The Truck-Traks hold a large portion of the spring, so on the lowered springs, you lose a lot of suspension. The results is a serious compromise in ride quality.

They worked OK, but nowhere near as well as the Metcos appear to be working.

Coldie

PS: I'll take/post some pictures shortly, but I did the install in the rain, so I didn't have the digicam out.

 

Coldie - thanks for the info. If all goes well I will be getting a set of used TT. I'll most likely only put them on for 1/4 runs so for the price it can't be that bad.

 

I had a real hard time hooking with the slicks. THey provided a bit to much bounce and would literaly throw the truck up as the truck traks hit. We finally got it tuned, but they aren't fix and forget if you are running slicks.

 

Coldie: was that hookup problem with the TTs on the lowered truck or pre-lowering?

brad

 

I can relate to the installation issues:
First, the instructions were lacking. They were to the point but they could have elaborated more. Installation photos would have helped a lot. I too need "Instructions for Dummies"!
Second, After I had the truck up on jackstands and disassembled I realized that there were not enough bolts to go around (6bolts were missing). No biggie . Went to the hardward store (after I borrowed a car) and picked up some grade 8 bolts. I was back on track and rolling along fine when I realized the Long, Upper bolts wouldn't fit through the U bracket. The threads of the bolt went through the bracket but stopped when the shoulder of the bolt contacted the bracket. Took it all back off and drilled out the U brackets at work (another one hour detour). The brackets probably had too much paint on them as I didn't have to take too much out of the bracket. That's when I got the idea to install the spring eye bolts into the U bracket before mounting the T bracket to the frame. So I avoided the spring eye bolt problem that you had, Coldie.
In all, there wasn't anything easy about the installation, but the end result was worth it. It is a really strong item that works great (No More Hopping), and is invisible to the un-trained eye. The adjustability of the pinion angle is another great feature (still working with that).

If I had to do it all over again, I would !

Drive Quick.
Fred.

 

Oh yeah, I forgot. I was missing bolts as well

I can't say how much I love them now that they are on, and they are well worth the money. I just see what they could be and hope that Metco can polish it up a bit.

Coldie