Hello - Has anyone installed the Metalcloak 3.5” lift on their TJ or LJ? If so, have you had good luck with it? Also, if I go with a 3.5” lift, do I need to regear?
Metalcloak 3.5 inch lift kit - LJ
- Thread starter 05_LJ
- Start date
The MC lift requires additional bumpstops to prevent coil bind. Savvy/Currie would be a better choice and have longer free length coils.
A lift has nothing to do with regearing. Tire size does. What tire size do you plan on running?
A lift has nothing to do with regearing. Tire size does. What tire size do you plan on running?
OP
is 3.5" all you are planning? You may want to rethink the 35's, unless all you are doing is crawling the local walmart or Belk parking lot...
Nobody that will admit it.
Here’s one, I’ve not had any issues with it. Aluminum, double adjustable, OME shocks. I’ve also got a 1.25” savvy body lift and it’s sitting on 35’s.
You’ll need to regear for the tires.
With the 42RLE and the dana 30 you have, you're stuck to using 5.13s if you want 35s.
There are a few issues with MC.
Heim joints. MC uses heims on their track bars. Its a dumb design and should be avoided. The front track bar heim joint is mounted horizontally where it collects dirt and other debris and wears out the joint prematurely. In some cases, in as little as 10k miles. Im on joint #3 on my front trackbar.
Duroflex joints. MC uses kevlar ™ (!) joints. Its a spherical ball bonded in rubber. The joint requires grease to move about the control arm. When the grease is gone, the rubber begins to bind in the control arm barrel and the joint begins to tear itself apart. Ive experienced this first hand.
Coils. MC coils focus on downtravel and require additional bumpstop to avoid coil bind. If you want better ride, build for uptravel. You cant do that with the MC coils.
MC uses big words and flashy bling to attract customers. If you stick around here long enough, you'll learn why MC is not appreciated.
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I regret not doing that trail when I was out there a couple years ago...
I installed the 3.5" short arm/long travel life with MC's Rocksport shocks. The kit, instructions, and parts/packaging were all laid out very well. Took me and one of my kids a weekend to complete. One minor gripe was I didn't see anywhere in the literature or on the site about drag link/tie rod mods. I ran a few days at the very limits of my tie rod/drag link adjustment until I could put a drop pitman arm in to help. After some discussion with MC, I learned they recommend a Currie Correctlync installation at the time of the lift installation to resolve those fit issues. This is also what they ran in all their testing, so I ponied up and ordered one. Because this was all torn apart, I also took the opportunity to replace the ball joints with HS Teraflex.
I run 35's on my LJ, and will definitely re-gear. I don't travel highway speed often, but when I do, she's hunting for gears with the stock setup. Again, I'll save that for another day - one that will stronger axles and lockers.
As for the MC lift, everybody has thoughts on brands, good or bad. I'm not a gearhead, but can turn a wrench, and I have overall been please with the product. Outside of the steering gripe, the only other gripe I have is that I drove mine last winter, and the gold anodized finish took a beating. I'd really wish it were more durable, but I'm building a fun machine, not a show pony, so I won't sweat that too much. If I really want to get after it later on, it's easy enough to pull those parts off for re-anodizing now that I am storing her in winter months.
Do your research, make your decision, and enjoy.
I run 35's on my LJ, and will definitely re-gear. I don't travel highway speed often, but when I do, she's hunting for gears with the stock setup. Again, I'll save that for another day - one that will stronger axles and lockers.
As for the MC lift, everybody has thoughts on brands, good or bad. I'm not a gearhead, but can turn a wrench, and I have overall been please with the product. Outside of the steering gripe, the only other gripe I have is that I drove mine last winter, and the gold anodized finish took a beating. I'd really wish it were more durable, but I'm building a fun machine, not a show pony, so I won't sweat that too much. If I really want to get after it later on, it's easy enough to pull those parts off for re-anodizing now that I am storing her in winter months.
Do your research, make your decision, and enjoy.
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