Installed the Metalcloak HD Control Arm Pro'lignment Kit

[ronrodriguez114]

Anyone know the toque values? For reference here is the install guide - https://images.metalcloak.com/Metal...rm-Drop-Bracket-Installation-Instructions.pdf - which has 0 mention of the torque values. I torqued to the control arm specs, considering that’s where this is bolted to.

Pics for pleasure. Also this was one of the worst things I’ve installed on this Jeep. (I did a complete Dana 44 swap that was far easier lol)

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[svc707]

Yeah def took me a lot longer to install than doing a whole front coil replacement.
Get the rear drop brackets too! The Jeep drives so smooth makes me wonder what full long arms feel like.

Looking at yours though from front to back yours are pointing down. What’s your lift height?

 

[84jeepjohn]

how is the ride? I was looking at these but the 2024 392 changed something and I can't run them

 

[Jeeps2Little]

I have to agree that they were a bear to install. The tolerances are so tight that getting the bolts through the bracket/spacers and frame parts was tough. First side took 2+ hours, lots of cussing and the second a bit over an hour and just a few less swear words.

I used OEM torque spec for all the bolts both frame side and control arm side. The one supplied bolt by MC was a fine thread pitch vs the coarse OME style had/has me wondering though if that is correct.

Do your control arms actually go up in height to the axle side or is that just an optical illusion from the photo? Do you have a lift?

I added them to my Sport that has Mopar lift that measures 3"+ and my LCA are almost flat now, vs the steeper drop previously. The ride is very much improved and worth the effort in my opinion. Did over 150 miles of desert washboard and trails this weekend and was pleasantly surprised that it made that much of a positive difference just about everywhere.

 

[svc707]

I just took this for comparison of bar angles

 

[GATORB8]

Here's Fastenall's torque chart.

Zinc with no locktite or antisieze should be the middle value (K=0.17).

https://crafter.fastenal.com/static-assets/pdfs/Torque-Tension_Chart_for_A307_Gr5_Gr8_Gr9.pdf

 

[ronrodriguez114]

I have the synergy adjustable control arms, which have a bend in them. Hence why it looks like its a very odd angle.

 

[Pig-Pen]

i almost purchased these brackets during their sale last week till i found this thread. per their website they rate the install as "easy" and 2 hours, yet you guys are all saying it was a major pita. reading reviews of other geo brackets i dont see any complaints like that.
id prefer to go with MC as i hope to eventually swap to a gamechanger lift some day. i really like MC's quality of their products but these reviews have me thinking maybe another brand for this part....
@Metalcloak any input on the disparity?

 

[Roky]

i almost purchased these brackets during their sale last week till i found this thread. per their website they rate the install as "easy" and 2 hours, yet you guys are all saying it was a major pita. reading reviews of other geo brackets i dont see any complaints like that.
id prefer to go with MC as i hope to eventually swap to a gamechanger lift some day. i really like MC's quality of their products but these reviews have me thinking maybe another brand for this part....
@Metalcloak any input on the disparity?

It’s worth whatever trouble you may encounter ( though I don’t what that would be)…….. when I look at the aev bracket I think , geez…I wonder how that’s going to fare once it gets smashed on a rock? When I look at the MC bracket, I think, geez….I wonder how that rock is going to fare when is smashes into that bracket……. ?

 

[Mx5red]

It’s worth whatever trouble you may encounter ( though I don’t what that would be)…….. when I look at the aev bracket I think , geez…I wonder how that’s going to fare once it gets smashed on a rock? When I look at the MC bracket, I think, geez….I wonder how that rock is going to fare when is smashes into that bracket……. ?

They look like about what you’d expect?
Actually I think they hold up just fine, might have to bend ‘em to get a socket back on there..

 

[Buddy Lee]

I installed mine 2 years ago and I really like them. They definitely improve the vehicles handling. I noticed a huge difference in the jeeps nose dive when slowing at higher speeds. As Rocky mentioned they are stout. I have bashed them on rocks and ledges and they have held up perfectly. I also like the fact that they protect your frame. When I was installing them I had to bend back the lower frame bracket because a rock had smashed it. With these installed they take the hit instead saving your frame. Install wasn’t bad. I think maybe 3 hours. All you are essentially doing is bolting the brackets into the existing frame brackets and then putting the lower and upper control arms in the new location. I also made a few adjustments to the control arms. The hardest part of the install is torquing those damn lower bolts. I also had one extra step because I have the 2.0 which requires you to unbolt the intercooler pump and move it out of the way to access the upper control arm bolt. I see no reason not to use them. I love mine.

 

[Buddy Lee]

I also run an Artec skid plate and it doesn’t interfere with it.

 

[Pig-Pen]

what do you guys think would work better? mopar LCAs or stockers? i have 2" dynatrac lift plus .5" spacer.

 

[roaniecowpony]

i almost purchased these brackets during their sale last week till i found this thread. per their website they rate the install as "easy" and 2 hours, yet you guys are all saying it was a major pita. reading reviews of other geo brackets i dont see any complaints like that.
id prefer to go with MC as i hope to eventually swap to a gamechanger lift some day. i really like MC's quality of their products but these reviews have me thinking maybe another brand for this part....
@Metalcloak any input on the disparity?

I dunno. While my engineer side says they make sense. My dirty rock crawler side says; look at that stuff hangin down to catch every rock in the county. I think we woulda been pullin line a couple weeks ago if you had these.

 

[Pig-Pen]

I dunno. While my engineer side says they make sense. My dirty rock crawler side says; look at that stuff hangin down to catch every rock in the county. I think we woulda been pullin line a couple weeks ago if you had these.

@Mx5red has them. he said they've never been an issue really. he's only hit them a couple times. my diffs are what causes the most trouble.

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