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MetalCloak 3.5” lift kit for JL Wrangler

CloakedJL

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Got the MetalCloak 3.5" Rocksport Edition installed by a local shop (I'm also using the temp shock extensions + stock shocks until the Rocksport shocks come in) + Rugged Ridge XHD wheels + 37x12.5r17 Nitto Trail Grapplers

I drove it for like 2 days with the stock wheels, and noticed that when I turned the wheels all the way (like turning into a parking spot) that the stock wheels did not have sufficient backspacing and were rubbing (I believe on the arms). Once I got the 4.53 backspaced XHD's on there, everything has been great.

Did some freeway driving on it today... 75 MPH, decent speed offramps, and everything felt amazing! Very impressed It was a little stiff, in that I was feeling every crack in the road... hoping that either the Rocksport shocks or dropping the PSI down some in the tires will help soften that up.

Going to hit the trails next weekend and put it to the real test :)

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That is a beautiful Jeep! I have always been a fan of green!

What Psi are you running in the tires? Just curious

Would you mind if I use your photos to share on IG or Facebook? If you have accounts on either let me know and I will tag you as well if it's fine.
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Brand0n

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Ya, so we did the setup at the recommended UCA/LCA length and were getting 4.6° on the rack, shortened up the uppers by 3 rotations and were at 5.6°, shortened up by 2 more and hit 6.2° Drove it around and was very happy set toe all the way to .20 and it's night and day compared to what it was driving stock. I have one of the shitty gear boxes and we tightened it up 1/4 turn and still sucks so decided to order a new one regardless. It's so much better than stock on the MC with the caster and toe setup on the 37s but still get the overcorrecting sawing on banked corners at high speeds (>65). But like I said gear box or not bumping that caster and toe is tight TIGHT with everything else. Also, running the method 312s 17x9 with 4.5 backspacing and STT Pros 37x13.5 @35psi. No rub lock to lock with steering but crawled up on a wall this weekend (promptly followed by a DWI despite being in my friends front yard and not actually driving ANYWHERE or on a road) and the 13.5 are too wide with the 4.5 backspacing to tuck up clean in the fenders like the 12.5s do. So anxiously awaiting trial but more anxiously awaiting the new MC fenders
 

Zeus

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Got the MetalCloak 3.5" Rocksport Edition installed by a local shop (I'm also using the temp shock extensions + stock shocks until the Rocksport shocks come in) + Rugged Ridge XHD wheels + 37x12.5r17 Nitto Trail Grapplers

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Wow that's nice!
 

Zoobie

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Yes, you are welcome to use the photo's. I'll also post some more interesting ones next week after I hit the trail...
My PSI was at 36, so I dropped it down to 30... probably still a little high, but going to try it out
 

GRN JLLO

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Finished my install this this afternoon. Waiting on shocks also. Using stockers with extensions for now. Getting aligned in the morning. 37x12.50 Nitto Ridge Grapplers on Black Rhino Crawler beadlocks. Still waiting on my tire carrier. The only issue I have so far is that It is showing that the Electronic Stability Control malfunctioned and needs to be serviced.
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porkchop

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Finished my install this this afternoon. Waiting on shocks also. Using stockers with extensions for now. Getting aligned in the morning. 37x12.50 Nitto Ridge Grapplers on Black Rhino Crawler beadlocks. Still waiting on my tire carrier. The only issue I have so far is that It is showing that the Electronic Stability Control malfunctioned and needs to be serviced.
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That’s looking mighty nice.
 

Moto_21

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Finished my install this this afternoon. Waiting on shocks also. Using stockers with extensions for now. Getting aligned in the morning. 37x12.50 Nitto Ridge Grapplers on Black Rhino Crawler beadlocks. Still waiting on my tire carrier. The only issue I have so far is that It is showing that the Electronic Stability Control malfunctioned and needs to be serviced.
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Badass lookin jeep!
 

OnlyOne

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Finished my install this this afternoon. Waiting on shocks also. Using stockers with extensions for now. Getting aligned in the morning. 37x12.50 Nitto Ridge Grapplers on Black Rhino Crawler beadlocks. Still waiting on my tire carrier. The only issue I have so far is that It is showing that the Electronic Stability Control malfunctioned and needs to be serviced.
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Awesome. Love the wheels!
 

Martindfletcher

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Finished my install this this afternoon. Waiting on shocks also. Using stockers with extensions for now. Getting aligned in the morning. 37x12.50 Nitto Ridge Grapplers on Black Rhino Crawler beadlocks. Still waiting on my tire carrier. The only issue I have so far is that It is showing that the Electronic Stability Control malfunctioned and needs to be serviced.
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That’s normal as the steering wheel seems turned to the electronics.
 

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Zoobie

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So I figured out what was rubbing with stock wheels... so I first had the lift put on and ran the stock wheels for 2 days before I put on the new wheels with 4.53 backspacing. I went to sell my stock wheels today, and when the guy purchasing them inspected the inside of the two front wheels had been damaged. After looking more, when the wheels were turned all the way the inside of the wheel was rubbing on the brackets that move the front shock mounts.

I have new wheels on now... but a lesson learned that you cannot run stock wheels with the front shock relocation brackets.
 

Chocolate Thunder

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So I figured out what was rubbing with stock wheels... so I first had the lift put on and ran the stock wheels for 2 days before I put on the new wheels with 4.53 backspacing. I went to sell my stock wheels today, and when the guy purchasing them inspected the inside of the two front wheels had been damaged. After looking more, when the wheels were turned all the way the inside of the wheel was rubbing on the brackets that move the front shock mounts.

I have new wheels on now... but a lesson learned that you cannot run stock wheels with the front shock relocation brackets.
Theres a big note in bold gold letters on the product description:

IMPORTANT NOTE: If using OE wheels 2" spacers will be needed to give proper clearance. These mounts are intended for use for wheels with 4.5" of backspacing or less or an equivalent of a 2" spacer on factory wheels.”
 

ULTRA JL

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Just got my MetalCloak 3.5” RockSport Edition installed. Love it! And yes, it’s a full 3.5” lift.
Big thanks to Aaron & Matson at MetalCloak AND Scott at CloakWorks 4x4 for the install! View attachment 70503

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Zoobie

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Hit the mountains today to see how she did with a little flexing...

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Really impressed with the highway manners on the drive out! 75 MPH feeling like stock (better than the 3.5" AEV on my '15 JKU)
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Front passenger side fender here fully flexed, you can see the 37x12.5r17 tucks in nicely and good clearance... even for the rock stuck in my tread
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While the fender fit, my front right tire was rubbing on the bumper when turned and flexed... I may need to take the caps off
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I wasn't able to get my rear fully flexed, was probably just the obstacles... might have been down travel with only OEM shocks? However there is this funny little part that pokes in on the rear inner fender that was rubbing when flexed. Could adjust the arms to pull the axle forward a just a hair... or just deal with it... or remove that little piece... or figure something out...
With that said, overall the clearance with the rear fenders outside that one spot looked good... I think it will tuck nicely when fully flexed.
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Here is the front passenger side spring when fully flexed, you can see it didn't compress straight and as a result the bump stop went off the edge of the contact point. Probably the most interesting.
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