Metalcloak lift

[WhatExit?]

The stock factory rear control arms are not used. The new upper control arms are mounted to the cradle that is mounted to the axel. I was told long ago by several suspension people that the Gladiators weakness in the rear was the location of the mounting points of the control arms to the axle as sacrifices were made for towing capacity by Jeep RK has addressed this with the four link and quad rate springs, so towing, articulation, control and overall ride surpasses stock suspension.

I`m not saying anything bad about MC, just setting things straight that were wrong in the post, if i did not go with RK it would have been MC.

No, according to the info linked in my post and you buy the 4-link, the webpage addresses the control arms - it’s not my opinion.

And some people told you something about the Gladiator’s suspension...if I had a dollar for every opinion about the best Jeep suspension I’d be rich. And if I had a dollar for every person who defended their purchase I’d be doubly rich.

I didn’t say bash the RK suspension or the 4 link but I did ask questions. And the people I talked to have a lot more experience with long arm kits and 4 link suspensions and some companies joints, than I and likely you do

Sponsored

 

[Billet Wilson]

No, if you buy the 4-link the information in my post is correct.

And some people told you something about the Gladiator’s suspension...if I had a dollar for every opinion about the best Jeep suspension I’d be rich. And if I had a dollar for every person who defended their purchase I’d be doubly rich.

I didn’t say bash the RK suspension or the 4 link but I did ask questions. And the people I talked to have a lot more experience with long arm kits and 4 link suspensions And some companies joints than I and likely you do

I've seen multiple aftermarket manufacturers make this same statement while explaining their lifts for the JT. AEV in the Way-a-life video was very direct going as far as saying they were shocked with some of Jeeps design choices. Having built the Brute for many years I would lean towards taking their opinion constructively.

 

[RH 67]

No, if you buy the 4-link the information in my post is correct.

And some people told you something about the Gladiator’s suspension...if I had a dollar for every opinion about the best Jeep suspension I’d be rich. And if I had a dollar for every person who defended their purchase I’d be doubly rich.

I didn’t say bash the RK suspension or the 4 link but I did ask questions. And the people I talked to have a lot more experience with long arm kits and 4 link suspensions And some companies joints than I and likely you do

I have the 4 link and your information is not correct.

MC was one of the companies along with several others that told me what i posted about the gladiators rear suspension, this was long before MC had their lift, yeah so who do you decide to believe. I also talked to GenRight and Redlands.

 

[WhatExit?]

I have the 4 link and your information is not correct.

MC was one of the companies along with several others that told me what i posted about the gladiators rear suspension, this was long before MC had their lift, yeah so who do you decide to believe. I also talked to GenRight and Redlands.

It’s not my info - it’s on the webpage.

I’m glad you love your RK suspension - feel free to post it in the RK suspension thread

 

[RH 67]

It’s not my info - it’s on the webpage.

I’m glad you love your RK suspension - feel free to post it in the RK suspension thread

I replied to your post because it was incorrect, if you don`t want a reply don`t post, YOU brought RK into this not me.

 

[WhatExit?]

 

[Billet Wilson]

The Jeep suspension from the factory utilizes front and rear track bars. Each one is attached to the opposite side of the frame. The RK triangulated 4-link replaces the rear track bar. While there can be a benefit to that there are other issues involved (the suspension is, after all, a system). RK's triangulated 4-link rear replaces the rear track bar.

Per the marketing info about the RK Triangulated 4-Link:
"The Rock Krawler Pro-X Upgrade for the Wrangler JT Gladiator is a triangulated 4 Link rear assembly that allows removal of the rear track bar. Eliminates the cross talk of the front and rear track bars greatly smoothing the on highway ride. The Pro-X rear also maintains the rear axle perfectly centered through out the suspension cycle and removes the natural suspension bind of the rear OEM 5 link arrangement." Link to this text

So, the RK Triangulated 4-link allows for the removal of the rear track bar. But it still uses the rear upper and lower control arms. Note that the above link also notes: "Recommend having adjustable rear lower control arms." A good question is why is that required? (And if you're going to replace your rear lower control arms you're getting closer to a Long Arm kit which replaces all 4 rear control arms).

I like the idea of a "triangulated 4 link rear end" - it sounds and looks cool and it's getting closer to what more expensive suspension systems provide. But I'm not able to say that removing the track bar has enough value to add it to my truck especially when it requires 2 adjustable lower control arms while using the stock/factory upper rear control arms.

No, according to the info linked in my post and you buy the 4-link, the webpage addresses the control arms - it’s not my opinion.

And some people told you something about the Gladiator’s suspension...if I had a dollar for every opinion about the best Jeep suspension I’d be rich. And if I had a dollar for every person who defended their purchase I’d be doubly rich.

I didn’t say bash the RK suspension or the 4 link but I did ask questions. And the people I talked to have a lot more experience with long arm kits and 4 link suspensions and some companies joints, than I and likely you do

It appears you aren't understanding how a Triangulated 4 Link works. There is no need for a rear track bar as the upper control arms are attached to the cradle that's bolted/welded to the center of the axle (forming a triangle). They center the axle side to side completely eliminating the need for a rear track bar.

You said you didn't see value in this setup since you have to replace the factory control arms which makes no sense. The MC GC lift also replaces factory control arms, the very reason you gave for not seeing value in the RK lift. Compare a complete MC GC lift with a complete RK lift. Both lifts replace all 8 control arms.

 

[WhatExit?]

I understand it. I was clearly talking about only the Triangulated 4 Link by itself and the "benefit" or being able to remove the rear trackbar.

The website link I posted was for the 4 Link alone. And that was what I was addressing.

Jeep people can talk for years about which lift kit is better. Mopar, RK and Metalcloak are the leading candidates now and I'm not interested in comparing them. I was looking at the 4 Link as a separate item which is one way it is sold and it could be purchased by Jeepers who didn't buy the RK suspension kit.

 

[Billet Wilson]

I understand it. I was clearly talking about only the Triangulated 4 Link by itself and the "benefit" or being able to remove the rear trackbar.

The website link I posted was for the 4 Link alone. And that was what I was addressing.

Jeep people can talk for years about which lift kit is better. Mopar, RK and Metalcloak are the leading candidates now and I'm not interested in comparing them. I was looking at the 4 Link as a separate item which is one way it is sold and it could be purchased by Jeepers who didn't buy the RK suspension kit.

Well that would have made everything make more sense if you would have stated that lol.

 

[WhiteJT8541]

Oh no! MetalCloak sent JL rear control arms instead of JT ones! They're sending the correct ones, but won't be in until Monday.

Double check your control arm boxes guys!

7606 is the part number I got with all 8 control arms boxed together. Is this what you got?

 

[WhatExit?]

Well that would have made everything make more sense if you would have stated that lol.

I'm not sure how it wasn't clear since I posted a link to the webpage for the 4 link product and quoted from that webpage.

I'm sure the RK suspension is very nice. I'm personally not sold on the 4 link as I don't see value in it other than enabling the removal of the rear track bar.

I went with Metalcloak for a number of reasons (as I detailed in my previous posts). One of them is their leadership and quality in the joints. They are key components to what are otherwise, "bars of metal" that need ends/joints. I know the Metalcloak Duroflex Joints will perform better and last longer than other companies' joints.

Look at the Metalcloak components and you'll see what I'm talking about - they're bars with joints at the ends. Clearly the joints are key components contributing to the longevity and performance of the suspension system.

 

[davetha]

Its sitting on the 39inch KM3s now. The rear control arms *should* be in tomorrow.

 

[jeepncrowd]

Does anyone know if you can fit 40s on the 3.5 lift while still allowing articulation?

Yes youd be able to run 40"s, but you'd loose some up travel.
I've flex mine out pretty well on the trail.
I only have 37"s. I have the durospring bump stopsup front plys one puck bump stop and i just barely touch and full stuff with American Adventure Labs hi-line fenders. The rear had 2 bumpstop block and it rubs moderately off road.
I have the 6 paks so maybe more uptravel opportunity than other shocks though.


As for the trangulated 4 link
I saw it as a benefit for possibly fitting a 38"spare under.

 

[Billet Wilson]

I'm not sure how it wasn't clear since I posted a link to the webpage for the 4 link product and quoted from that webpage.

I'm sure the RK suspension is very nice. I'm personally not sold on the 4 link as I don't see value in it other than enabling the removal of the rear track bar.

I went with Metalcloak for a number of reasons (as I detailed in my previous posts). One of them is their leadership and quality in the joints. They are key components to what are otherwise, "bars of metal" that need ends/joints. I know the Metalcloak Duroflex Joints will perform better and last longer than other companies' joints.

Look at the Metalcloak components and you'll see what I'm talking about - they're bars with joints at the ends. Clearly the joints are key components contributing to the longevity and performance of the suspension system.

I have a MC lift on my JK so Im fully aware of the benefits the Game Changer lift provides. Their arms are more like tubes since technically there hollow unlike RK which are actually solid.

The 4 link removes both cross talk and suspension bind. It's cool you don't see the value in that but many of us do. Just because Jeep included a rear track bar does not mean its the best option. With that mindset you wouldn't have replaced the factory triple rate rear coils with dual rates in the GC lift but thats in fact what you did.

I also think you're talking in circles. In one sentence you don't see value with the 4 Link since it also requires adjustable control arms yet in another you state "the design and components of a suspension system are also important" which is exactly what the Pro-X lift provides. Nowhere did you or anyone else discuss incorporating the 4 Link into the Game Changer lift. We were comparing the GC to the Pro-X as competing complete systems.

 

[WhatExit?]

"The 4 link removes both cross talk and suspension bind."

Where'd you read that, on RK's website? Or is that an issue that you've experienced with your Metalcloak Game Changer suspension?

So you're saying you added the 4 Link to your Game Changer suspension? Did you talk to anyone at Metalcloak about the 4 Link rear and ask them about the value of it with their GC suspension?

"It's cool you don't see the value in that but many of us do."

Yeah, many people buy things they see value in. To be clear, I don't see value in adding the RK 4 Link to my Game Changer suspension. I don't see value in adding the 4 Link as a standalone product. That was the whole point of my original post as it was being sold as a standalone product.

"Just because Jeep included a rear track bar does not mean its the best option."

Just because Jeep didn't include coilovers doesn't mean they're not the best option. Did you go with coilovers too?

"With that mindset you wouldn't have replaced the factory triple rate rear coils with dual rates in the GC lift but thats in fact what you did."

You're speculating. I did not replace the rear factory springs.

Sponsored