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Photos courtesy of MetalCloak
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Photos courtesy of MetalCloak
Kit
Blurring the lines between a coilover conversion and the OEM-level simplicity of coil springs, the MetalCloak 5.5-inch Long Arm Upgrade (also available in 3.5") enhances the long-arm ride quality while allowing increased wheel travel.
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Workstation-102\Aaron Colocchia
SS-2005 SCHEMATIC
Dual Rate Coil Springs - Another highlight of the MetalCloak setup is Dual Rate Coil Springs. These springs have the longest free length of any bolt-on kit for TJs. Their unique design features a heavier wire diameter with a tighter pitch at the top. This allows the spring to attain a higher degree compliance for light chop and midrange suspension disturbances.
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Photos courtesy of MetalCloak
6Pak Cut-Away
By combining four smaller shocks into one, the exclusive 6Pak arrangement enables 14-inches of stroke from a shock that is only 14-inches long when collapsed. Also, thanks to triple redundancy, the longevity of the various internal components is greatly increased over traditional coilover shocks. Seals, discs, pistons and shafts are only subjected to one quarter the abuse of a normal shock.
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Photos courtesy of MetalCloak
Install
Thanks to the innovative design of the 6Pak damper, no cutting or welding is necessary to achieve greater flexibility for the trail. Every component of the MetalCloak long-arm upgrade bolts on easily just like the original factory parts. This comes in handy when you decide to return your vehicle to stock for a quick and easy resale.
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Photos courtesy of MetalCloak
Sustainable Damping
The new 6Pak shocks do an awesome job at adding valuable inches to the stroke equation. Thanks to the unique staggered opposed cylinder arrangement, 6Paks can collapse smaller and extend further than any like size conventional shock absorber. However, the benefits don’t stop there, with each 6Pak shock you get four times the longevity on all the wear and tear items such as shaft swipers, seals and other parts that make up the hydraulic circuitry. Essentially, MetalCloak has transformed a single shock absorber into four smaller units. This, in theory, should allow the individual wear parts to last longer as each component is only required to do a quarter of the work.
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Photos courtesy of MetalCloak
Duraflex Joint
Everyone knows that a stock rubber bushing will outlast any rod end or spherical bearing type joint when exposed to the elements. However, many aftermarket manufacturers overlook joint lifespan and instead focus on serviceability and flex. To put it in perspective, think about Chrysler. At Jeep there exists a dedicated engineering department concentrating resources on the development of suspension joints. Their focus is to isolate road vibrations and provide adequate suspension handling while returning a life expectancy that is greater than that of the bumper-to-bumper warranty. MetalCloak has a similar approach, but takes it one step further. By fusing the elastomer bushing material directly to the convex steel sleeve like an OEM part, there are no critical wear surfaces for grit to get into. This sealed construction prevents the wear and tear that kills other joints. Thanks to a proprietary natural rubber compound, DuroFlex joints, while constructed similarly to OEM, offer more than three times the range of motion.
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Photos courtesy of MetalCloak
Dual Rate Springs
A lot of aftermarket companies supply linear rate coil springs with suspension lifts. These are easy to manufacture and help maintain a low cost price point. Others supply a more expensive progressive rate coil. These are better than linear but still lack longevity when it comes to maximizing suspension travel. MetalCloak uses what’s called true dual rate coil springs because they are less likely to fatigue and sag after being compressed to the point of coil bind repeatedly. The softer rate at the top of the coil also doubles as a virtual coil bucket to help center the spring and maintain position throughout the range of motion. Dual rate springs are generally more expensive to make, more difficult to design, and are often times much harder to inspect than linear rate springs.
By Robin Stover
If your goal is a TJ with above-average trail performance and equally civilized road manners, listen up; the game has changed. Until recently, 97-06 Wrangler owners had basically two options for serious trail work: A Long-arm conversion with coil springs, or a long-arm conversion with coilovers. Each option offers an inherit advantage in the opposing categories of trail-ability and street savvy. Typically, it’s the pavement segment that sacrifices most when you make the jump to coilovers. Traditional coil spring setups are restricted by packaging limitations, which can limit the available suspension travel. Coilover arrangements are more costly but offer unparalleled tuning and ride height adjustment. Each build strategy leaves consumers at a crossroads: Gain wheel travel and loose ride stability or maintain road manners and forgo articulation. The bottom line: both options will leave you wanting more from your Jeep.
Enter MetalCloak’s revolutionary new 6Pak long-travel suspension upgrade. With no-compromises to on-road handling and enough travel to make your friends with coilovers jealous, these innovative six-in-one dampers nearly double the available wheel travel while ensuring an interference free fit. Designed and built in California, the product may just be the next big thing for Jeep vehicles.
The Long and Short of It
Long-arm kits generally improve ride quality over stock while allowing up to eight inches of lift. It’s a worthwhile upgrade for any enthusiast who wants more off-road capability. However, with increased complexity both maintenance and cost of ownership go up.
Pros:
- Ride quality is generally improved
- Initial purchase price and installation is lower
Cons:
- Suspension flex is limited by shock interference
If your Jeep is primarily used for off road and you enjoy the process of fine-tuning the suspension system for varying terrains, then coilovers are the only way to go. However, be prepared for noisy operation, quirky cornering and a regular maintenance schedule.
Pros:
- Infinite tuning possibilities
- Adjustable ride height
- Compact design
- 1990’s drool factor
Cons:
- Coilover installations typically require custom fabrication
- Ride quality generally diminishes
- Expense is much greater
- 1990’s drool factor
With MetalCloaks upgrade you gain most of the benefits of a coilover setup without the negative effects.