METALCLOAK
Reference: MC7244
Service parts
MetalCloak Cam Bolt Filler Plates, Jeep Wrangler JK and TJ/LJ, Set of 4
A set of 4 plates in 3/16in (4.8 mm) clear-zinc-plated steel that fill the factory slot left by a punched-out cam bolt knock-out in the front lower control arm brackets. Without them the bolt has play in the oval slot and the alignment wanders. Eccentric hole and stamped "JK" / "TJ" markings — one plate suits both models, just turn it. Bolt-on, no welding or drilling. ⚠ Lower arms only (1/2in bolt).
MetalCloak Cam Bolt Filler Plates, Jeep Wrangler JK and TJ/LJ, Set of 4
The factory front lower control arm brackets on the TJ/LJ and JK have cam bolt knock-outs. Once they are punched out — which is what you do to adjust the geometry with a cam bolt — the round hole becomes an oval slot. And that is where the trouble starts: the bolt has play in it, the axle can shift under load, and the alignment you set starts to wander.
These plates close that off. They fill the factory slot and lock the bolt in the correct position. 3/16in (approx. 4.8 mm) hot rolled steel, clear zinc plated.
One part for two models. The plate has an eccentric hole and stamped "JK" and "TJ" markings — you turn it so the right one faces up, and that is all. It only fits one way round, so it cannot be got wrong.
VEHICLE Jeep Wrangler JK 2007–2018 Jeep Wrangler TJ/LJ 1997–2006 | CONTENTS 4 plates — 2 per bracket | INSTALLATION Bolt-on, no welding, no drilling |
⚠ Lower control arms only
This is the most important line on the page, because exactly this mistake shows up in the manufacturer's own reviews. The plates are for the front lower control arms only. MetalCloak confirmed it directly in reply to the single less-than-perfect review: the customer had tried to fit them at the upper arms on a TJ, where the bolt is 7/16in while the plates are made for 1/2in. The outside dimensions fitted; the hole did not.
The manufacturer's instructions begin "after removing the lower control arm bolt…", and that is the only intended use.
When you need them
Two typical situations — and both are common:
- Someone previously punched out the knock-outs and used cam bolts. The slot stays oval for good. These plates give it back the function of an ordinary hole, so the bolt sits solidly again.
- You are fitting adjustable lower arms. Adjustment then happens at the arm, not at the bolt — and you want the bolt to stay exactly where you set it. One of the manufacturer's customers used them for precisely that: to fix the front axle position after fitting long arms to a JKU.
A third case is a slot that has been damaged — battered or drilled out.
Construction
- 3/16in hot rolled steel – approx. 4.8 mm, thick enough to carry the load from the bolt into the bracket.
- Eccentric hole – this is what lets one plate serve two different spacings: JK and TJ/LJ.
- Stamped "JK" and "TJ" markings – visible on the plate, set facing upwards according to the model.
- Fits the factory slot – the manufacturer stresses that the plate drops into the existing oval cut-out with no machining.
- Clear zinc plating – a protective finish, with nothing to paint after fitting.
- Made in the USA.
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What's in the kit
- 4 × cam bolt filler plate
The set covers both sides of the vehicle: one plate to the outside of each bracket, two per bracket.
Technical data
- Application: Jeep Wrangler JK 2007–2018 and Jeep Wrangler TJ/LJ 1997–2006, front axle, lower arms
- Function: fills the factory slot left by a punched-out cam bolt knock-out
- Contents: 4 plates
- Material: 3/16in hot rolled steel plate (approx. 4.8 mm)
- Hole: eccentric, for a 1/2in bolt
- Markings: stamped "JK" and "TJ"
- Finish: clear zinc
- Installation: bolt-on, no welding, no drilling
- Shipping weight: approx. 0.45 kg
- Country of manufacture: USA
Installation
The manufacturer gives the procedure in four steps:
- Remove the lower control arm bolt (vehicle supported, axle unloaded).
- Turn the plate so the marking for your model — "JK" or "TJ" — faces up. The eccentric shape means there is only one correct position in the slot.
- Fit one plate to the outside of each bracket — two per bracket.
- Refit the bolt and torque to the factory specification.
Have an alignment done afterwards — the bolt position changes, and with it the axle setting. Szekla4x4.pl is an authorised MetalCloak dealer with a workshop specialising in off-road suspension — we will fit the plates and set the alignment, ideally alongside a control arm change.
Why they are worth it
- A cheap answer to a problem that otherwise means a new bracket or an alignment that never stays put.
- One set covers both the JK and the TJ/LJ — no version to choose.
- Fitted as part of a normal control arm change, with no extra labour.
- 3/16in steel with a zinc finish — nothing to protect afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Do they fit the upper control arms?
No. Lower arms only. The manufacturer confirmed it directly: on a TJ the upper arm takes a 7/16in bolt, while these plates are made for 1/2in.
Does one plate fit both the JK and the TJ?
Yes. The hole is eccentric and the plate carries stamped "JK" and "TJ" markings — you turn the right one to face up.
How many plates do I need?
Four, which is exactly what the kit contains: two per bracket.
Is any welding or drilling required?
No. The plate drops into the existing factory slot.
Do I need them if I am fitting adjustable lower arms?
If the knock-outs on your vehicle have been punched out for cam bolts, then yes, they are worth having. The arm takes over the adjustment, and the plates keep the bolt from wandering in the oval slot.
Do they replace the cam bolt?
They fill the slot the cam bolt worked in and let you go back to an ordinary 1/2in bolt.
Is an alignment needed afterwards?
Yes. The lower arm bolt position changes, so the axle setting has to be checked and corrected.
