MetalCloak RockSport BLACK Long(er) Travel Front Reservoir Shocks, Jeep Wrangler JK, Pair

A 2.5 inch shock body is not about size for its own sake. It is about oil volume and the surface area that sheds heat — because it is temperature, not travel, that ends a shock's working life twenty minutes into a broken gravel section. The RockSport BLACK adds a remote reservoir and eight compression settings you can turn by hand without jacking the vehicle up.

This is the Long(er) Travel version for the front axle of a JK: a 2.5in aluminium body with a 3/16in wall, a 7/8in shaft induction hardened to Rockwell C 60+ and 12.3 inches of travel. They are built in house by MetalCloak and designed to be serviced rather than discarded.

Before you buy: check your axle

The kit is specified for a factory front axle — nothing extra is needed there. If you run an aftermarket axle, MetalCloak supplies an additional weld-on shock bracket for it (part no. 7194), which we stock separately. Mention it when you order and we will put the right combination together.

These are large-bodied shocks — what that means in practice

MetalCloak states plainly that RockSport BLACK shocks are 2.5 inch large-bodied designs, a direct fit with the model-specific brackets for the JK. Any shock of that diameter still calls for a few checks on the individual vehicle: additional bump stops, correct wheel backspacing and brake caliper clearance. If you are not sure how to verify that, get in touch and we will go through it before you order.

Key benefits

• Eight compression settings – a large knurled knob with laser marked numbers. Changing the character of the suspension takes a moment and needs no disassembly.
• 2.5in aluminium body with a 3/16in wall – large oil volume and real cooling area; that is what decides whether the damping survives a long section.
• Remote reservoir on a steel braided hose – 3000 psi working pressure, synthetic lined, with flow orifices sized for unhindered oil flow.
• 7/8in shaft, induction hardened to Rockwell C 60+, hard chrome plated – heavier and harder than typical, resistant to rock strikes and giving a smooth surface for the seals.
• Parabolic valve stack (patent pending #63/743,954) – a simpler and more repeatable assembly than a conventional shim stack.
• Mil-Spec Type III hard anodized piston – a wear-resistant surface under high velocity fluid transfer.
• Triple seal pack and removable bump cap – the seal assembly is protected at full compression and accessible for service.
• HARD Black Anodize finish on body and reservoir, gold zinc on the mounts.

What's in the kit

• 2 × RockSport BLACK front reservoir shock
• hose clamps
• reservoir mounts
• front lower shock mounts
• all required hardware

Technical data

• Application: Jeep Wrangler JK, 2007–2018, front axle
• Contents: pair of shocks
• Body: 2.5in aluminium, 3/16in wall (approx. 4.8 mm)
• Shaft: 7/8in (approx. 22 mm), hard chrome plated, induction hardened to Rockwell C 60+
• Extended length: 30.7in (approx. 780 mm)
• Collapsed length: 18.4in (approx. 467 mm)
• Travel: 12.3in (approx. 312 mm)
• Compression adjustment: 8 settings
• Reservoir: remote, steel braided hose, 3000 psi working pressure
• Reservoir clamp: billet aluminium
• Outboard shock mount: 3/16in steel plate
• Finishes: HARD Black Anodize (body and reservoir), gold zinc (mounts)
• Installation difficulty: easy
• Installation time: 1–2 hours
• Body modification: none
• Country of manufacture: USA

Who they are for

For a JK whose suspension is already sorted and where you are after the last step up: adjustability and heat resistance. The reservoir and large oil volume matter most where you drive long and fast over rough ground — gravel, ruts, expedition mileage. The eight compression settings let you set the vehicle up one way for the commute and another for a weekend off-road, without changing a part. MetalCloak designed them to work with its True Dual-Rate coils.

Installation notes

MetalCloak rates the install as easy and quotes 1–2 hours with no body modification. The kit contains every mount, clamp and reservoir bracket. An alignment by a suspension specialist is recommended after any suspension change.

With 2.5 inch shocks it is worth going through the fitment questions with someone — bump stops, wheel backspacing, caliper clearance. We do that daily: Szekla4x4.pl is an authorised MetalCloak dealer with a workshop specialising in off-road suspension.

Why they are worth it

• Eight-step compression adjustment — one vehicle, two different suspension characters.
• A reservoir and large oil volume: damping that does not disappear twenty minutes in.
• A serviceable design with access to the seals, not a sealed disposable tube.

Not sure whether 2.5 inch shocks will clear your lift and wheels? Send us the configuration and we will check before you order.

Frequently asked questions

Do they fit an aftermarket axle?

For a factory front axle the kit is complete. For an aftermarket axle MetalCloak supplies an additional weld-on shock bracket (part no. 7194), which we stock separately. Mention it when ordering and we will supply the right combination.

What has to be checked before fitting?

MetalCloak notes that 2.5 inch shocks require checking additional bump stops, wheel backspacing and brake caliper clearance on the individual vehicle.

How many damping settings are there?

Eight, changed with a knob carrying laser marked numbers.

How much travel do they have?

12.3 inches, at an extended length of 30.7 inches and a collapsed length of 18.4 inches.

Are the reservoir mounts included?

Yes — hose clamps, reservoir mounts, lower shock mounts and all required hardware.

Can they be serviced?

Yes. A removable bump cap protects the seal pack and gives access to it for servicing.