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

The rear axle of a loaded JK is the hardest case a shock faces. A rack, a roof tent, a water tank and a week's worth of gear mean the shock works with more force and heats faster than at the front — and once the oil overheats the damping disappears, so the vehicle starts wallowing exactly when you need control most.

The RockSport BLACK answers that with volume and cooling: a 2.5in aluminium body with a 3/16in wall and a remote reservoir. Add eight compression settings you turn by hand and a 7/8in shaft induction hardened to Rockwell C 60+. In the rear version MetalCloak includes a bar pin eliminator machined from 1in 1018 round bar with its mounts — the part without which the shock cannot be fitted properly.

These are large-bodied shocks — what to check before ordering

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 knob with laser marked numbers. One setup for daily driving, another for a loaded trip, with nothing to replace.
• 2.5in aluminium body with a 3/16in wall – large oil volume and real heat-shedding area. On the rear axle, which works hardest, that is not a catalogue figure.
• 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 – resistant to rock strikes and giving a smooth surface for the seals.
• Bar pin eliminator from 1in 1018 round bar – included, with gold zinc mounts. Buying shocks alone, this is the part most easily forgotten.
• 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 and a HARD Black Anodize finish on body and reservoir.

What's in the kit

• 2 × RockSport BLACK rear reservoir shock
• reservoir mounts
• bar pin mounts
• all required hardware

Technical data

• Application: Jeep Wrangler JK, 2007–2018, rear 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: 30.8in (approx. 782 mm)
• Collapsed length: 18.5in (approx. 470 mm)
• Travel: 12.3in (approx. 312 mm)
• Compression adjustment: 8 settings
• Reservoir: remote, steel braided hose, 3000 psi working pressure
• Reservoir mount: 1/8in steel
• Bar pin eliminator: 1in 1018 cold rolled round bar
• Finishes: HARD Black Anodize (body and reservoir), gold zinc (bar pin eliminator mount)
• Installation difficulty: easy
• Installation time: 1–2 hours
• Body modification: none
• Shipping weight: approx. 11.3 kg
• Country of manufacture: USA

Who they are for

For JKs driven loaded and far — rack, tent, gear. That is where the reservoir and large oil volume stop being a brochure figure, because the rear axle works harder and longer than the front. The eight compression settings let you firm the rear up under load and soften it when the vehicle runs empty. MetalCloak designed these to work with its True Dual-Rate coils. With the front version, 1612, they make a complete set for both axles.

Installation notes

MetalCloak rates the install as easy and quotes 1–2 hours with no body modification. The kit includes the reservoir mounts and the bar pin mounts, so nothing has to be sourced separately. 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

• The rear of a loaded vehicle is where a reservoir pays for itself fastest.
• Eight-step adjustment — one setting for every day, another for a trip.
• Bar pin eliminator mounts in the box, so the install does not stall on a missing part.

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

Are the bar pin eliminators included?

Yes. The kit includes bar pin mounts with an eliminator machined from 1in 1018 round bar, plus reservoir mounts and all required hardware.

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 30.8 inches and a collapsed length of 18.5 inches.

How do they differ from the front version?

The shock itself is very close, but the rear kit comes with bar pin mounts instead of the front lower brackets, and the lengths differ by a few millimetres. The front version is part no. 1612.

Do they work with springs from other manufacturers?

MetalCloak designed them around its True Dual-Rate coils. With other springs the characteristics may not be optimal.