MetalCloak Rear Long Arm Frame-Side Bolt-On Brackets, Jeep Wrangler JK, Pair

Converting a JK to rear long arms is not a matter of swapping the arms. The factory mounts sit too close to the axle and at the wrong angle — a long arm has nothing useful to attach to. For the geometry to work, the mounting point has to move forward, onto the frame. That is what these brackets do.

They are a pair of frame-side brackets in 1/4in steel plate (approx. 6.4 mm), formed and fully welded at the factory, finished in gold zinc. Every edge is angled so the bracket slides off obstacles rather than catching on them. The kit includes a 1/8in steel drilling template that fits over the frame rail — the holes end up where they belong, with no measuring and no guesswork.

Bolt-on installation — no welding. The manufacturer rates it moderate and allows one hour.

⚠ "Bolt-on" does not mean "no modification" — read this before ordering

MetalCloak advertises this part as bolt-on, no welding required — and that is true. But two paragraphs further down the same description it says something easy to miss: "Cutting and drilling are required for installation". It is the most important line on the page, so here it is again:

• The factory rear control arm brackets have to be cut off. That is irreversible — afterwards the vehicle cannot go back to short arms without new mounts being welded on.
• Holes have to be drilled in the frame rail. That is what the supplied 1/8in template and the flag nuts are for — the nuts go inside the boxed rail.
• No welding is needed — and that is a real difference, because welding on a frame rail under a vehicle is a different order of difficulty from drilling it.

So: "no welding" — yes. "No modification to the vehicle" — no. The manufacturer rates the difficulty as moderate and the time at one hour, which is optimistic for drilling a frame and assumes a well-equipped bay.

⚠ Check that you are not buying this twice

These brackets are part of the complete MetalCloak rear long arm system (part no. 7279), which we stock. If you are buying that system, the brackets are already in it — do not order them separately.

On their own they make sense in three situations:

• you already have the long arms (part no. 7293 upper and 7294 lower, both available here separately) and only need the mounts;
• you are replacing a bracket damaged on the trail;
• you are building your own setup and want MetalCloak brackets with another maker's arms.

Watch out for the reverse of this too: buying the upper arms (7293) and lower arms (7294) separately does not give you a complete set — these brackets are exactly what is missing. Three items bought separately cost more than the 7279 system. For a conversion from scratch, buy the system.

What these brackets actually change

Moving the mounting point forward lengthens the effective arc the axle travels through. There are three consequences, and all three show up in the way the vehicle drives:

• A more consistent wheelbase throughout suspension travel – a short arm sweeps a tight arc and pulls the axle forward as it compresses. A long arm sweeps a flatter one, so the axle stays where it should be.
• Less pinion angle variation – at a large lift, this is what decides whether the driveshaft vibrates.
• More usable travel – the arm stops limiting axle movement before the shock does.

Construction

• 1/4in steel plate (approx. 6.4 mm) – formed and welded all round, not bolted together from several pieces.
• Edges angled for approach – the bracket sits in one of the most exposed places on the underside, and is shaped to slide off a rock rather than hook on it.
• Gold zinc finish – the same as on the arms and brackets in the other MetalCloak kits.
• 1/8in steel drilling template – fits over the frame rail and locates every hole.
• Flag nuts – dropped into the boxed frame rail, so there is no need to reach inside it while tightening.
• Made in the USA.

What's in the kit

• 2 × frame-side rear long arm bracket (left and right)
• 1 × steel drilling template, 1/8in thick
• flag nuts
• all required hardware

No control arms are included. The rear long arms are separate items: upper part no. 7293, lower part no. 7294.

Technical data

• Application: Jeep Wrangler JK, 2007–2018, rear axle
• Function: relocates the rear control arm mounting points onto the frame, for a 4-link long arm setup
• Contents: a pair of brackets (left and right)
• Bracket material: 1/4in steel plate (approx. 6.4 mm), formed, welded all round
• Drilling template: 1/8in steel (approx. 3.2 mm)
• Finish: gold zinc
• Installation method: bolt-on, no welding
• Body modification: cutting and drilling — factory brackets removed, frame drilled
• Installation difficulty: moderate
• Time to install: approx. 1 hour
• Recommended lift range: 4.5in – 6.5in (the manufacturer's stated range for JK long arms)
• Shipping weight: approx. 9.07 kg
• Country of manufacture: USA

One inconsistency in the manufacturer's data — explained

In the technical specification table MetalCloak has entered "2018 + JK Wrangler" under compatibility. That is an editorial error, most likely carried over from the JL equivalent's page. The JK was built from 2007 to 2018, and "2018+" is the JL model range. Everything else on the page — the product name, the URL, the description, the tech section, the photographs — refers unambiguously to the JK, so that is the compatibility we state: Jeep Wrangler JK, the full 2007–2018 range.

MetalCloak makes a separate bracket for the JL, under a different part number and at a different price. If you have a JL, this is not the part — get in touch and we will point you to the right one.

Who they are for

For vehicles lifted 4.5in and above that are moving to rear long arms — and for the workshops that carry out those conversions. Also for owners of already-converted vehicles whose bracket took a hit on the trail: it sits low and well forward, so it is the first thing to catch.

This is not a part you add to a stock vehicle. It is a build stage, after which the whole rear kinematics change.

Installation notes

The order is fixed: cut off the factory brackets, clean the frame rail, fit the template, drill, seat the flag nuts, bolt the brackets on, and only then attach the arms. Once the factory mounts are cut off there is no way back — so have every part on hand before starting.

Afterwards the wheelbase and pinion angle have to be set, followed by an alignment — MetalCloak recommends one after any suspension work. Szekla4x4.pl is an authorised MetalCloak dealer with a workshop specialising in off-road suspension — we carry out these conversions ourselves, alignment included. Send us your configuration and we will tell you what else you will need.

Why they are worth it

• Without these brackets the long arms have nothing to bolt to — this is a condition of the conversion, not an accessory to it.
• 1/4in plate welded all round, with edges angled for approach, in a place that genuinely takes hits.
• The supplied template turns the most nerve-racking step of the job into a repeatable operation.
• No welding — the conversion is within reach of a well-equipped workshop.

Not sure whether your build needs the brackets alone or the whole system? Get in touch — we will tell you honestly, because the price difference runs both ways.

Frequently asked questions

Is welding really not required?

It is not. MetalCloak states it plainly: bolt-on, no welding. You do however have to cut off the factory brackets and drill the frame — this is not a non-invasive install.

Do the factory mounts stay on?

No. They have to be cut off, and that cannot be undone without welding new ones on.

Is this enough to convert to long arms?

No. You also need the arms themselves — upper (part no. 7293) and lower (part no. 7294). We stock both separately, but the complete 7279 system, which contains the arms and these brackets together, works out better value.

Do I get these brackets if I buy the 7279 system?

Yes. The system contains exactly these brackets. Do not order them in addition.

Do they fit the JL?

No. MetalCloak makes a separate bracket for the JL. The "2018 +" entry in the manufacturer's table is an error — this part is for the JK, 2007–2018.

Is there a weld-on version?

For the JK rear axle the manufacturer offers only this bolt-on version. The weld-on/bolt-on choice applies to the front upper mounts, not the rear.

How long does the install take?

The manufacturer says one hour, difficulty moderate. In practice it depends on the condition of the frame and on the equipment available — drilling a frame rail under a vehicle can take a while.

From what lift height does this make sense?

MetalCloak recommends JK long arms for lifts of 4.5in to 6.5in. Below 4.5in a long arm conversion is usually not needed.