MetalCloak Front Upper Long Arm Frame Mount, Weld-On, Jeep Wrangler JK, Pair

In a long arm setup the front upper arm does not go back into the factory mount — it needs a new point on the frame, further forward and at the right angle. These brackets create it. Without them the front upper long arms (part no. 7291) simply cannot be fitted.

A set of plates in 1/4in hot rolled steel (approx. 6.4 mm), CAD formed, welded and boxed in place on the vehicle. Low profile for clearance. Raw finish — the manufacturer leaves the steel bare so you can protect the bracket your own way once it is welded in.

This is a weld-in part. The manufacturer rates the install as difficult, allows 4–5 hours, and requires cutting and welding. No written instructions are supplied.

⚠ Read this before ordering — this part is not for everyone

We will repeat what the manufacturer puts in the specification: this is a set of plates to be welded into the frame. Do not buy it unless you have access to a good welder. In practice that means:

• cutting out the factory upper arm mounts — this is a replacement, not an add-on;
• welding on the frame, with both sides kept symmetrical;
• corrosion protection after welding — the part arrives raw, with no coating;
• the manufacturer supplies no written instructions — it refers you to its support form.

Difficulty: difficult. Time: 4–5 hours. It is the most labour-intensive single bracket in the whole JK long arm family.

There is a bolt-on version — do the arithmetic first

MetalCloak makes the same mount in two forms, and the difference is more than the price of the part:

The honest arithmetic: the weld-on version is clearly cheaper to buy, but it takes two hours more labour, needs a welder, and needs separate corrosion protection. At workshop rates that can swallow most of the saving. The weld-on makes sense when you are welding on the vehicle anyway, or when you want the strongest possible joint — typically on competition builds and rigs on large tyres.

We stock both versions — the bolt-on is part no. 7282. Get in touch if you are unsure which suits your vehicle and your workshop.

⚠ Check that you are not buying this twice

The upper mount is part of the complete MetalCloak front 4-Link system (part no. 7278), which we stock — when you buy the system you choose the weld-on or the bolt-on version. If you are buying the system, do not order this mount separately.

On its own it makes sense when:

• you already have the front upper arms (part no. 7291) and need the mount — without it they are unusable;
• you are rebuilding an existing setup and want to swap a bolted mount for a welded one;
• you are building your own setup on other arms.

Construction

• 1/4in hot rolled steel – approx. 6.4 mm, CAD formed to fit the frame.
• Box section – once welded, the mount is a closed box, not a flat tab.
• Low profile – shaped by the manufacturer for clearance.
• Raw finish – bare steel for your own protection. That is a requirement, not an option: uncoated, the bracket will start to corrode.
• All required hardware included.
• Made in the USA.

What's in the kit

• weld-on upper plates
• weld-on lower plates
• weld-on socket plates
• all required hardware

A set for both sides of the vehicle. No control arms and no coating are included — every part is raw and ready to weld. The front upper long arms are a separate item: part no. 7291.

Technical data

• Application: Jeep Wrangler JK, 2007–2018, front axle, upper arms
• Function: creates new frame mounting points for the upper arms in a 4-link long arm setup
• Contents: a set of plates for both sides
• Material: 1/4in hot rolled steel (approx. 6.4 mm), CAD formed
• Construction: box section, welded on the vehicle, low profile
• Finish: raw (requires protection after fitting)
• Installation method: welding, full replacement of the factory mounts
• Body modification: cutting and welding
• Installation difficulty: difficult
• Time to install: 4–5 hours
• Manufacturer's instructions: none provided
• Recommended lift range: 4.5in – 6.5in (the manufacturer's stated range for JK long arms)
• Shipping weight: approx. 6.80 kg
• Country of manufacture: USA

Where this mount sits in the whole conversion

The front long arm conversion is four separate items, and one is easy to forget:

All of it, plus the full hardware set, is contained in the complete 7278 system. For a conversion from scratch that is almost always the better buy.

Who it is for

For vehicles lifted 4.5in and above that are moving to front long arms — and for the workshops that do these conversions regularly. This is not a part you add on: once it is welded in, the front geometry is fixed for good.

Installation notes

The order: cut out the factory upper arm mounts, offer up the plates, set both sides symmetrically, weld, apply corrosion protection, and only then fit the arms. Symmetry between the two sides is critical here — and since the manufacturer supplies no instructions, the reference points have to come from experience or from measurement on the vehicle.

An alignment is mandatory after work like this. Szekla4x4.pl is an authorised MetalCloak dealer with a workshop specialising in off-road suspension — we weld the mounts in, assemble the setup and set the alignment. Send us your configuration before ordering and we will tell you exactly what is needed and how long it takes.

Why it is worth it

• Without this mount (or its bolt-on version) the upper long arms are unusable.
• A welded 1/4in steel box is a permanent solution, not a bolted compromise.
• Clearly cheaper to buy than the bolt-on version — if you have a welder anyway.
• Low profile, designed for clearance in a place that scrapes on obstacles.

Not sure whether the weld-on or the bolt-on version suits your vehicle? Get in touch — this is exactly the kind of decision worth asking about before buying.

Frequently asked questions

Can it be fitted without welding?

Not this part. The manufacturer does make a separate bolt-on version (part no. 7282) with the same function, in gold zinc, with extended flag nuts and a simpler install (2–3 h). We stock it.

Do the factory mounts stay on?

No. They have to be cut out — this is a full replacement of the mounting point.

Is the bracket corrosion protected?

No. It arrives raw, ready to weld. Protection is applied after fitting and it has to be done — bare steel will otherwise start to corrode.

Is this enough to convert to front long arms?

No. You also need the upper arms (part no. 7291), the lower arms (part no. 7224) and the lower brackets (part no. 7283). The complete 7278 system contains all of it.

Do I get this mount if I buy the 7278 system?

Yes — buying the system, you choose the weld-on or the bolt-on version. Do not order the mount in addition.

Does it fit the rear?

No. The rear mounts are a separate item (part no. 7292) — a different design, and bolt-on.

How long does the install really take?

The manufacturer says 4–5 hours, difficulty "difficult". Add time for corrosion protection and for the alignment once everything is back together.

From what lift height does this make sense?

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