MetalCloak Front Upper Long Arm Frame Mount, Bolt-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 pair of finished brackets in 1/4in hot rolled steel (approx. 6.4 mm), CAD formed, welded and boxed at the factory. Low profile — the manufacturer shaped them to tuck up under the vehicle and not hang on obstacles. Gold zinc finish throughout.

Bolt-on installation, no welding. The manufacturer rates it moderate and allows 2–3 hours. The kit includes extended flag nuts that drop into the boxed frame rail — they are what turns this job from a fight with the frame into an ordinary fitting.

⚠ "Bolt-on" does not mean "no modification"

The manufacturer lists the body modification as "requires some cutting". Specifically: the factory upper arm mounts have to be cut out — the new bracket takes their place rather than sitting alongside them. What you do not have to do is weld or repaint afterwards, because the bracket arrives finished in gold zinc.

That is the real difference from the weld-on version: the whole job can be done with a grinder, a drill and a spanner, with no welder and no corrosion protection to apply at the end.

Bolt-on or weld-on — we stock both, so do the arithmetic

The honest arithmetic: the weld-on version is considerably cheaper to buy, but it takes two hours more labour, needs a welder and needs separate painting. At workshop rates most of that saving disappears — and what remains is a longer stay off the road and a part you have to protect yourself.

Choose this version if you have no access to a good welder, want the vehicle back sooner, or simply want the part finished from the factory. Choose the weld-on if you are welding on the vehicle anyway, or are building for rock work and want the strongest possible joint. We stock both.

⚠ 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 bolt-on or the weld-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, or replacing a damaged bracket;
• 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.
• Welded and boxed – a box section finished at the factory, not a flat tab.
• Low profile – tucks up under the vehicle, in a place that scrapes on obstacles.
• Gold zinc finish – the same as on the arms and the other MetalCloak brackets. No painting after fitting.
• Extended flag nuts – dropped into the boxed frame rail; the manufacturer lists them as a feature in their own right.
• All required hardware included.
• Made in the USA.

What's in the kit

• 2 × front upper long arm frame bracket (left and right)
• extended flag nuts
• all required hardware

No control arms are included. 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 pair of brackets (left and right)
• Material: 1/4in hot rolled steel (approx. 6.4 mm), CAD formed
• Construction: box section, factory welded, low profile
• Finish: gold zinc
• Installation method: bolt-on, no welding
• Body modification: requires some cutting — the factory mounts are removed
• Installation difficulty: moderate
• Time to install: 2–3 hours
• Manufacturer's instructions: available
• 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. Send us your configuration and we will work out which is better value in your case: the system or the individual items.

Who they are for

For vehicles lifted 4.5in and above that are moving to front long arms — and for anyone who wants to do the conversion without welding. This is the most accessible version of the part: finished, coated, with instructions, and with the flag nuts that take care of the most awkward part of the job.

Installation notes

The order: cut out the factory upper arm mounts, clean and inspect the frame, offer the brackets up, seat the flag nuts in the rail, bolt them on, and only then fit the arms. Symmetry between the two sides is critical here — the geometry of the whole front end depends on it.

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

Why they are worth it

• Without this mount (or its weld-on version) the upper long arms are unusable.
• The whole conversion without a welder — grinder, drill, spanner.
• Gold zinc from the factory: nothing to protect after fitting.
• The extended flag nuts turn the most awkward stage into routine.
• Two hours less labour than the weld-on version — and a shorter stay off the road.

Not sure whether this version or the weld-on suits your vehicle? Get in touch — we stock both and will tell you honestly which works out better in your case.

Frequently asked questions

Is welding required?

No. The manufacturer states it plainly: bolt-on, no welding. You do have to cut out the factory upper arm mounts.

Do the factory mounts stay on?

No. The new bracket takes their place — it is a full replacement of the mounting point.

How does this differ from the weld-on version (7284)?

This one is finished and coated in gold zinc, comes with extended flag nuts and instructions, and takes 2–3 hours at moderate difficulty. The weld-on arrives as raw plates, needs a welder, takes 4–5 hours, has no instructions and has to be protected after fitting — but it is considerably cheaper to buy.

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 bolt-on or the weld-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, although also bolt-on.

What are extended flag nuts?

Nuts on a long tab that slides into the boxed frame rail. They mean you do not have to reach inside the frame while tightening — the manufacturer lists them as a distinct advantage of this version.

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.