MetalCloak Lower Front Control Arm Skid Plates, Weld-On, Jeep Wrangler JK, Pair

The factory lower front control arm brackets on a JK are steel tabs hanging down in a place you cannot avoid. On rock they are among the first things to take a hit, and a bent bracket means front geometry out of true — often a replacement rather than a repair.

These plates box the factory bracket in and give it a smooth surface to slide over. Instead of catching on the edge of a tab, the obstacle slides across the skid. 3/16in hot rolled steel plate (approx. 4.8 mm), CAD designed and laser cut, so it goes on without fettling. Raw finish, for your own protection.

This is a weld-on part. The manufacturer puts it plainly: do not buy it unless you are prepared to weld on your vehicle.

⚠ This is a weld-on part — do not buy it without a welder

The manufacturer says it twice on its own page, so we will repeat it: "Do not purchase this product unless you are prepared to weld it on". The skids arrive as two raw plates and require:

• welding to the factory bracket — there are no bolts and no adhesive option;
• corrosion protection after welding — the part is raw, with no coating;
• the manufacturer supplies no written instructions.

Difficulty: difficult, time 1–2 hours. It is a quick job, but done under the vehicle on a part that governs geometry — so it belongs in a workshop.

What exactly they protect

The manufacturer writes generally about "the factory front lower control arm brackets". Its fitted photograph shows the bracket on the axle side — where the lower arm meets the axle and the bracket tab hangs lowest.

If you are planning a long arm conversion (the MetalCloak 7278 system, or the 7224 arms with 7283 brackets), get in touch before ordering. That conversion cuts away some of the factory mounts and replaces them with MetalCloak brackets — we will confirm what is left to protect in your particular setup.

Construction

• 3/16in hot rolled steel plate – approx. 4.8 mm; the same thickness as in the DB3 weld-on relocation brackets.
• CAD designed, laser cut – the manufacturer stresses that the parts go on without fettling.
• Shaped to box the bracket in – the skid does not merely cover the factory tab, it stiffens it.
• Smooth sliding surface – so a rock slides across the skid instead of catching on the edge of a tab.
• Raw finish – bare steel, ready to weld. Protection is applied after fitting.
• Made in the USA.

What's in the kit

• 2 × lower front control arm skid plate (left and right)

No hardware and no coating are included — both plates are raw and ready to weld.

Technical data

• Application: Jeep Wrangler JK, 2007–2018, front axle, lower control arm brackets
• Function: reinforces and shields the factory brackets, adds a smooth sliding surface
• Contents: a pair of plates (left and right)
• Material: 3/16in hot rolled steel plate (approx. 4.8 mm), CAD designed, laser cut
• Finish: raw (requires protection after fitting)
• Installation method: welding
• Body modification: welding
• Installation difficulty: difficult
• Time to install: 1–2 hours
• Manufacturer's instructions: none provided
• Shipping weight: approx. 0.91 kg
• Country of manufacture: USA

Who they are for

For vehicles used on rock, where the underside regularly drags across obstacles — and for anyone who has already bent a factory bracket once and would rather not repeat it. This is a classic builder part: cheap, small, fitted while other work is being done underneath, and it saves a component that governs front geometry.

It is the best-reviewed MetalCloak item in our range — six reviews on the manufacturer's page, all at full marks. The recurring theme is surprise that this particular spot takes so many hits.

Installation notes

The job is straightforward: clean the factory bracket back to bare steel, offer the skid up, weld it, and once it has cooled, apply corrosion protection. Welding on a suspension component means disconnecting the battery and taking care with the earth, so that welding current does not pass through bearings or electronics.

Szekla4x4.pl is an authorised MetalCloak dealer with a workshop specialising in off-road suspension — we can weld the skids in alongside other work underneath. Tell us what you have planned and we will say whether it can be combined into a single visit.

Why they are worth it

• For a fraction of the price of a new control arm, they protect a part that governs front geometry.
• Laser cut 3/16in plate — it goes on without fettling.
• It stiffens the factory bracket rather than merely covering it.
• Six reviews at the manufacturer, all full marks.

Frequently asked questions

Can they be fitted without welding?

No. This is a weld-on part only — the manufacturer does not make a bolt-on version.

Are the skids corrosion protected?

No. They arrive raw, ready to weld. Protection is applied after fitting and it has to be done.

Do they suit a vehicle on long arms?

That depends on which factory mounts are still on your vehicle — a long arm conversion cuts some of them away. Get in touch before ordering with a description of your setup and we will confirm.

Is this a set for both sides?

Yes. The kit contains two plates, left and right.

Do I need a lift for these?

No. This is armour, not a suspension part — it works regardless of ride height.

How long does it take?

The manufacturer says 1–2 hours and rates it "difficult" — because of the welding, not because the operation itself is complicated.