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Sunset Orange JK With 2.5 MetalCloak

5K views 29 replies 16 participants last post by  Simsm734 
#1 ·
At 6 am yesterday morning I headed out to the garage to start my install on the 2 1/2" MetalCloak game changer suspension with Old Man EMU shocks. About 9 am I strained my left shoulder but no way was I NOT going to get this installed. At 8 pm last night I had had enough and the only thing left was to straighten the steering wheel.

The instruction are really good less for little things like removing a few ties that restrict the locker wiring and wheel speed sensors. You also have to move the vent lines a little to allow movement.

I'll post some quality pictures of the little things needed to know to install this kit yourself soon.

This morning I installed the Maximus-3 stinger and loaded the ProCal for adjusting tire size. Odd that it took a 33" size setting to get the speed correct with my hand held gps...........

Last week I installed the Maximus-3 spare tire carrier. Installs well but I wish they would send longer bolts for the hinges.

I took a picture of the stock Hard Rock front bumper; it would be nice if someone designed and offered new end caps that married up nicely to the stock front fenders like they do on the rear....

Discount tire must have installed the wrong sensors as the TPMS light is glowing and says needs serviced. No pressures are showing up for any tires.
 

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#2 ·
I took before and after measurements; with 2 1/2" lift and 315/70/17's the front gained 4 1/8" and 4 3/4" on the rear
 
#4 ·
Hi scj64, How hard was it to install the Maximus-3 stinger? Also when you add bigger tires how do you calibrate the speedometer? I'm picking up my SO HR in the morning! Also I see you went with the metalCloak vs the AEV lift and and rear tire carrier? Why is MetalCloak a better choice than AEV or TerraFlex? Thanks D
 
#5 ·
I used a Superchips Flashcal to calibrate the speedometer.
I read post after post for about a month then researched the manufacturer’s components and decided MetalCloak offered a better product and more complete suspension kit IMO.

The stinger installs easily in about an hour.
The tire carrier is a Maximus-3 and was pretty straight forward following the directions provided. About 3 hours for me to install and adjust it properly and it does not rattle.
 
#8 ·
Looks great. I guess the Maximus-3 is similar to the Teraflex. Did you get the CA's with the MC kit?? How do you like the ride?? I want those shocks just to match my yellow Rubicon. Not to mention they are a great shock.
Yes, all 8 control arms, new brake lines front and rear, front and rear track bars, 4 shocks, rear control arm bracket, front and rear springs, good instructions and helpful guys on the other end of the phone when you call..........

I set the control arms to what they detailed in their instructions then made a slight change after I talked to Eric at MetalCloak since I have 2 1/2" springs, it drives amazingly well. I'll get it aligned ASAP though.

I read stories of bad installs on Jeeps all the time but mine handles exceptionably well even when hitting bumps at speed in sweeping corners.
It does not lean like it did with the stock suspension either. I need to mess with the sway bar disconnect system (never had a Rubicon before) so I can get a few pictures of the Jeep flexed .........
 
#9 ·
Thanks!

It makes me smile every time I walk into the garage :)
 
#12 ·
Thanks! When I first seen the Sunset Orange on a Willy's I thought having all orange was going to be a mistake. After receiving my Hard Rock, I knew I made the right decision.
 
#13 ·
Looks awesome! Great work (altho im partial to 2 door orange jeeps haha)
 
#14 ·
There's something kind of old-school about those orange 2-doors! Have to say that even though it's not the color for me, it looks awesome on your rig with the way you've got it set up. :thumb:
 
#16 ·
Def one of the few jeeps that looks awsome with a color matched hood
 
#17 ·
Thanks for the compliments everyone!

I took it to Goodyear this morning to check the alignment; everything was perfect except the tow.
For anyone considering the MetalCloak suspension; it works and if you set it like they instruct, you'll be pleasantly surprised how great a lifted Jeep can ride.

I went with 2 1/2" springs which are the only parts that are different than the 3 1/2" kit. The settings in the instructions are specifically for a 3 1/2" kit but my conversation with Eric got me to thinking how I should adjust for the 2 1/2" springs.
What I ended up with produced excellent alignment #'s. Only changes to my control arms was I extended the top control arms front and rear 1/8" longer than they recommend for 3 1/2" springs and I shortened the adjustment both front and back for track bars 1/8".

It may seem like a lot of money for MetalCloak suspension but when it's absolutely super easy to install with a floor jack and two sets of jack stands and the result is something I'm not afraid to send my wife or kids out in as it does not do anything abnormal when pushed hard, it's good money well spent.

Another thing I have been monitoring for best performance is tire pressures on the Duratracs. I'm running 38 front and 34 rear for the best results. All the tread front and rear is touching equally and I've been averaging 18.5 mpg with a mix of 70% highway and 30% town driving. The ECM is being adjusted with a Flashpaq 3872 but as of now it's only being used for TPMS settings and to correct the speedometer. Hopefully they'll have a performance update sometime soon........

My Jeep salesman forgot to add remote start to my order so I went with a Fortin remote start kit. It's been working perfectly with the factory key fob and I've only tried it up to 100' away so far and it worked fine.
 
#19 ·
Took it out on the freeway last weekend and my fear of wasting the extra money on the 4:10 gear option was realized.........my 18 + mpg cruising around the local highways went down to 16 mpg and it shifted way more than I wanted. I received my 4:88 gears but the install kits didn't make it this week so I'll have to wait until New Years day to tear into the gearing.
 
#21 ·
Thank you!

I have to say the pictures I posted so far are from my cell phone and they do not do the Jeep justice as far as how orange it really is.
I'm going to grab my wife's good camera today to see if it reflects the proper orange.........
 
#22 ·
Scj64,
Great job on you build and thanks for detailing all your hard work. I have ordered a 2015 SO JKU Rubicon. Once it arrives I would like to pick your brain and ask for tips on my own build. Your build is very similar to what I have planned. I subscribed to your thread. Good luck on your build , your jeep is looking great!
 
#23 ·
Rob, thanks and pm me when you get close to starting yours and I'll send you my number.

I've gathered all the tools and parts needed for the gear swap so hopefully everything goes smooth this week. It's been twenty years since I have changed a ring and pinion so I'm being overly cautious probably as I really do not want to mess this up but I get a lot of satisfaction out of doing this stuff myself.
 
#25 ·
Yes, they said the sensors were still asleep since they never installed them on the Jeep for me (I took them in in the back of my truck). They held their scan tool up next to them and initialized the sensors. They recognized within five miles of leaving their shop. Been working perfectly ever since.
 
#28 ·
Tore into the rear axle on the 1st but should have looked at the bearings they ordered; wrong bearings....picked up the new bearings after work last night and headed back out this morning and completed the rear end. I yanked the front drive shaft so I could drive it and set the gear ratio with the Flashpaq.

I watched several videos of installs for a few reminders as it's been twenty years since I installed a set of gears. I had to shim the pinion and re-shim the carrier. I learned a couple things today that should save me a few steps and time on the front gears.

The rear gears spec'd out perfectly and were nice and quiet on my test drive. :iamhappy:
 
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