Some of you may have seen my post in the Stock JK section. I have pretty much all the issues ironed out on my '12 Rubicon.

That leads me to start thinking of modifications. The first that I am thinking about is a lift. Nothing overly crazy and I can say right now I will never go tires above 35's. I probably wont do much of pushing anything to extremes. I do plan on replacing bumpers, rock sliders and other additions in the future so I know I will be adding weight.

I want to go suspension so I have been looking at the offerings from Clayton and Metalcloak. I have been looking at the Clayton Overland + and Metalcloak Game Changer kits. I have not really decided on a 2.5" or 3.5" (will probably stick with a 2.5"). This is mainly due to the fact that I have seen the Clayton delivers more lift than stated, not sure but MetalCloak is probably the same. Going with a 3.5" on either I will get a new front drive shaft. Any other upgrades necessary I will take care. I wont go with more than 3.5" and as stated, thinking more of sticking with 2.5".

Looking at the 2 I have narrowed it down to and their offerings, Clayton has a full kit package with Bilstein's (including stabilizer), front & rear adj track bars, all arms/bumps/springs/links/brackets. It also includes a Currie Currect-Lync JK Heavy Duty Steering System. This is pretty similar to the Game Changer except the MetalCloak Rocksport offering does not have the steering system or stabilizer, but it does include the brake lines. Keeping the shocks comparable as I can upgrade if desired later in life.

From my research it seems both are quality. Both have loyal customer bases. When I first started looking I narrowed it down to the 2. I have been kicking a purchase around in my head, but now that money from one of my contract jobs has come in. I kept returning to the Clayton products while waiting on funds. Now I am just second guessing my leaning as it's a relatively big purchase and one I will live with for a while.

Looking for some input from those in the know or that may have experience with either or both.

I will say the only thing I don't like with the Metalcloak is the gold zinc plating. Yes I know I could paint it but what a PITA. Yes I know the claims and am familiar with the coating. It is not a deal breaker, just putting that out there.

 

I personally like MC products, but I think you'd be just as happy with the Clayton lift as well. Back in the day I would have said that the joints MC uses are far superior to all these other manufacturers, but the quality competition over the years did catch up. I have no personal experience with the Clayton line of products, and you don't see a lot of people out there with their lifts, but I have seen a few folks out there with legitimate builds that are not just cruising around on fire roads really happy with the quality of the products. I think it's a pretty good lift overall and a good consideration.

One thing about the Currie steering I'd not is that TB is mountable in the factory orientation only. at 2.5" not a big deal, but if you really net 3.5" now you're getting into high-steer/drag link flip territory, at which point that DL is would not accommodate that.

The only other thing that really stands out is that steering stabilizer -



THAT, is most definitely NOT what you are looking for in a steering stabilizer. You do not want "high pressure". What you want is something with equal resistance compressing and expanding. High-pressure is always trying to expand and often causes wander.

The Bilstein 5100s are a good shock, but I think the RockSport package probably edges that out, not to mention I think that MC probably has those paired a bit nicer with their lift in regard to sizing properly vs. Clayton and tossing the Bilsteins in the package, but that is probably not a huge deal. Then of course, with the Currie lift you're gonna have some additional cost for brake lines (i wouldn't rely on those tiny brackets, though many do), and I do think it's nice that MC outboards the shocks so if you did that, additional cost for those brackets.

The MC package definitely more expensive in this comparison. Do keep in mind 10% off and free shipping is their standard flash sale and that the holidays are coming up. IDK if you can find a sale to get bit more off the Clayton package or if there are discounts out there....maybe.

Both those packages will likely net about the same actual lift. If the decision is based on budget, probably hard to beat the currie package at the moment but I'd still chunk the SS to the side. If decision is based on on best thing, I might opt for the MC due to the versatility of the drag link mounting both directions (assuming here that you'd get the DL and TR so we're dealing with apples to apples packages) and i think the RockSport shocks couple be a better pairing.....but that price difference starts getting larger and larger.

I was trying to get a good look at the rear TB bracket that Clayton is using but I don't see it listed as an individual item on their site and that picture is not very good. Typically there brackets are really nice but was having a hard time determining how that is attaching to the axle.

 

I hadn't looked at the Currie's, just a note that the Clayton came with the Currie steering components. Maybe time to consider Currie as well.

The price difference in the Clayton and the MC is negligible.

These are the 2:

Clayton

Metalcloak - change to the Rocksport and it about $100 difference compared to the Clayton

 

Sorry, no, I was 100% talking about Clayton and the proper kit above but then got sidetracked cuz the steering gear was Currie.

I think though you need to do apples to apples comparison, and to do that you need to factory in the cost of MC DL and TR which adds a good bit of money to that difference, which is what i was saying above. Could you do the MC without adding steering upgrades? Sure, but you're gonna end up doing steering upgrades to at some point. That factory TR tends to bend like a piece of spaghetti if you get out and do much with the jeep.

Sorry for misspeaking on the manufacturer above and confusing things.

 

No worries, thought that may be the case just wasn't sure