The Jeep TJ Wrangler might be the most beloved platform Jeep ever built.
It was the first coil-sprung Wrangler. It gave us the Rubicon. The LJ Unlimited proved a longer wheelbase could still crawl like crazy. And for a whole generation of Jeep owners, the TJ is where it all started… the first lift, the first trail, the first broken part, and the first time you learned how to fix something with dirt on your hands and daylight running out.
That’s the good news.
The other news is that a lot of TJ and LJ builds are still running suspension and steering that were considered great ten or fifteen years ago… and now they’re just tired. Rubicon Express long arms with worn bushings. Currie steering that’s been rebuilt more than once. Track bars that wander. Joints that squeak. Highway manners that slowly turned into “that’s just how old Jeeps drive.”
No… not always.
These 9 videos cover the upgrades TJ and LJ owners actually search for and actually need: HD steering and how it compares to Currie, suspension swaps from Rubicon Express to MetalCloak, front track bar fixes, and the armor and accessories that finish the build the right way. Every video includes a full word-for-word transcript with timestamps.
Whether your TJ is a daily driver, a weekend trail rig, or a Jeep you plan to keep forever, this guide covers the parts that make the biggest difference on the platform that started it all.
Every video below links to a full transcript page. Visit the full Video Vault for 96 curated videos with transcripts, or explore the entire library of 800+ on YouTube.com/MetalCloak.
Quick Answer: What should TJ and LJ owners upgrade first?
Start with steering and axle control. On a lifted TJ, vague tracking, wandering, and poor road feel often come from steering geometry and worn track bar bushings… not just tires or alignment. After that, address worn suspension joints and long arms, then finish the build with practical upgrades like winch protection, a proper tire carrier, and tube doors.
- Steering … fix geometry before chasing symptoms
- Track bar … eliminate wander and lateral play
- Suspension joints and arms … replace what’s worn out or outdated
- Tire carrier … solve tailgate stress before it becomes damage
- Armor and accessories … protect the Jeep and improve trail function
Why this order works: it fixes the parts you feel first, addresses the components that wear out most often on older lifted TJs, and keeps you from throwing money at symptoms instead of causes.
Phase 1: Steering … The Upgrade That Changes Everything
On a lifted TJ, steering is often the first thing that feels off… and the last thing people upgrade. Vague highway tracking. Wandering. Death wobble. Toe change through suspension travel. Most owners blame tires, alignment, or the track bar first.
Sometimes they’re right.
A lot of the time, it’s the steering geometry.
1. MetalCloak vs Currie – TJ Steering Comparison & Upgrade Guide
This is the video that settles the TJ steering debate.
Scott Becker from MetalCloak puts three steering systems side by side on camera: the stock Y-link, the Currie Currectlync (now RockJock), and the MetalCloak Heavy Duty T-link. He shows exactly what happens to each system as the suspension cycles … and why the Y-link design, even in Currie’s much stronger version, still creates toe change that translates into vague, inconsistent steering on the road and trail.
The stock Y-link splits the tie rod and connects both sides to a single drag link. At stock height, that geometry is workable. Add a 3–4 inch lift and larger tires, and the relationship between those links changes enough to create measurable toe change through the suspension stroke.
Currie improves the materials. Bigger tubing. Stronger parts. Better hardware. But it is still a Y-link.
Bigger Y … is still Y.
MetalCloak’s T-link design separates the tie rod from the drag link completely. One continuous tie rod runs across the axle. The drag link attaches separately. The result is zero toe change through the full range of suspension travel. Add one-ton tie rod ends, anti-flop drag link design, double adjustability, and massive tubing, and the difference gets hard to ignore.
This video also covers XJ, MJ, and ZJ applications … the MetalCloak HD steering system fits all of them.
Systems Compared: Stock Y-link vs Currie Currectlync (Y-link) vs MetalCloak HD (T-link)
Vehicle: Jeep TJ/LJ (also fits XJ, MJ, ZJ)
Key Difference: Y-link produces toe change under suspension travel; T-link eliminates it
MetalCloak Features: One-ton tie rod ends, anti-flop drag link, largest diameter tubing, double adjustable
Watch the Video & Read Full Transcript →
2. TJ/LJ Wrangler Steering System Installation Guide
You watched the comparison. Now watch the install.
This video is the complete step-by-step installation guide for the MetalCloak HD steering system on TJ and LJ Wranglers. It covers removal of the factory steering, installation of the T-link tie rod and drag link, torque specs, adjustment procedures, and alignment considerations.
If you plan to do the swap yourself, this is the video that shows you exactly what’s involved. If you’re handing the job to a shop, this is the video that shows you what “done right” should look like when the Jeep comes back.
Product: MetalCloak HD Steering System
Vehicle: Jeep TJ/LJ Wrangler
Install Type: Complete steering replacement … full walkthrough
Watch the Video & Read Full Transcript →
Phase 2: Suspension … Replacing What’s Worn Out (and What Was Never Quite Right)
If you’re reading this, there’s a decent chance your TJ is already lifted … and there’s a better-than-decent chance that somewhere under it is a Rubicon Express kit.
That makes sense. RE owned a big chunk of the TJ aftermarket for years. Good value. Easy to find. Strong brand recognition. Lots of Jeeps got built on it.
But time catches everything.
Rubicon Express bushings wear out. Joints loosen up. Track bars start wandering. Part numbers changed over the years enough that finding the right replacement components for your exact generation of RE arms can turn into its own scavenger hunt.
These next four videos cover the upgrade path from Rubicon Express to MetalCloak … and why so many TJ owners who make the switch say the same thing afterward:
I should have done this years ago.
3. Rubicon Express Front Durotrak Track Bar Upgrade Install
The track bar is often the first part TJ owners notice going bad on a Rubicon Express kit.
The bushings wear. The bar develops lateral play. The axle starts wandering. And that loose, slightly nervous feeling on the highway gets worse slowly enough that a lot of owners just get used to it.
This video covers replacing the aging RE front track bar with MetalCloak’s Durotrak upgrade. The Durotrak bushing is a vulcanized elastomer design that controls wander without adding the harshness of polyurethane or the maintenance cycle of a heim joint.
This is often the first MetalCloak part TJ owners install … because it makes a dramatic difference in daily driving feel, and it does it without forcing you to replace the rest of the suspension at the same time.
Product: MetalCloak Durotrak Front Track Bar
Vehicle: Jeep TJ/LJ with Rubicon Express suspension
Replaces: Rubicon Express front track bar
Solves: Axle wander, vague highway feel, worn bushings
Watch the Video & Read Full Transcript →
4. Rubicon Express Long Arm Upgrade Install
Once the track bar wakes up the front end, most TJ owners start looking hard at the rest of the system.
This video covers the upgrade from a Rubicon Express long arm system to MetalCloak … the full swap, including what comes off, what goes on, and what changes in the process.
The biggest difference is in the joints. Rubicon Express relied on conventional bushings that wear and deteriorate over time. When they fail, you’re rebuilding arms if you can find the right replacement parts … or replacing the arms altogether.
MetalCloak’s Duroflex joints are rebuildable, self-centering, and built for the kind of longevity TJ owners appreciate because they tend to keep their rigs for a very long time.
Upgrade Path: Rubicon Express long arm → MetalCloak Duroflex long arm
Vehicle: Jeep TJ/LJ Wrangler
Key Difference: Duroflex joints vs conventional RE bushings
Watch the Video & Read Full Transcript →
5. Ditch Rubicon Express for MetalCloak Duroflex Long Arm Suspension Upgrade
Same upgrade path … different angle.
This video focuses on the decision itself. Why do TJ owners make the switch? What symptoms tell you an RE kit has reached the end of its useful life? What does the MetalCloak Duroflex system actually change once it’s under the Jeep?
If video #4 is the “how to install it” video, this is the “why you should” video.
It covers the engineering differences between the two systems, the real-world performance changes owners notice, and what to expect from the swap in ride quality, articulation, and long-term durability.
Focus: Decision guide … why owners switch from RE to MetalCloak
Vehicle: Jeep TJ/LJ Wrangler
Covers: Symptoms of worn RE kits, engineering differences, performance expectations
Watch the Video & Read Full Transcript →
6. Rubicon Express Upgrade to MetalCloak Long Arm Kit
This is the third angle on the RE-to-MetalCloak swap … and the most complete step-by-step reference of the group.
If you’re serious about planning the project from start to finish, this is the one to study. Between videos 4, 5, and 6, you get the why, the how, and the full-picture walkthrough … enough information to plan the swap whether you’re doing it in your garage or talking through it with a shop.
Focus: Complete RE-to-MetalCloak long arm kit swap with full transcript
Vehicle: Jeep TJ/LJ Wrangler
Best For: Planning reference and install documentation
Watch the Video & Read Full Transcript →
Phase 3: Protection & Accessories
Steering is dialed. Suspension is upgraded. Now it’s time to finish the Jeep properly.
These final videos cover the pieces that protect the rig, solve common TJ ownership headaches, and make the whole build feel complete.
7. Winch Guard – Jeep TJ, LJ, YJ & CJ
If you’re running a winch on your TJ … and for the kind of trails these Jeeps end up on, you probably should be … the winch guard protects one of the most expensive recovery tools on the front of the vehicle.
This video covers MetalCloak’s winch guard for TJ, LJ, YJ, and CJ bumper systems.
A winch that takes a hard hit to the motor or solenoid is a winch that may not work when you need it most. The guard is simple insurance for a very expensive problem.
Product: MetalCloak Winch Guard
Vehicle: Jeep TJ, LJ, YJ, CJ
Purpose: Protect winch motor and solenoid from trail damage
Watch the Video & Read Full Transcript →
8. TJ/LJ Tub Mount Tire Carrier
The stock TJ spare tire mount becomes one of the platform’s most obvious weak points the moment you step up to a real-size trail tire.
The factory tailgate was never designed to carry the weight of a 35-inch spare. Swing-out carriers solve one problem but often create a few of their own … added weight, hinge stress, rattles, and one more thing to swing out of the way every time you need the back of the Jeep.
MetalCloak’s tub mount tire carrier takes the spare off the tailgate entirely and transfers the load into the tub structure instead of the hinges. The result is simple and satisfying … no sag, no rattles, no tailgate drama, and no swing-out arm to deal with.
Product: MetalCloak TJ/LJ Tub Mount Tire Carrier
Vehicle: Jeep TJ/LJ Wrangler
Solves: Tailgate sag, hinge stress, and swing-out carrier complications with larger tires
Watch the Video & Read Full Transcript →
9. Open Frame Tube Doors – Jeep TJ/LJ
This one is partly practical … and partly about what makes a TJ a TJ.
MetalCloak’s open frame tube doors for the TJ and LJ are aluminum, lightweight, and built to maximize trail visibility while still giving you a secure latched door. They fit the TJ/LJ opening directly with no modifications required.
On the trail, tube doors give you sightlines to the front tires and terrain that full doors simply can’t. On the road, they bring back the open-air feel that made so many of us fall in love with these Jeeps in the first place.
After spending all this time improving how the Jeep drives, it makes sense to improve how well you can see where you’re placing it too.
Product: MetalCloak Open Frame Tube Doors
Vehicle: Jeep TJ/LJ Wrangler
Material: Aluminum, lightweight
Install: Direct fit, no modifications
Watch the Video & Read Full Transcript →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the TJ Wrangler still worth building in 2026?
Absolutely. The TJ is mechanically simpler than newer Wranglers, has fewer electronics to fail, and uses a solid front and rear axle design that remains one of the easiest Jeep platforms to modify and maintain. Used TJ prices have stabilized, the aftermarket is mature, and a well-built TJ still performs far beyond what most people expect. Many of the professional shops featured in our Rigs & Wrenches series still work on TJs alongside newer Jeeps.
How does MetalCloak’s T-link steering compare to Currie Currectlync?
Currie Currectlync is a strengthened Y-link. It uses better materials than stock, but it still uses Y-link geometry, which means it still creates toe change through suspension travel. MetalCloak’s HD steering is a true T-link design that separates the tie rod from the drag link and eliminates toe change entirely. It also uses one-ton tie rod ends, anti-flop drag link design, and extremely large tubing. Video #1 shows the difference side by side.
I’m running Rubicon Express. Should I upgrade?
If your RE bushings are worn, your joints have play, your Jeep wanders, or you’re spending too much time chasing replacement parts … yes. Videos 3 through 6 cover the full upgrade path from Rubicon Express to MetalCloak, starting with the front Durotrak track bar and moving all the way through a full long arm swap.
Does MetalCloak make a complete TJ/LJ suspension system?
Yes. MetalCloak offers short arm and long arm suspension systems for the TJ and LJ, including Game Changer kits with Duroflex control arms, True Dual Rate coils, Durotrak track bars, and RockSport shocks. Visit the TJ/LJ Suspension page for the full lineup.
Does the MetalCloak HD steering fit XJ, MJ, or ZJ?
Yes. The MetalCloak HD T-link steering system is built for TJ and LJ but also fits XJ Cherokee, MJ Comanche, and ZJ Grand Cherokee applications. Video #1 covers all compatible platforms.
Where can I download TJ/LJ installation instructions?
MetalCloak publishes detailed full-color PDF installation guides for every product. Visit metalcloak.com/installation-instructions to download guides for TJ, LJ, JK, JL, JT, Bronco, Toyota, Ram, and more.
Where can I watch all MetalCloak videos?
The MetalCloak Video Vault features 96 curated videos with full searchable transcripts … including the TJ/LJ platform videos and the comparison and upgrade content featured in this guide. The complete library of 800+ videos is available on YouTube.com/MetalCloak.
Nine videos. The steering system that ends the debate. The suspension swap TJ owners wish they’d done earlier. And the armor and accessories that finish the build on the Wrangler platform that started it all.
The TJ is simple by design. It rewards good parts and punishes bad ones … and after more than twenty years on the road and the trail, TJ owners know the difference.
We test it… we film it… we publish it.
