Ditching Rubicon Express: Rich Upgrades to MetalCloak’s Duroflex Long Arm Suspension

In this MetalCloak video, we follow Rich — a professional off-road guide on the Rubicon Trail — as he replaces his aging Rubicon Express suspension with MetalCloak’s Duroflex Long Arm System. After noticing worn components, noise, and degraded performance, Rich upgrades both front and rear suspension, adds the UnderCloak Integrated Skid System, and rechecks his CTI score. With only control arms changed (no shocks), his CTI jumped noticeably, and he reports big improvements in on-road handling, reduced body roll, and increased confidence on the trail.

Complete Transcript with Time Stamps:

metalcloak upgrade, rubicon express old suspension metalcloak upgrade, professional Rubicon Trail tour guide

[00:00] This is Rich. Rich provides professionally guided tours for off-road enthusiasts on the Rubicon Trail.

jeep worn out rubicon express long arm suspension, metalcloak long arm upgrade

[00:11] Rich had previously upgraded only the front half of his Jeep from a worn out Rubicon Express long arm to a MetalCloak Duroflex Long Arm setup.

rubicon express suspension showing signs of wear rubicon express rear suspension, showing signs of age, noise and performance issues

[00:20] His Rubicon Express rear suspension is now really showing signs of its age, and he's been noticing some significant noise and performance issues with his rig. Rich came to MetalCloak to get a solution.

rubicon express suspension replacement upgrade, worn out parts, weird movement and odd noises

[00:32] So Rich, you have Rubicon Express on the back half of your Jeep. You had it on the front half. Why did you replace it on the front half? A couple of reasons. One is I've noticed that parts started to wear out. I was getting some weird movement and a lot of odd noises coming out of the front.

rubicon trail guided tours in personal vehicle Jeep, no margin for error, or inferior suspension products having failure

[00:48] And you take new wheelers and old wheelers out on the Rubicon Trail in your personal vehicle. I do. There's no margin for error when you're taking new drivers out. I don't want inferior suspension products or some sort of a failure out there.

jeep rubicon express suspension on CTI Trailer Flex Test rubicon express jeep suspension issues

[01:02] We put Rich's Jeep on our patented CTI Trailer to flex it out and get his CTI score and to take a look at some of the issues with the Rubicon Express suspension.

rubicon express suspension joints worn out, in need for replacement MetalCloak Duroflex Joints

[01:11] The joints are just plain worn out and in serious need of a good replacement. His CTI score was just over eight hundred. But with some MetalCloak Duroflex Joints, it can and will go a lot higher.

Jeep upgrade install, rubicon express old suspension worn out

[01:24] We're gonna put a list together of items that we recommend, and we're gonna have those installed. And we're gonna bring your Jeep back down here, and we're gonna see what the results are. And I think you're gonna be pretty impressed. That's awesome. I look forward to it.

metalcloak jeep upgrade, rear duroflex long arm, undercloak integrated armor skid system, max protection on trail

[01:35] While having the Rear Duroflex Long Arm installed, Rich also added the MetalCloak UnderCloak Integrated Skid System for maximum protection for his Jeep's vulnerable underside.

metalcloak rear upgrade long arm kit, replacing rubicon express rear jeep suspension

MetalCloak rear long arm upgrade kit, bolt on frame side brackets

[01:46] The replacement of the rear suspension is accomplished with our MetalCloak Rear Upgrade Kit, which includes bolt-on frame side brackets and, of course, the patented Duroflex equipped Rear Long Arms.

metalcloak duroflex joints, noise vibration harshness dampening, self centering, low maintenance, easily rebuildable, most misalignment

[01:58] All MetalCloak control arms are equipped with a noise, vibration, and harshness dampening Duroflex Joints. These self centering joints are low maintenance, easily rebuildable, and offer the most misalignment for bind free articulation.

metalcloak rear long arm upgrade kit, replaced rubicon express suspension

[02:12] So we got the suspension on your Jeep now. We took the Rubicon Express off. You have the new MetalCloak Rear Upgrade System in the back of your Jeep, and you took it on some trips. And how did it do?

immediate difference between MetalCloak rear long arm suspension and rubicon express kit, less body roll, better performance

[02:23] It was amazing. I noticed an immediate difference just in on-road performance. There was less body roll. It felt much more positive going around the turns. Just an all around better feel.

metalcloak phenomenal difference in daily on-road driving, ride quality and comfort

[02:35] So for daily driving, you'd say already there's a phenomenal difference in it. Oh, hands down. Phenomenal difference.

metalcloak rear long arm upgrade, better performance, more confidence on off-road obstacles

[02:41] So how did it work on the trail? It just felt so much better. I felt more confident going over those obstacles.

metalcloak duroflex control arm long arms, rubicon express replacement, increased CTI Trailer flex score

[02:48] We took your Jeep now that it's been lifted up and redone with the MetalCloak Rear System, and we re-CTI'd it. We've not changed any shocks or anything. We've only changed the control arms, and you went from an 825 to over an 870.

huge difference in performance, replacing rubicon express old suspension to metalcloak rear long arm upgrade kit better performance on and off-road metalcloak rear long arm suspension over rubicon express kit

[03:01] Huge difference. Amazing. It feels like a new Jeep. And to be honest with you, if I would have known about the difference that those joints make, I would have done this upgrade years ago.

metalcloak american made quality off-road parts

[03:13] Don't settle for subpar products. Get American-made quality parts from the company that pros rely on.

give metalcloak a call for help building your dream build, jeep, bronco, ram, toyota, grandier, rig

[03:19] Give MetalCloak a call and let us help you build or rebuild your dream rig.

metalcloak, its your jeep rig only better

[03:24] MetalCloak, it's your Jeep, only better.

For more information about this kit CLICK HERE.

METALCLOAK VIDEO: Ditching Rubicon Express: Rich Upgrades to MetalCloak’s Duroflex Long Arm Suspension