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Proprietary Engineering

MetalCloak Technology Center

Every MetalCloak suspension system is built around technologies we engineered ourselves, tested on the Rubicon Trail, and protect with US patents. This is not a parts catalog — it is a record of original engineering.

5 US Patents Granted
2 Patents Pending
20+ Years Engineering
CTI Industry Standard We Created
100% Rubicon-Tested Designs

Patented Technologies

Each technology below solves a specific problem in off-road suspension engineering. Click any patent to read the full filing.

Patent Granted 6Pak Long Travel Shock body rendering showing dual opposing reservoirs and parallel shafts

US Patent 8,714,321

6Pak Long Travel Shocks

What It Is

A long-travel shock absorber built on MetalCloak's Floating Shock Body Technology (FST) — a patented architecture that delivers twice the usable stroke of a conventional shock at the same compressed length.

What It Solves
  • Stroke limitations in long-travel builds
  • Shock length issues requiring relocating mounts
  • Heat buildup in reservoir-less shocks
  • Damping consistency at full droop
Key Features
  • Floating central shock body
  • Dual opposing reservoirs
  • Parallel shaft configuration
  • 2x stroke vs standard shocks
Applications
  • Jeep JL / JK Wrangler
  • Jeep TJ / LJ Wrangler
  • Jeep JT Gladiator
  • Long-travel suspension kits
Related Products
View Patent → Shop Products
Patent Pending RockSport Black parabolic valve piston stack close-up

Patent Pending #63/743,954

RockSport Black Parabolic Valve

What It Is

A shock valving system using machined parabolic forms to shape the butterfly valve shims under fluid pressure — enabling variable resistance tuned precisely to force-load, not just velocity.

What It Solves
  • Imprecise damping in standard shim stacks
  • Oversized piston stacks for adequate flow
  • Crude on/off valve behavior
Key Features
  • Machined parabolic valve forms
  • Force-load variable resistance
  • Minimal piston stack size
  • Precision fluid flow control
Applications
  • RockSport Black shock line
Related Products
Patent Details Coming Soon
Patent Granted Lock-N-Load control arm rendering showing bushing and clevis ends

US Patent 9,174,504

Lock-N-Load Control Arm

What It Is

A dual-mode radius arm that switches between a rigid on-road state and a flex-capable off-road state — in the same arm, with no hardware changes required.

What It Solves
  • On-road handling compromise in flex arms
  • Traditional radius bind when unlocked
  • Premature joint wear causing steering wander
  • Need for two separate arm setups
Key Features
  • Lock mode: rigid for on-road safety
  • Load mode: full flex for off-road
  • No tools required to switch
  • Compatible with radius arm suspension
Applications
  • Jeep TJ / LJ Wrangler
  • Radius arm suspension builds
Related Products
View Patent → Shop Products
Patent Granted Durotrak two-piece NVH bushing with silver hub threaded assembly

US Patent 9,694,637

Durotrak Bushing

What It Is

A two-piece NVH bushing made from a proprietary rubber compound unique to MetalCloak. The halves thread together for press-free installation while isolating vibration and sharpening steering response.

What It Solves
  • Vibration transferred to chassis and driver
  • Press-fit installation complexity
  • Vague steering feel from worn OEM bushings
Key Features
  • Proprietary rubber compound
  • Two-piece threaded design
  • No press required — hand install
  • NVH reduction + improved steering
Applications
  • Track bar ends
  • Upper A-arm frame side pivots
  • JK / JL / JT / TJ / LJ / XJ / Ram / Ineos / Bronco / Toyota
Related Products
View Patent → Shop Products
Patent Granted Duroflex elastomer suspension joint with black rubber and metal core

US Patent 9,995,358

Duroflex Joint

What It Is

A high-misalignment elastomer suspension joint engineered from a proprietary rubber compound. It self-centers under load, dampens vibration, and eliminates the micro-wear that destroys conventional flex joints over time.

What It Solves
  • Control arm bind at full articulation
  • NVH from metal-on-metal heim joints
  • Micro-wear and joint degradation
  • Alignment drift under load
Key Features
  • Proprietary rubber compound
  • Self-centering under load
  • High vibration dampening
  • No micro-wear like heim joints
Applications
  • Upper and lower control arms
  • JK / JL / JT / TJ / LJ / XJ / Ram / Ineos / Bronco / Toyota
Related Products
View Patent → Shop Products
Patent Granted CTI Trailer with Jeep measuring suspension articulation at all four corners

US Patent 10,539,484

CTI Trailer

What It Is

MetalCloak invented the Corner Travel Index (CTI) — the off-road industry's standard for measuring suspension articulation — and holds the patent on the CTI Trailer used to measure it. CTI totals wheel travel at all four corners for a single repeatable performance score.

What It Solves
  • No universal standard for comparing suspension flex
  • RTI ramp bias toward one axle only
  • Inconsistent articulation measurement
Key Features
  • Measures all 4 corners independently
  • Repeatable, standardized score
  • Used industry-wide for build comparison
  • Portable trailer format
Applications
  • Suspension performance testing
  • Build comparison and certification
  • Events: Moab, Rubicon, Easter Jeep Safari
Related Products
View Patent → Learn About CTI
Patent Pending DB3 Rear Control Arm Drop Bracket pair in gold zinc with hardware

Patent Pending #29/596,015

Rear Control Arm Drop Bracket “DB3”

What It Is

The only bolt-on solution for lifting a Jeep JK Wrangler over 4.5 inches and JL over 3.5" without cutting factory brackets. The DB3 corrects roll center height and rear control arm angle so geometry stays right at lift heights the factory never intended.

What It Solves
  • Compromised roll center at 4.5"+ lift on JK and 3.5"+ lift on JL
  • Steep control arm angle limiting travel
  • Expensive bracket-cut modifications
Key Features
  • No factory bracket removal required
  • Corrects roll center geometry
  • Restores full up/down travel
  • JK and JL Wrangler specific
Applications
  • Jeep JK Wrangler 4.5”+ lifts
  • Jeep JL Wrangler 3.5”+ lifts
  • Long-travel JK builds
  • Long-travel JL builds
Related Products
Patent Details Coming Soon Shop Products

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about MetalCloak technology, patents, and engineering.

MetalCloak holds five granted US patents: the 6Pak Long Travel Shock (US 8,714,321), Lock-N-Load Control Arm (US 9,174,504), Durotrak Bushing (US 9,694,637), Duroflex Joint (US 9,995,358), and CTI Trailer (US 10,539,484). Two additional technologies — the RockSport Black Parabolic Valve and the DB3 Drop Bracket — are currently patent pending.
MetalCloak engineers its own core suspension components rather than sourcing from a common parts supplier. From the Duroflex elastomer joint to the 6Pak Floating Shock Body, the key technologies are designed in-house, tested on the Rubicon Trail, and protected by US patents. That means the performance you get from a MetalCloak kit is not available anywhere else.
For most Jeep builds, yes. Heim joints allow high misalignment but transfer vibration directly into the chassis and degrade through micro-wear and contamination. The Duroflex Joint uses a proprietary rubber compound that self-centers under load, eliminates bind at full articulation, and isolates NVH — without the harshness or maintenance of a metal heim. For extreme racing builds, heims have a place. For daily driven trail rigs, Duroflex wins on ride quality and longevity.
Corner Travel Index (CTI) is the off-road industry's standard for quantifying suspension articulation. Unlike the older RTI ramp test — which only flexes one axle at a time — CTI measures maximum wheel travel at all four corners of the vehicle independently, then totals the score. MetalCloak invented the CTI measurement method and holds the patent on the CTI Trailer, the device used to produce accurate, repeatable CTI scores at events like Easter Jeep Safari and on the Rubicon Trail.
Yes, with the MetalCloak DB3 Rear Control Arm Drop Bracket. Most lift kits over 4.5 inches on the JK require cutting the factory lower control arm brackets to correct geometry — a permanent, costly modification. The DB3 is a bolt-on correction kit that repositions the rear control arm mounting point, correcting roll center and arm angle without touching the factory brackets.
Floating Shock Body Technology is MetalCloak's patented shock architecture behind the 6Pak Long Travel Shock. A conventional shock has a fixed body with a single shaft. FST uses a floating central body with parallel shafts extending from both ends, flanked by dual opposing reservoirs. The result is a shock that provides twice the usable stroke of a conventional unit at the same compressed length — critical for long-travel suspension builds where stroke is the limiting factor.
A US patent means the technology passed independent examination and represents a genuinely novel solution — not a copy of something already on the market. When a suspension company patents its own components, it means those designs came from their engineering team, not a generic overseas parts catalog. It also gives buyers protection: if a competitor sells a counterfeit version of a patented design, the patent holder can pursue legal action. MetalCloak's patents are the paper trail behind the performance claims.