Rough Country 10604 vs MetalCloak 7694: TJ T-style steering kits
Published 10 September 2026
This is the closest match in our set. Both kits take a TJ from the factory Y-link layout to a T-style layout, with thick tube and one-ton-style joints. The real differences are the knuckle work, the published specs and the price.
MetalCloak costs about twice as much. The question is what the extra money buys on your Jeep.
At a glance
| Rough Country 10604 | MetalCloak 7694 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.95 MAP as of September 2026 | $709.00 on metalcloak.com, September 2026 (stabilizer mount options extra) |
| Layout | T-style | Inverted T |
| TJ and LJ | 1997-2006 TJ; 2004-2006 LJ | 1997-2006 TJ; LJ listed |
| Lift | 4 in. or more | 2 in. or taller |
| Wheels | Not factory wheels; 16 in. or larger advised | Aftermarket; 4.75 in. backspace or less |
| Knuckle work | Drill to 5/8 and ream (7 degree) | None |
| Tie rod | 1.5 in. DOM, wall not published | 1.625 in. OD x 0.375 in. wall, 4130 chromoly |
| Drag link | 1.5 in. DOM | 1.375 in. OD x 0.375 in. wall DOM |
| Stated install time | 2-3 hours | 1 hour, "Easy" |
| Warranty | Lifetime on hard suspension parts; 1 year on wear items | 1 year on defects; bent rods from impact excluded |
What each kit is, and the problem it solves
The factory TJ tie rod is thin and hangs in front of the axle. On bigger tires it bends, and a bent tie rod throws the toe out and wears tires fast. Both of these kits replace it and the drag link with much heavier parts.
The Rough Country 10604 uses 1.5 in. DOM tube on both links. Rough Country says its rotational non-articulating joints prevent bump steer. It also says the kit gives more clearance between the tie rod and the diff cover.
The MetalCloak 7694 uses a 1.625 in. 4130 chromoly tie rod with a 0.375 in. wall. The drag link is 1.375 in. DOM with the same wall. MetalCloak calls its ends "1-Ton Forged Heat Treated" and says a special design "Controls Tie Rod Flop."
Same layout, different execution
Both use a T-style or inverted-T layout. The tie rod ties the knuckles directly, and the drag link bolts to the passenger-side tie rod end. MetalCloak's parts drawing shows angled drag link ends and dog-leg tie rod ends. MetalCloak says the drag link is engineered for diff cover clearance.
MetalCloak's blog claims a T-link gives "Zero toe change through the suspension cycle." That is a maker's marketing claim, and no measurement is published. It applies to the Rough Country layout too, if it holds.
Fitment, side by side
| Fitment item | Rough Country 10604 | MetalCloak 7694 |
|---|---|---|
| TJ | Wrangler 1997-2006, including Rubicon 2003-2006 | 1997-2006 TJ Wrangler |
| LJ (Unlimited) | Unlimited 2004-2006; Unlimited Rubicon 2005-2006 | LJ Wrangler listed; not with no lift |
| Other Jeeps | Cherokee 1984-2001, Comanche 1986-1992, Grand Cherokee 1993-1998 | XJ, MJ, and ZJ 1993-1998. Not YJ. |
| Lift | 4 in. minimum; no maximum published | 2 in. and taller; no maximum published |
| Pitman arm | Must be the stock pitman arm | Whatever your lift requires; not designed for a drop pitman on a 3.5 in. system |
| Wheels | Not factory wheels; 16 in. or larger advised | 4.75 in. backspace or less; 3.75 in. "without an issue" |
| Right-hand drive | Does not work | Not compatible |
| Stabilizer | Only Rough Country stabilizers | Optional drag link mount (+$49) or RockSport stabilizer and mount (+$139) |
Both want aftermarket wheels. MetalCloak gives a number: 4.75 in. of backspacing or less. Rough Country only says factory wheels lack the backspacing, so check your wheel before you buy.
The lift minimum is the bigger split. A TJ on 2 to 3.5 in. of lift can run the MetalCloak. The Rough Country needs 4 in.
Specs and construction
| Spec | Rough Country 10604 | MetalCloak 7694 |
|---|---|---|
| Tie rod tube | 1.5 in. DOM steel, "thick wall" | 1.625 in. OD, 0.375 in. wall, 4130 chromoly |
| Drag link tube | 1.5 in. DOM steel | 1.375 in. OD, 0.375 in. wall DOM |
| Link lengths | 42 in. tie rod link, 25 in. drag link (bare tubes) | 52.1 in. tie rod, 30.9 in. drag link |
| Rod end threads | Not published | 1.0-18 (tie rod ends, per drawing) |
| Rod ends | Greaseable, wrench flats | Greaseable, forged, heat treated, booted, serviceable |
| Taper | Larger taper, reamed at install | OE taper pin and lock nut |
| Finish | Not published | Gold zinc chromate |
| Hardware | Castle nuts, jam nuts, cotter pins | Stainless where possible, anti-seize supplied |
| Weight | 38.15 lb | Not published |
| Made in | Taiwan (distributor data) | Not published |
MetalCloak publishes the numbers that matter. A 1.625 in. tube with a 0.375 in. wall in 4130 chromoly is a stout tie rod. Rough Country's 1.5 in. tube might be close, but with no wall figure we cannot say.
What's in the box
| Rough Country 10604 (one carton) | MetalCloak 7694 |
|---|---|
| 1 x 42 in. tie rod link | 1 x SS-1153 1.63 in. tie rod bar |
| 1 x 25 in. drag link | 1 x SS-1155 1.38 in. drag link bar |
| 1 x driver side RH thread tie rod end | 1 x SS-0124 dog-leg tie rod end, TJ taper, 1.0-18 RH |
| 1 x passenger side LH thread tie rod end | 1 x SS-0125 dog-leg tie rod end, TJ taper, 1.0-18 LH |
| 1 x upper LH thread and 1 x lower RH thread rod end (drag link) | 2 x SS-0122 angled drag link ends, 1.0-18 LH |
| 2 x LH and 2 x RH jam nuts | 1 x SS-1144 HD drag link adjuster; 1 x FS-16121 jam nut |
| 4 x castle nuts, 4 x cotter pins | Hardware and anti-seize |
Neither kit includes a stabilizer in its base form. Rough Country sells the 10604 with its N3 stabilizer as 10613, $389.95 MAP as of September 2026.
Install compared
The MetalCloak goes into the factory tapers. MetalCloak calls it "a direct bolt in with no drilling required," and lists the job at 1 hour. Its guide even suggests leaving the tires on the ground if the Jeep already drives well, so the toe does not move.
The Rough Country drills both knuckles and the pitman arm to 5/8. Each hole is then reamed with a 7 degree reamer, part 10405, until the castle nut seats with room for the cotter pin. Rough Country puts the job at 2-3 hours.
| Install item | Rough Country 10604 | MetalCloak 7694 |
|---|---|---|
| Drilling or reaming | Yes, 3 holes | None |
| Tools | 15, 18 and 19mm; 1 1/16 and 1 1/4 in. wrenches; drill, 5/8 bit, 7 degree reamer | 15, 18, 19mm, 7/16 and 3/4 in. sockets; 18mm and 36mm wrenches; 1-1/2 in. wrench for the adjuster |
| Starting setup | Tie rod 52 in., drag link 34 in., center to center | Thread ends in, leaving about 1/4 in. of thread showing |
| Castle nut torque | Not stated in the steps | About 55 ft-lb |
| Alignment | Required | Recommended |
| Stated time | 2-3 hours | 1 hour |
MetalCloak admits one fiddly step. Centering the steering wheel with the adjuster "might take a few tries after driving." That is normal for any drag link swap.
What it changes on the Jeep, and what else you'll need
Both kits move the tie rod and change how the drag link meets it. Both need wheels with less backspacing than stock. Past that, the supporting parts differ.
- Wheels (both). MetalCloak: 4.75 in. backspace or less. Rough Country: not factory wheels, 16 in. or larger advised.
- Stabilizer. Rough Country says the 10604 only works with its own stabilizers. MetalCloak sells its own mount and a RockSport stabilizer as options.
- Pitman arm. Rough Country requires the stock arm. MetalCloak uses whatever arm your lift calls for.
- Alignment (both). Neither maker publishes a toe or caster spec for its kit.
About death wobble. Fresh, tight joints remove one common source of play. They do nothing for a worn track bar, loose ball joints or a steering box with play. Start with our death wobble guide before you blame the tie rod.
Warranty and support
| Rough Country | MetalCloak | |
|---|---|---|
| Term | Lifetime on hard suspension components; 1 year on wear items and on paint and finishes | One year from original purchase |
| Covers | Hard parts: "welds, cracks, or breakage" | Defects in material or workmanship |
| Key exclusions | Removal and installation costs | Finish, wear items, bent rods from impact or off-road use, competition |
| Transferable | Not stated | No |
This is the Rough Country's strongest point. Its page offers lifetime cover on hard suspension parts. It does not name tie rods, though, and it lists "Bushings, Ball Joints, Etc" as 1 year wear items, so the rod ends may fall there.
MetalCloak's warranty page says its products "do not have any warranty or guarantee of performance" off road. Its install guide goes further and says the kit "is sold without warranty expressed or implied." A replacement end costs "about $99 each," per MetalCloak.
Owner reports
MetalCloak's product page shows 7 reviews at a 100% rating. The review text was not available to us, so we cannot quote any of it.
We did not find an owner report on either kit that we could cite. Rough Country's own product page, captured in October 2023, showed no reviews yet.
Who should buy which
- TJ or LJ on 2 to 3.5 in. of lift: MetalCloak. The Rough Country requires 4 in.
- You will not drill your knuckles: MetalCloak. It uses the factory tapers.
- You want published tube specs and serviceable ends: MetalCloak. Every dimension is on the page.
- TJ at 4 in. or more, on a budget: Rough Country. Same layout for about half the price.
- You weigh warranty heavily: Rough Country. Lifetime on the hard parts, against one year that excludes bent rods.
FAQ
Are the Rough Country 10604 and MetalCloak 7694 the same design?
Both are T-style kits. The tie rod runs knuckle to knuckle and the drag link attaches at the passenger-side tie rod end. The difference is that the Rough Country needs drilled and reamed knuckles, while MetalCloak says its kit bolts in with no drilling.
What wheels do I need for the MetalCloak kit?
MetalCloak says a wheel with 4.75 inches or less of backspacing will clear, and that the kit is set up for aftermarket wheels. Rough Country says its 10604 does not work with factory wheels and advises a 16 inch or larger wheel.
Can I use either kit on a 2 inch lift?
The MetalCloak, yes. MetalCloak says it is designed for 2 inch and taller kits. Rough Country says the 10604 only works with 4 inches of lift or more.
What does a replacement MetalCloak tie rod end cost?
MetalCloak says its replacement ends are currently about $99 each.
Which kit has the better warranty?
Rough Country's page gives hard suspension parts a lifetime warranty against welds, cracks or breakage, and wear items 1 year. MetalCloak covers defects for one year and excludes bent rods from impact or off-road use.
Sources
- Rough Country 10604 install instructions (PDF)
- Rough Country HD Steering Kit product page (archived October 2023)
- Rough Country Lifetime Replacement Warranty (archived July 2026)
- MetalCloak 7694 product page
- MetalCloak 7694 install instructions (PDF)
- MetalCloak warranty
- MetalCloak, T-link vs Y-link (maker blog)