Rough Country 11910 vs MetalCloak 7052 + 7050: TJ rear adjustable control arms
Published 10 September 2026
At a glance
| Rough Country 11910 | MetalCloak 7052 + 7050 | |
|---|---|---|
| Arms | Rear upper (2) and rear lower (2), one part number | Upper rear pair (7052) plus lower pair (7050) |
| Fitment | 1997-2006 TJ, 2004-2006 LJ, 4WD | 1997-2006 TJ and LJ |
| Lift range | 0 to 6.5 in. recommended | Not published; chart set for a 3.5 in. kit |
| Joints | X-Flex at one end, bushing at the other | Duroflex at both ends, over 68 deg. per arm |
| Tube | Not published | 1.25 in. OD x 3/16 in. DOM uppers; 1.625 in. OD x 1/4 in. DOM lowers |
| Install | 4-6 hours; coil springs out | 1-2 hours per pair, Moderate |
| Warranty | Terms not available to us | 1 year on defects; bushing wear excluded |
| Price | $399.95 MAP as of September 2026 | $349.00 + $419.00 = $768.00 on metalcloak.com, September 2026 |
What each part is, and what it fixes on a TJ
The rear axle on a TJ hangs from four control arms, two short uppers and two long lowers. Lift the Jeep and the axle rotates, which moves the pinion angle. Adjustable arms let you set it back, and flex joints let the axle twist further before anything binds.
Rough Country 11910 uses its X-Flex joint, a ball-in joint with a 2.5 in. body and 1.25 in. threads. Upper joints pivot up to 20 degrees and lowers up to 35. The other end of each arm is a bushing eye.
MetalCloak 7052 and 7050 put a Duroflex joint at both ends. MetalCloak calls it a self-centering composite bushing made with Kevlar fiber. It is rated for over 34 degrees per joint and over 68 degrees per arm.
The 7050 lower pair fits the front or rear of a TJ, so one pair covers the rear. Rough Country also sells 11990 (rear uppers only, $199.95 MAP) and 11470 (front and rear, $799.95 MAP).
Fitment, side by side
| Vehicle | RC 11910 | MC 7052 (upper rear) | MC 7050 (lower) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-2006 TJ (SE, Sport, Sahara, X, Rubicon, 65th Anniversary) | Yes, 4WD | Yes | Yes, front or rear |
| 2004-2006 LJ (Unlimited, Unlimited Rubicon) | Yes | Yes | Yes, front or rear |
| 1993-1998 ZJ Grand Cherokee | Listed in dealer data | No | No |
| 1984-2001 XJ Cherokee | No (one dealer database lists 1993-1998) | No | Yes |
| Lift height | 0 to 6.5 in. | No range published; tested with 37 in. tires, armor and a lift for FMVSS certification | |
Neither maker lists a TJ trim the arms will not fit. Rough Country's catalog record and part title name only the TJ and LJ. One dealer database adds Cherokees, which we treat as a data error.
Specs and construction
| RC 11910 | MC 7052 upper | MC 7050 lower | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tube | Not published | 1.25 in. OD, 3/16 in. wall DOM | 1.625 in. OD, 1/4 in. wall DOM |
| Joint | X-Flex ball-in joint, one end | Duroflex, both ends | |
| Joint travel | Upper 20 deg., lower 35 deg. | Over 34 deg. per joint; over 68 deg. per arm | |
| Adjustment range | Not published | 13.5 to 14.63 in. | 15.5 to 16.63 in. (rear) |
| Ends | 1.25 in. threaded joint | Forged threaded ends, precision locking nut | |
| Maintenance | Greaseable | Low maintenance; easily rebuildable | |
| Finish | Black (type not published) | Gold zinc plated | |
| Made in | US | USA | |
| Shipping weight | 30 lb | Not published | |
MetalCloak publishes the numbers Rough Country does not. You can see the tube size and the adjustment limits before you buy. With the RC set you learn those by measuring.
The joints trade off differently. The X-Flex takes grease and has a ball inside. The Duroflex is an elastomer joint that MetalCloak sells as low maintenance, and it dampens more at the cost of wear that the warranty will not cover.
What's in the box
| RC 11910 | MC 7052 | MC 7050 |
|---|---|---|
| Rear upper adjustable arms (2) | Rear upper arms (2) | Lower adjustable arm weldments (2) |
| Rear lower adjustable arms (2) | M10-1.5 x 90 class 10.9 bolts (4) | Duroflex bushings (4) and forged Duroflex spuds (2) |
| Adjustable end tool | Washers (8), toplock nuts (4) | 1.25-12 jam nuts (2), retaining washers (8), retaining rings (6) |
| Factory hardware reused | Silver anti-seize; factory tab nut reused | Factory hardware reused |
Install compared
Rough Country's sheet takes the coil springs out. You unbolt the lower shocks and sway bar links, drop the axle and pull the springs, with a compressor if needed. It quotes 4-6 hours and says to align the Jeep right away.
MetalCloak's sheets never call for pulling the springs. The uppers need a 15 mm socket and new bolts that reuse the factory tab nut. The lowers go in on factory hardware with the jam nut at the frame, using a 21 mm socket and box wrench.
| RC 11910 | MetalCloak 7052 + 7050 | |
|---|---|---|
| Stated time | 4-6 hours | 1-2 hours per pair |
| Starting length, upper | 14 1/2 in. | 14 in. (3.5 in. kit) |
| Starting length, lower | 16 1/2 in. | 16 in. (3.5 in. kit) |
| Drilling | None | Only for the optional Big Bolt upgrade (1/2 in.) |
| E-brake | Line bracket moves to the new upper | Cable brackets removed; cable runs between upper and lower arms |
| Torque | Not given | Not given |
Rough Country's 14 1/2 in. upper start sits just inside the 7052's 14.63 in. maximum. Both makers call their lengths a starting point only. The final length comes from the alignment.
What it changes on the Jeep, and what else you'll need
Either set lets you correct the rear pinion angle after a lift. Neither install sheet gives a target angle, so plan on an alignment shop. MetalCloak also recommends a suspension specialist align the Jeep.
More joint travel means the axle can droop further. Check brake hose and e-brake cable slack at full droop before the first trail run. Our guide to what a lift breaks covers hoses, bump stops and the track bar.
Warranty and support
MetalCloak: "All MetalCloak products are warranted to be free of defects in material and workmanship for one year from the original purchase date." It excludes finish, abuse, competition use and labor. For suspension parts it calls "diminished dampening resistance, bushing wear" normal wear that is not warrantable.
The MetalCloak install sheets also say the part "is sold without warranty expressed or implied". We quote the warranty page, which is the more specific document. Support is 916-631-8071.
Rough Country: we could not read the terms for 11910. The roughcountry.com page blocked automated access on 10 September 2026, and the catalog data has no warranty text. Ask the seller for the terms in writing.
Owner reports
Owner reports, not specs. MetalCloak's own site shows the 7052 at 98% from 25 reviews and the 7050 at 97% from 74 reviews. Those reviews are hosted by the maker, so read them as sentiment only.
We found no published owner reports for the Rough Country 11910 in this research pass. Forum threads were not reachable, and we will add them when they are.
Who should buy which
Buy the Rough Country 11910 if the budget is fixed at around $400, or if your lift is between 4 and 6.5 in., which Rough Country rates it for. It also keeps a greaseable joint you can service at home.
Buy the MetalCloak 7052 + 7050 if the Jeep sees trails and you want joints at both ends, heavier published tube and a known length range. The quoted install time is also shorter. Accept that the joints will wear and the warranty will not help with that.
Winner for most trail-driven TJs: MetalCloak. For a budget build, Rough Country saves $368.05 and still gets you adjustable rear geometry.
FAQ
Do MetalCloak Duroflex joints need grease?
MetalCloak lists the arms as low maintenance and easily rebuildable, and its install sheets give no greasing step. The Rough Country arms come with grease fittings and the instructions say to grease them at install.
How far can the MetalCloak rear arms adjust?
MetalCloak's chart gives 13.5 to 14.63 in. for the 7052 upper rear and 15.5 to 16.63 in. for the 7050 lower rear, eye to eye. Its suggested lengths for a 3.5 in. kit are 14 in. and 16 in.
Is the MetalCloak warranty longer than the Rough Country one?
MetalCloak's warranty is one year on defects and it treats Duroflex bushing wear as normal wear. We could not read Rough Country's terms for 11910 because its site blocked automated access, so ask the seller.
Do I have to drill the frame brackets for the MetalCloak arms?
Only for the optional Big Bolt upgrade on the uppers, which drills the brackets to 1/2 in. The standard 7052 uses stock-size hardware in the stock hole, and the 7050 reuses the factory lower arm hardware.
Sources
- Rough Country 92119100 install instructions (PDF)
- Rough Country 11910 product page (blocked to automated access on 10 September 2026)
- MetalCloak 7052 Duroflex Control Arms, TJ/LJ Upper Rear
- MetalCloak 7050 Duroflex Control Arms, TJ/LJ/XJ Lower
- MetalCloak 7052 install instructions (PDF)
- MetalCloak 7050 rear install instructions (PDF)
- MetalCloak warranty