RockSport BLACK XD Adjustable Steering Damper, 1.75″ Tie Rod, JK/JL Wrangler, JT Gladiator

MetalCloak RockSport BLACK XD — adjustable steering damper for a 1.75 in tie rod, Jeep Wrangler JK/JL and Gladiator JT (part no. 2551)

A steering wheel that wanders in a rut is more tiring than anything else on a long day. The RockSport BLACK XD damps those hits equally in both directions, so the Jeep holds the line instead of constantly asking for a correction.

This is the version with the billet mount for a 1.75 in diameter tie rod — part number 2551 at MetalCloak. Damping is set with a knob, without tools, in six steps.

Product view

Key benefits

• Damping works equally in both directions, so the wheel is not pulled to one side.
• Six compression settings, no tools needed — each click adds about 10% more force.
• The clockable reservoir makes it easier to fit the damper around a custom setup.
• Titanium nitride coated shaft — less friction and slower seal wear.
• The tie rod mount uses a through-bolt captured by a nut instead of a thread cut in aluminium.

What is in the kit

• Steering stabilizer
• Billet tie rod mount
• All required hardware

Through-shaft design

The shaft runs through the whole body, so the damping force is the same turning left and right. The damper does not push the steering wheel to one side, which keeps the steering predictable — most noticeable at highway speed and on uneven surfaces.

Six-position adjustment

A knob on the body changes compression force in six steps of roughly 10% each. No tools and no removal are needed — you can change it at a stop when you leave tarmac for gravel, or after fitting larger tyres.

Clockable reservoir

The reservoir can be rotated relative to the body to clear the track bar, the tie rod and the rest of the steering hardware. On a heavily modified suspension this often decides whether the damper fits without fouling anything.

Titanium nitride coated shaft

The TiN coating reduces friction where the shaft passes through the seal. The damper reacts faster to an impact at the wheel, and the seals last longer in sand and mud.

Billet tie rod mount

A two-piece CNC-machined 6061-T6 aluminium mount, anodized black. The bolt seats are recessed so the heads do not take hits when you drag over an obstacle. This listing (part no. 2551) is the version for a 1.75 in diameter tie rod.

Captured bolt design

The bolt passes through and is captured by a nut instead of threading into the aluminium. That removes the weakest point of this kind of mount. A spherical bearing inside the clamp takes the tie rod movement and keeps those loads off the aluminium.

Technical data from MetalCloak

Who it is for

Worth it when you run oversized, heavy tyres and the steering wheel starts living its own life in ruts and over washboard. It also makes sense on a lifted Jeep, where the steering works at different angles than from the factory, and on longer gravel runs where constantly correcting the line simply wears you out.

Installation

• Installation difficulty: easy
• Body modification: none
• Install time per MetalCloak: about 1 hour

Manufacturer installation instructions: open the instructions.

Manufacturer notes

• Tie rod diameter: MetalCloak writes that the billet mount fits a 1.625 in or a 1.75 in tie rod, yet sells the two diameters under separate part numbers (2550 and 2551). This listing is variant 2551, the 1.75 in one. If you are not sure which tie rod your Jeep has, contact us — we will confirm fitment with the manufacturer before ordering.
• Axle-end mounting: the supplied hardware mounts to the OE track bar bracket on the axle. With a high-steer bracket MetalCloak notes that different hardware, matched to your build, may be required.

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from part no. 2550?

Only in the tie rod diameter the billet mount clamps onto: 2550 is 1.625 in, this listing (2551) is 1.75 in. The damper itself, the adjustment and the kit contents are identical.

Do I have to remove the damper to adjust it?

No. The knob is reachable with the damper fitted and needs no tools.

Will a steering damper fix death wobble?

Not on its own. The shake usually comes from worn steering components or from geometry left uncorrected after a lift — a damper masks the symptom, but the cause has to be found separately. We are happy to advise where to start.

Szekla4x4 is an authorised MetalCloak dealer. We import this part directly from the manufacturer in the USA and confirm lead time when you order. We fit parts like this in our own workshop, so if you are not sure this is what you need, call or write to us.