AEV 3.5 Install w/pics

JeepR kReapR · Apr 17, 2017

Upgraded from an AEV 2.5 over the weekend. Took about 20 hours total flying solo with a floor jack & 2 6 ton jackstands. I love doing the work myself but At 45 I'd never do this again without a service lift & air tools at a minimum.

I didn't get finished pics yet due to time but I'll post up more tomorrow. Rear coils were barely a half inch longer free length but fronts were almost an inch & a half taller. Front shocks are over 3 inches longer. Netted about 3/4 inch in the rear, not sure about the front, didn't have time to measure.

In addition to the stock AEV components I did a front DL flip to my Yeti XD.

Issues I ran into that added significant time to the install:

Couldn't get the front high enough with a 20 inch floor jack to drop the front coils. Went to harbor freight & got strut/coil spring compressors for $40. Worked like a charm.
Had a hell of a time getting the front top shocks off until I got a good pair of vice grips to hold the shock rod while I wrenched off the top 16mm nut. Thank God the longer Bilstiens came with 17mm top nuts, I don't have any ratcheting 16mm wrenches
That damn flag nut for the top drivers side UCA. I still don't know how I got that in there, spent an hour dropping it trying to get it to grab with no view!

Everything else was straight-forward & smooth. I'll post riding impressions after I get some wheel time with it. Not going to shell it until I get the exhaust mod done (hopefully next few weeks).

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jadmt · Apr 18, 2017

looking good. I kind of can see that in my future. lol.

JeepR kReapR · Apr 18, 2017

jadmt said:
looking good. I kind of can see that in my future. lol.

Jeff here are the measurements you asked about. The top of tail light is probably closer to 50 than 49 1/2, rear tire was in a small divot where I parked this morning. If I get a different measurement later I'll update.

Steering is alot more dialed in with the flip. Rides better than the 2.5 it replaced. I gotta get the exhaust mod done so I can wheel it.

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ESP · Apr 18, 2017

Great job, know your happy you did it even though it was hard. I hear ya about the right tools. Can't imagine installing without them having done several other lifts on my previous jeeps. Looks great.

JeepR kReapR · Apr 18, 2017

ESP said:
Great job, know your happy you did it even though it was hard. I hear ya about the right tools. Can't imagine installing without them having done several other lifts on my previous jeeps. Looks great.

Thanks ESP! That pic from the driver's side was taken after I had only finished the back, still have to get some beauty shots of the finished product. At least another inch gap in the front fender well now. Those are 35x12.5xR17 KO2s.

The thing I'm happiest about is my 3.5 AEV home install rides better with no squeeks or rattles than the dealer installed 2.5 it replaced. Makes me wonder if the dealer hacked up the orginal install.

Pretty sure my passenger side front Bilstein on the 2.5 was shot though, it was covered in grease & wouldn't fully extend...explains alot of the harshness I was experiencing lately before the upgrade.

chheffer · Apr 18, 2017

Looks great! I hear you about not doing it again anytime soon without a lift. I'm 54 and just installed a Teraflex S/T3 lift in my driveway over the weekend by myself. My front shocks were so gummed up that I wrenched until, thankfully, the stem snapped! I'm still sore as hell today! Sucks getting old!

dawhitesJKU · Apr 18, 2017

haha... I know what you mean regarding doing the install w/ a lift. My last biggest install was my previous 2007 civic si. I installed a turbo kit in my home driveway and had to work under the vehicle the majority of the time. My neck was hurting for a week. No more big installs for me. Anything more than 2-3 hours, I take it to a shop.

JeepR kReapR · Apr 18, 2017

Yeah, you can definitely see the difference here. First pic is just the rear installed this past Saturday. Second is with the front installed. AEV says the keep the factory take, but new before it settles this kit is almost level.

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LV Naturist · Apr 18, 2017

Nice. Would love to know the total yield from stock to the 3.5. I had an AEV 2.5 on my 2011 JKUR and it seemed like I yielded more then 2.5. Never took before measurements so I have no idea where I ended up. Now on my 2016 JKUHR, I'm trying to decide whether to go with the 2.5 or the 3.5. I'm not adding a whole lot of weight to the Jeep. I'm good with the bumpers (have a Mopar winch plate and Smitybilt X20 synthetic), planning on a Teraflex Nebo roof rack, and a Teraflex tailgate hinge. That's about it. Going with 285/75 17 Ridge Grapplers. I'm concerned I might yield too much with the 3.5 though...

John

JeepR kReapR · Apr 19, 2017

A few more poser pics post lift

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wampa13jku · Apr 19, 2017

nice, loving the Salta's

ocny · Apr 19, 2017

JeepR kReapR · Apr 27, 2017

Side 2 weeks after lift. Still solid, gonna retorque everything this weekend & install exhaust spacers

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Harrybeerbelly · Apr 30, 2017

Wow .. looks great

I am about to go the same direction, same lift same wheels and tires.

Have you driven at highway speeds yet? I am very curious how this set up handles high speed driving.

JeepR kReapR · Apr 30, 2017

Harrybeerbelly said:
Wow .. looks great

I am about to go the same direction, same lift same wheels and tires.

Have you driven at highway speeds yet? I am very curious how this set up handles high speed driving.

The yeti XD flip feels even more stable at highway speeds. Not sure how the extra inch will be impacted in high winds yet. I'm sure there will be a negative impact to mpg. Too early to tell at this point.

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RubiconIII · Apr 30, 2017

Man that is exactly the look I'm going for ? Do you have all control arms or just bracket up front ? How does she ride 65mph plus ?

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jadmt · Apr 30, 2017

RubiconIII said:
Man that is exactly the look I'm going for ? Do you have all control arms or just bracket up front ? How does she ride 65mph plus ?

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I will be able to tell you Tuesday what its like

.

JeepR kReapR · May 1, 2017

RubiconIII said:
Man that is exactly the look I'm going for ? Do you have all control arms or just bracket up front ? How does she ride 65mph plus ?

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Rides just as well as the 2.5 did, and steering input is tighter with the DL flip.

Brackets & stock arms up front, 4 Alpine adjustable CAs at the rear for axle position in the wheel well & rear pinion angle.

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JeepR kReapR · May 1, 2017

jadmt said:
I will be able to tell you Tuesday what its like .

Get on it Jeff! Don't make me come out to MT!!!

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jadmt · May 1, 2017

Unfortunately 12 hour work shifts are cutting into my fun time

. I have tomorrow off so I'll be starting on it first thing in the morning.

AEV 3.5 Install w/pics

JeepR kReapR

jadmt

JeepR kReapR

ESP

JeepR kReapR

chheffer

dawhitesJKU

JeepR kReapR

LV Naturist

JeepR kReapR

wampa13jku

ocny

JeepR kReapR

Harrybeerbelly

JeepR kReapR

RubiconIII

jadmt

JeepR kReapR

JeepR kReapR

jadmt

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