AEV 3.5 Install w/pics

JeepR kReapR · May 1, 2017

I feel ya, slammed here myself!

Might have my first 'forced' upgrade. Had a small fender bender last week. Only my passenger front tire was hit but the impact bent the 1 week old AEV track bar bracket where the SS attaches to it.

Got everything hammered back into working order, but the SteerSmarts front trackbar bracket just made the short upgrade list. I'll be talking to Ron as soon as he gets back from Jeep Beach.

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JeepPride · May 1, 2017

JeepR kReapR said:
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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Nice Job! I also installed the 3.5" lift from a 2" space lift and I agree it is a better ride. I'm 58 and it was not so bad. The drilling of the knuckle for the DL flip was what had me nervous. Recently added 37" and trimmed the factory fenders.

jadmt · May 2, 2017

got mine on today. I am 58 years old and dang maybe I am starting to slip a little LOL. Took about 9 hours.
The biggest pain was getting the driver side front shock cinched down. Usually it has been the passenger side but that side went right on. and believe it or not the geo bracket flag nuts on both sides went on in a minute. This is about the 5th set I have put on and I finally learned the secret.

JeepR kReapR · May 2, 2017

jadmt said:
got mine on today. I am 58 years old and dang maybe I am starting to slip a little LOL. Took about 9 hours.
The biggest pain was getting the driver side front shock cinched down. Usually it has been the passenger side but that side went right on. and believe it or not the geo bracket flag nuts on both sides went on in a minute. This is about the 5th set I have put on and I finally learned the secret.

Looks great Jeff!

You're going to have to tell me the secret for that drivers side UCA flag nut 'cause I tried everything to get it in place and just got lucky with it after trying to get it located for over an hour!

Question, did you trim the cross beam up front (the one the instructions say may interfere with the swaybar)??? I haven't gotten around to it yet, mine look like they could use a trim or grind for clearance - Steve

BTW, what happened to your Saltas?

jadmt · May 2, 2017

Yes I cut them off with a sawzall. Pretty easy to do. I run two sets of tires Toyo's/ Salta's are on standby duty

right now.

JeepR kReapR · May 2, 2017

jadmt said:
Yes I cut them off with a sawzall. Pretty easy to do. I run two sets of tires Toyo's/ Salta's are on standby duty right now.

Love to hear your feedback after you get some wheel time with it, I'm very happy with mine so far!

BTW, you might want to trim off that overhang below the bottom of your front fender flare, might cause some clearance issues! :lmao::tomatoes:

1SickRhino · May 3, 2017

when you install this kit do you need wheel spacers for stock wheels to clear? and anything else you would recommend to add to this kit? I assume exhaust spacer? what about trac bars?

jadmt · May 3, 2017

Yes you will want wheel spacers if running stock rims. Either exhaust spacers or modification to exhaust or new driveshaft. It comes with new rear track bar and front track bar bracket, my front and rear axles are centered to within 1/4" which is about as good as it gets.

JeepR kReapR · May 3, 2017

jadmt said:
Yes you will want wheel spacers if running stock rims. Either exhaust spacers or modification to exhaust or new driveshaft. It comes with new rear track bar and front track bar bracket, my front and rear axles are centered to within 1/4" which is about as good as it gets.

Jeff, you still running the TF exhaust spacers on yours? Was DS clearance ok on the 3.5 kit with the GC brackets? I have mine but havent gotten around to installing yet. Would prefer to go that route over the rancho crossover pipe - Steve

jadmt · May 3, 2017

as much as I could tell it is going to be fine. Might be that extremely rare instance where it could touch but basically with full droop in the garage on jackstands I was ok.

jadmt · May 4, 2017

Good news is it is flexible and exhaust clearance just gets by at full flex. At full flex shocks are extended to 29" and coils are loose. Also definitely need to trim those frame tubes.

JeepR kReapR · May 4, 2017

Looks great Jeff! I can't imagine you aren't happy with that flex!

You ok with the road manners? Mine has been fine, looks like yours may be sitting slightly higher than mine (up front at least) due to weight - Steve

jadmt · May 4, 2017

very happy with the handling and on road ride. I have some fast S curves that I go thru and it can flat get thru them no body roll at all. It is sitting pretty high hopefully it will settle a little. If not I will look for a heavier front bumper. When max flexed the coils get loose in the front. I measured the shock extended at 29" and you can spin the coil so I will look at some kind of retainer to keep them in place before my next moab trip. I cant thing of another place where I would flex that much. all lines, wires etc had plenty of slack front and rear. definitely would have hit the tubes in the frame had they not been trimmed.

JeepR kReapR · May 4, 2017

jadmt said:
very happy with the handling and on road ride. I have some fast S curves that I go thru and it can flat get thru them no body roll at all. It is sitting pretty high hopefully it will settle a little. If not I will look for a heavier front bumper. When max flexed the coils get loose in the front. I measured the shock extended at 29" and you can spin the coil so I will look at some kind of retainer to keep them in place before my next moab trip. I cant thing of another place where I would flex that much. all lines, wires etc had plenty of slack front and rear. definitely would have hit the tubes in the frame had they not been trimmed.

Yeah I've been thinking of adding the TF front lower retainers for insurance. At $10 seems like a no-brainer.

My blades for the sawzall to cut off those tubes should be in by the weekend. Also going to meet again with Ron next week to look at the new SS trackbar bracket to replace my bent AEV. That will let me get rid of the goofy DS swaybar link bracket and get them back in their stock mounting locations, which I planned to do anyway. I'll post any updates.

Schmit55 · May 9, 2017

The tank looks really good.

Curious, how do you run an exhaust spacer with a skid plate bolted to the cross-member?

I am running a 2.5 AEV on stock rims and tires at this time with a rock hard oil/engine skid.

JeepR kReapR · May 9, 2017

Schmit55 said:
The tank looks really good.

Curious, how do you run an exhaust spacer with a skid plate bolted to the cross-member?

I am running a 2.5 AEV on stock rims and tires at this time with a rock hard oil/engine skid.

I've dropped the eVo crossmember skid for now (just running the engine & oil pan skid). Haven't tried bolting it back up yet with the exhaust spacers, but I'm assuming I'd need a few skid plate spacers at the crossmember for clearance if I do.

May just wait to actually bash the y-pipe before I go for a more optimal solution (custom exhaust of the cats, front DS or both)

AEV 3.5 Install w/pics

JeepR kReapR

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JeepR kReapR

jadmt

JeepR kReapR

1SickRhino

jadmt

JeepR kReapR

jadmt

jadmt

JeepR kReapR

jadmt

JeepR kReapR

Schmit55

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