I'm looking into a lift for my 2010 Rubicon 2dr. I was suggested to try the AEV, the guy at my local tire place said they are the best. Anyone have an opinion on this? I want to do it once and do it right.
I'm looking to fit 35's, i dont think i need to go any bigger. Its my daily driver but i use it for offroading so it needs to perform on both ends.

Anyone info you guys can share would be great.

 

all the aev fanboys will come on here shortly to profess how this kit is the best thing since sliced bread, EVEN THOUGH they have ZERO experience with anything else in the same lift height. if you're really set on getting a set of over priced relocation brackets, please do yourself a favor and give the rancho sport kit a look. trust me, it's very similar in design only made with much beefier brackets AND costs a fraction of the price.

 

Not sure if I qualify as an aev fanboy but David at Northridge recommended I get the 3.5" sc kit and I haven't regretted the choice.

 

david has his reasons for recommending the aev kit and really, i'm not here to try and argue with any of them. i've never said it's a bad kit, only that it's overpriced for how little you really get. i also said that if you were determined to go this route, you should consider the rancho sport kit instead as it really is a better made kit and one that costs a fraction of the price. in spite of what the fanboys will try to suggest, i'm just trying to help people like the OP out by providing good, accurate information and if at all possible, save them some money.

 

IMHO the AEV kit is best for mall crawlers and light off-roading. It performs on-road like the stock suspension because it basically IS the stock setup, it simply lowers the stock components. It offers little/no performance enhancements. It is very expensive for a set of brackets, springs, and a draglink flip. Take a look at the components a kit comes with. I would look for control arms, track bars, springs, brake lines, ect. Look at Currie, Clayton, Rock Krawler, Teraflex, EVO. Enjoy!

 

Why is there so much dislike for AEV?

AEV kits are more than enough for 90% of people.

For some AEV is the best choice and I'm going to say specifically there 2.5 kit. Is it really that over priced? I know you get brackets and no CAs but for 1000 you get some great springs, a rear track bar, Bilsteins and the brackets. Add another 160 and toss in a JKS front track bar. If you are not doing serious rock crawling is that such a bad set up?

If money was no concern, from all that has been posted EVO is the way to go. Curries is great too expensive for your average off roader.

Personally I like OME springs/shocks. I wish I could ride in someone's JK who has the RK set up cause as of now I haven't personally experienced it.

There are a lot of good options out, and AEV is simply one of those options.

Not saying its AEV or bust, but I really don't think the are limited to mall crawlers.

 

I have a 4.5 AEV on mine as a daily driver and I have loved it so far

 

I have just installed the AEV 3.5" SC lift on my 2012 JKUR and to be honest, I am impressed by the way it rides and handles. I admittedly do not have experience with all of the different brands of suspensions lifts out there, but I have owned a few jeeps. My last jeep was an 09 JK with the clayton 3.5" lift (with all 8 control arms, adjustable trackbars, new front and rear DS, etc.). I do all of my own wrenching and maintenance, am an engineer by trade, and also grew up on a farm in the Midwest so I understand the principle of throwing extra material thickness at something that is thought to be a weak point compared to doing analysis to determine the appropriate material requirements based on a certain set of usage criteria.

OEM's do the analysis and determine how to meet strength requirements by using the minimum material thickness/type/etc. Generally, this is done to a price point, but in the end, with all things considered, leads to reliable, tested part, able to meet a certain set of constraints.

The problem with the OEM's method is that offroading adds many factors that do not fit into the original set of criteria that the parts were built for, leading to part failures or early wear.

Aftermarket companies most typically throw 1/4" plate steel or the like at everything in an effort to make their parts indestructible without regard to whether the same strength could have been achieved by using thinner material and adding, say a bend to a bracket to add strength. This leads to not only excessive strength, but a perceived (and experienced) sense that part is more "hardcore" if you will.

The problem with most aftermarket companies is that their overbuilt, under analyzed solutions generally do not mesh well with the more strategic OEM parts which generally leads to less superior handling/ride quality. However, this is all subjective.

When I was installing the AEV lift, I saw a design that used the OEM principles. The fit of the parts were much better than the Clayton components and the reuse and relocation of already tested and proven OEM parts was evident to be well thought out. This is what leads to a better handling, more stock like ride. With that said, this kit is not going to stand up as well to hardcore offroading and will not allow the same flex as most of the other kits out there. This kit was designed using a set of criteria which I think AEV does a good job of disclosing. On road handling, reliability, load carrying capability, and expedition type offroading, with the ability to tackle harder stuff on occasion.

The clayton kit, on the other hand was built using the aftermarket principles and the components in this kit were very over built. Bottom line, the jeep handled well, but was not even close to the AEV. With that said, the clayton kit destroys AEV off road when it comes to being able to handle the stresses and forces that weren’t part of AEV’s design criteria as well as the amount of flex allowed.

In the end, you have got to choose what is more important to you, superb on road performance, or superb offroad performance. Keeping in mind that all kits will allow you to do both. As far as the Rancho kit, I have no experience personally using or installing it, so I can’t comment. And, as far as price, whether it was perceived or reality, the AEV kit felt to me to be very high quality and so did the clayton lift.

 

^^well written and spot on, thank you for a educated response that is not bashing others opinions

 

Hey WOL, need I say more....? LOL ::insert elbow shot here::