Need opinions on AEV suspension/tire upfgrade

Hilldweller

SE Expedition Society
I have been eyeballing those synergy springs for a long time. I am just afraid that it will upset the "apple cart". My jeep rides great now, handles great etc. I don't mind using the airbags in the rear when the weight is on it from the trailer. I have heard great things about them and the RK overland springs as well.
I tried the airbags on my first JK and blew them out several times while trailering on moderate trails. Swapped springs after that and never looked back.
I had a Terrorflex 2.5" puck lift on top of the stiffest stock JK springs; worked well.

Andy has the Synergy springs on his JKUR, bumper/winch, and tows a teardrop. He feels that it's perfect.
Right now I'm at max capacity on my stockers. It wallows when I'm loaded so I'm looking at the Synergy product real hard.
 

BBailey

Explorer
I'll pretty dead-set on the AEV setup ever since I drove a brand new AEV build at the local dealer.

If you haven't driven JK's equipped with lifts from Rock Krawler, Synergy, Metalcloak, or EVO, I suggest you try each out prior to spending any money on an AEV lift. All ride better on-road and perform better off-road as compared to the AEV. The AEV lift isn't a bad lift, I wouldn't put it in the same league as Pro Comp, Rubicon Express, Zone, or BDS, but there are far better options out there even if all you ever plan to do is drive your JK on the street.

The AEV springs are relatively stiff compared to the other options out there. The Bilstein shocks that AEV uses are also relatively stiff. Combine the two and you have the makings of a terribly harsh on road ride other than when the jeep is fully laden for an overland journey (only a small percentage of most JK's use even by members of this forum).

Highly suggest you at least ride in some jeeps with some other lifts so you have something to compare the drive you took in an AEV jeep to. Many, many guys overbuild their rigs using crappy parts which they then dislike driving and then decide that the reason they dislike it is because it's overbuilt. When it reality, the dislike stems from the parts chosen in the build.

Hilldweller suggested the 1" Synergy springs. I'd add the 2" and 3" EVO Plushride springs, and the Rock Krawler 1.5 and 2.5 springs paired with a decent shocks to that list (probably also worth looking at the shorter Metalcloak springs as well though I'd stay away from their gimicky new shocks). At those lift heights you don't need a drag link flip and if you wanted to upgrade your control arms, lower fronts and upper rears would give you all the adjustability you needed without compromising ground clearance.
 

Hilldweller

SE Expedition Society
What Brian said.

I've never seen anything work better on gnarly stuff than Rock Krawler with a loaded JK.
 

wADVr

Adventurer
If you haven't driven JK's equipped with lifts from Rock Krawler, Synergy, Metalcloak, or EVO, I suggest you try each out prior to spending any money on an AEV lift. All ride better on-road and perform better off-road as compared to the AEV. The AEV lift isn't a bad lift, I wouldn't put it in the same league as Pro Comp, Rubicon Express, Zone, or BDS, but there are far better options out there even if all you ever plan to do is drive your JK on the street.

The AEV springs are relatively stiff compared to the other options out there. The Bilstein shocks that AEV uses are also relatively stiff. Combine the two and you have the makings of a terribly harsh on road ride other than when the jeep is fully laden for an overland journey (only a small percentage of most JK's use even by members of this forum).

Highly suggest you at least ride in some jeeps with some other lifts so you have something to compare the drive you took in an AEV jeep to. Many, many guys overbuild their rigs using crappy parts which they then dislike driving and then decide that the reason they dislike it is because it's overbuilt. When it reality, the dislike stems from the parts chosen in the build.

Hilldweller suggested the 1" Synergy springs. I'd add the 2" and 3" EVO Plushride springs, and the Rock Krawler 1.5 and 2.5 springs paired with a decent shocks to that list (probably also worth looking at the shorter Metalcloak springs as well though I'd stay away from their gimicky new shocks). At those lift heights you don't need a drag link flip and if you wanted to upgrade your control arms, lower fronts and upper rears would give you all the adjustability you needed without compromising ground clearance.

If the AEV suspension is indeed stiffer than the other manufacturers out there, I am certainly happy with my purchase..as I feel my AEV lift is too soft for most of my driving. If I had less spring rate or dampening I'd be an unhappy costumer for sure. Any links to spring rates of different manufacturers that you know of? I'd be interested to see how they compare.
 

kojackJKU

Autism Family Travellers!
Its really hard to know what to do with lifts and suspension. I love how my rig rides on and off road. It works great. I would be towing maybe 2 - 5 times a year, and not on anything gnarly. I don't want to upset the apple cart for the 99.5% of the time im not trailering. I have good clearance for my 33's, a great ride with the upgraded shocks and teraflex leveling kit and I only notice any weight when the pop up trailer is attached. I have had my son 6' his friend 6', both over 160 lbs, both set of their hockey gear, our clothing, our cooler/fridge, and my wife and I. I never found it overly walllowy, or squat down in the back. traveled 70mph for 5 hrs each way. That's why im not to sure about changing out my springs.
 

RubiconGeoff

Adventurer
If the AEV suspension is indeed stiffer than the other manufacturers out there, I am certainly happy with my purchase..as I feel my AEV lift is too soft for most of my driving. If I had less spring rate or dampening I'd be an unhappy costumer for sure. Any links to spring rates of different manufacturers that you know of? I'd be interested to see how they compare.

I agree. I have the 3.5" AEV DualSport suspension and find the front springs to be spot-on with their spring rate, but the rear springs are a bit softer than I'd like them to be. The AEV-tuned Bilstein shocks were terribly stiff, but I replaced them with Rancho RS9000XLs and solved that problem. When loaded up for a camping trip with a moderate amount of gear and only 2 people in the front seats, the rear of my 4-door JK squats lower than it should. When I hitch my 900lb trailer, I have to make sure I load the majority of the gear towards the back because a 200lb tongue weight will really make the suspension squat - not the load carrying capacity of what I'd consider to be a heavily-laden overland-style suspension! I've considered adding some short coil spacers in back because if I was to switch to another brand of rear springs, I'd have to rely on luck to find a set that's properly height-matched to the fronts.
 

mikeJKUR

Adventurer
If you haven't driven JK's equipped with lifts from Rock Krawler, Synergy, Metalcloak, or EVO, I suggest you try each out prior to spending any money on an AEV lift. All ride better on-road and perform better off-road as compared to the AEV. The AEV lift isn't a bad lift, I wouldn't put it in the same league as Pro Comp, Rubicon Express, Zone, or BDS, but there are far better options out there even if all you ever plan to do is drive your JK on the street.

I see that there are a lot of people like AEV lifts. I wonder if it has to do with the drop brackets correcting the caster more then the actual lift itself.
I do find it odd that AEV does nothing to recenter the rear axle Like Rock Krawler or Metalcloak.
 

DEFENDERBEAM

strategic command
If you haven't driven JK's equipped with lifts from Rock Krawler, Synergy, Metalcloak, or EVO, I suggest you try each out prior to spending any money on an AEV lift. All ride better on-road and perform better off-road as compared to the AEV. The AEV lift isn't a bad lift, I wouldn't put it in the same league as Pro Comp, Rubicon Express, Zone, or BDS, but there are far better options out there even if all you ever plan to do is drive your JK on the street.

The AEV springs are relatively stiff compared to the other options out there. The Bilstein shocks that AEV uses are also relatively stiff. Combine the two and you have the makings of a terribly harsh on road ride other than when the jeep is fully laden for an overland journey (only a small percentage of most JK's use even by members of this forum).

Highly suggest you at least ride in some jeeps with some other lifts so you have something to compare the drive you took in an AEV jeep to. Many, many guys overbuild their rigs using crappy parts which they then dislike driving and then decide that the reason they dislike it is because it's overbuilt. When it reality, the dislike stems from the parts chosen in the build.

Hilldweller suggested the 1" Synergy springs. I'd add the 2" and 3" EVO Plushride springs, and the Rock Krawler 1.5 and 2.5 springs paired with a decent shocks to that list (probably also worth looking at the shorter Metalcloak springs as well though I'd stay away from their gimicky new shocks). At those lift heights you don't need a drag link flip and if you wanted to upgrade your control arms, lower fronts and upper rears would give you all the adjustability you needed without compromising ground clearance.

Some of those guys offer lift kits that also cost FAR More than the most expensive AEV kit. For obvious reasons. So, you get what you pay for.

I guess one question is: Is AEV overpriced for say a 3.5" lift kit vs. a comparable 3.5" kit from a manufacture listed above ?

other than actual value and quality of the parts, its up to each individual's personal opinion of ride quality.

I would guess the AEV relationship with jeep is also a selling point for many people?

I am personally still leaning toward AEV when and if I lift.
 

LL247

Observer
Well I'll keep you guys posted on my impressions of the AEV 2.5 lift, scheduled to go in Monday. Wife green lighted bumpers, rack, and led headlights of we saved a little going with the smaller lift & keeping 33's.
 

DallasJKU

Adventurer
instead of dealing with the hassles that come with a lift retain the stock suspension, use aftermarket fenders and slap on a set of 35's with no lift The result is lower Center of gravity retain stock springs and shocks either trim fender or look at an aftermarket set and save the stock ones

Like this?? I had the 2.5" AEV on my Sport and felt it was a good system with great handling. It did ride stiff in many conditions. I might run it again in the future, but for right now I'm sticking with the stock suspension and 315's. I think I would go with the MetalCloak 2.5" if I wanted a full suspension replacement.

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calledtocreation

Adventurer
I haven't read through all of the comments, however AEV last I checked was still using the brackets to drop the stock control arms, which if you are planning on doing any Moderate Off Roading or anything that would require use of your Lockers, run as fast as you can away from AEV. I had their lift originally on my Jeep. The control arm brackets drop the clearances back down to stock height. That means they hang low, like nearly axle height. If you are going to run a 35 or 37" tire buy a lift that includes aftermarket arms. They are adjustable and stronger than stock arms, by a lot. Plus the AEV tuned Bilsteins, while decent on road, they don't handle the wash board roads found on my Overland / Expedition routes as well as other shocks out there (i.e. Fox or King). I am using the 4" Teraflex and while budget necessitated I stick with the AEV Bilsteins, as soon as my budget allows and all four shocks are blowing oil (two currently with just 28k miles on them) I will be going with Fox 2.5's. My two cents :D
 

LL247

Observer
I appreciate the advice from everyone here, why I love the forum is there's plenty of knowledge to draw from. My intentions with this AEV lift is to keep warrantied and give me a basic setup to hold the additional weight while keeping good road manners. I know eventually I'll change the setup and further upgrade, but for now just wanted something to start a platform. Once it's set up and built more, I can determine how/what needs changed or upgraded. As an update to the 2.5 setup, picked the Jeep up at the dealership yesterday and made it 2 miles before it felt like the Jeep was going to shake apart. Returning to the dealership my first words were "Nobody test drove this. Please don't tell me they did or make any excuses, just make it right." So now my 6'3'' 270lb self is squeeeezed into a Chrysler 200 at the moment waiting on a call from the service department.
 

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