I have been wondering why AEV products have got such a negative response in some is the forums. So I figured I would ask the experts. What are your thoughts and opinions on this company's products?
The reason I asked is I purchased my 09 Jk one year ago for a steal of a price. I have always wanted a jeep and use to trade my car for my friends and brothers tj's all the time on the weekends. My Jk came used with 38k miles on it with a 3.5" AEV lift, AEV wheels, snorkel kit, pro cal module, and 35" mud terrains. All for less than 28k out the door. I'm not to fond of buying used cars as I always feel like I'm buying a lemon. So far I can't ever see driving anything else again. But I needed to know the equipment on my jeep was solid. Now I'm thinking of swapping out the lift and motor in the future. Aka after it's paid off. Thanks for the info!
The AEV Heat Reduction Hood is awesome
The AEV ProCal is awesome
The AEV Snorkel is awesome
The AEV Jack Base is awesome
The AEV Front Bumper is by far the cleanest and nicest stamped steel bumper you can get
The AEV Rear Quarter Panel Armor is definetly one of the nicest you can buy and has the best factory fit
The AEV Rear Bumper is an odd match for the front bumper and while I don't get it, it's not bad
The AEV 2.5" lift is not bad and no worse than anything else in its class
The AEV 3.5" and 4.5" kits are way over priced for what little you really get
As you can see, the only grief you will see me give AEV is for the 3.5" and 4.5" lift kits they sell and not because it doesn't work, but rather, because all you're really paying for are a set of expensive dual rate coils and a bunch of relocation brackets that are even designed very well. I should note that this lift kit was actually designed by the now defunct company Nth Degree Mobility and why they choose to keep on selling it is beyond me. If you really want to go the drop bracket route, I would recommend a Rancho Sport kit instead as it's similar in design, made much better and costs a fraction of the price.
If there's something specific they make that you wanted a pro and con on, please let me know and I'd be more than happy to give you a more precise breakdown.
I'm looking at a used 3.5" AEV kit with about 10,000 miles on it. I was wondering what your opinion on this kit vs a 2.5" Teraflex or RK would be. I wasn't considering the kit but I found it on Craigslist for 1/2 off the original price of the aev kit. I'm always hesitant to buy used things like this.
You can google AEV on the internet and see the videos where they are on a road course with the 3.5" lift and the thing handles amazingly.
I'm not a big fan of control arm drop brackets and not too thrilled about dual rate coils either. If you play on the rocks, you shouldn't be either. If you don't, what I can tell you is that you'll probably have a nicer ride with the AEV kit over a TF 2.5" kit or RK equivalent. Of course, I've never thought that the AEV 3.5" was even worth half it's cost to begin with and if I were going to spend that much, I would be getting a Rancho Sport kit instead. Similar design, with brackets that are built much better, with standard coils and available at a fraction of the price.
I promised the wife that I'd try to keep the ride quality in the road at least as good as my stock jeep. if I just want to get to 35s to be a weekend warrior type, what kit would you suggest then. My jeep is my DD.
No offense, but with the right driver and camera crew, any vehicle could be shown to handle beyond its normal spectrum of capabilities.
I was also, at one time, quite interested in the AEV 4.5" lift w/ Bilstein 5160s. But after a ****load of research online, I came to look at it a few ways:
AEV claims that the lift was designed by a former Jeep suspension engineer. Why would a lift design typically found on IFS (independent) equipped vehicles be utilized on a straight axle suspension? As Eddie has mentioned already, the kit is simply comprised of some bracketry and springs marketed @ the same pricepoint of a more involved lift.
Mopar currently offers/equips some AEV products to vehicles that they display on the showroom floor (most notably their heat reduction hood), but, for reasons that we can only speculate, the AEV lifts are not on that list of Mopar products.
On the other hand, one can argue that the lift that Mopar does offer (Rubicon Xpress???) is not the best option.
Don't get me wrong, the lift sounds like it would work for what you want out of it, but you could also get the same results for less. Or even better results for the same $.
The extra expense would be warranted if the R&D, support, and durability were represented by the product. From the sound of it; that is not the case.
...The 3.5" & 4.5" kit as explained does have geometry correction brackets and also a high steer kit , (WHICH they recently redesigned ) as eddie said due to the bending and possible failure . Much better design now...
But this is def where you get better insight on the hard core rockin ESP> w/ the EVO kits .
not too thrilled about dual rate coils either.
I've heard the argument that progressive rate coils aren't the way to go because: 1) with a heavier weight vehicle you're already into the stiffer portion of the coil...
2) the further up you are the stiffer it gets which may not be ideal as it stiffens up as it articulates / compresses.
...I know one company advises a helper rate dual coil which serves to try to make the best of both worlds (in theory), but then you're really left a spring which doesn't use it's full length as a portion is already fully compressed just due to the rate of the vehicle. It would seem that this may work better or worse depending on the weight of the vehicle itself (heavy vs. light).
Linear have issues because they may work find during most of the travel but then at full droop they tend to be limited (ie. no compression and may be prone to falling out). Plus you're going to cut into the spring travel with just static load differently depending on whether you have a heavier or lighter vehicle.
Personally I think AEV is doing a heck of a job on their products. The only cons I can say they have is their lift kits. Too much money for a lift kit with mostly brackets. Plus some of their brackets actually lower ground clearance.
But on the other hand. I love all their other products. Their obviously doing something right if Jeep itself is partnering with them.
I know for me, my build is going to end up having lots of AEV products along with the EVO bolt on coilover kits:yup:
If you want a good lift or other great products. Check out EVOs website. I actually found a dealer here in CO that is linked with them and installs all their parts so you can keep your factory warrenty.