FRV
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I just completed installing AEV 2.5" dual sport lift. Also installed geometry correcting brackets and a JKS HD adjustable track bar.
I plan to keep the 33" tires. Some photos attached so you can see how it looks with stock 33" KO2s. Reliability and MPG are a couple of our priorities so that influences our mods. We will eventually install a winch and a 17 gallon Aux fuel tank opposite the stock tank between the frame rails.
Lessons learned:
-AEV says five hours to install. That's laughable. Maybe in a 4WD shop! Or perhaps if you have installed one before. I am not a novice but have limited tools. I did it in my garage. I had a little help from my wife but 80 percent completed solo. Probably 12-14 hours. Split it up over three days.
-I had difficulty installing the bigger taller coil springs. I was uncomfortable letting the rear axle down any lower. I disconnected everything I could. One line, don't know what it is but goes over the transverse frame rail then down to differential and out to the rear brakes could not find more slack. I went to Advanced Auto and they loaned me for free a coil spring compressor with the safety pins. It was a slow process but they went in without a fuss. It was just time consuming. Plan accordingly.
-I have a 20v impact driver. A big help. Other than that just standard wrenches/sockets/extensions, etc. All meteic of course. I have a good torque wrench which you will need. Along with 16-22mm sockets and wrenches You will also need a 24 mm socket AND a 24 mm wrench for the front end of the passenger side lower control arm. A 15/16 is the same as a 24mm so if you have that you should be GTG. You need 15mm wrench to center steering wheel when the lift is complete.
- I did the rear suspension first to get a feel for the process and that worked well for me.
-The AEV kit is complete but the instructions can be improved. Example--You get a bag of bolts, nuts, and washers but no diagram of exactly what goes with what. There are some fine thread M12 flange nuts mixed with the standard thread and it isn't till you are almost done that it mentions that interesting little tidbit. I read the instructions a couple times before the installation and highlighted key info. That helped me especially when I got tired.
-The front control arms--I watched a couple videos and in the comment section people doing the same project said they could not get the bolts and holes lined up. I think some folks are trying to install the geometry correcting brackets with the Jeep in the air and with the suspension unloaded. The directions are very specific about installing those brackets with the wheels mounted and the Jeep on the ground. I had no trouble at all. You do one side at a time (stated in the instructions) and push the front tire forward to get the control arm to line up with the bolt hole. Nothing to it.
-Torquing the bolts. The instructions basically state do not torque fasteners until nearly everything is installed and the Jeep is on the ground. On the last page they list all the torque specifications. I checked each item off as I torqued it. It would be easy to miss one. Be careful and have a process. Check them off as you go. It probably took 2 to 2.5 hours just to torque everything. Would be a faster if the Jeep was in the air (sitting on the tires with suspension loaded). I also used a white paint pin on the bolts to see if they loosen.
-I achieved all the torque specifications except the forward lower control arms. My torque wrench goes to 150lbs. Those are supposed to be torqued to 190lbs. Even if my wrench could do that I am not sure I could because it's very hard to get enough leverage laying on the ground under the Jeep. When I have the front end aligned tomorrow I will ask the shop to torque those four bolts.
-Steering wheel. After installing a lift kit the steering wheel will be off center. Simple 10 min process to correct.
-Installing the lift kit was not hard. But it was time consuming.
-In the attached photos the one with the camper top up was before the lift kit was installed. The photo with the camper top down was after the lift kit was installed.
-even though it's a 2.5" lift kit, we got 4.25" lift up front and 3.5" on the rear. AEV told me it will settle a little. Also the lift is intended to support a Jeep with steel bumpers, a winch, and all the normal stuff overlanders carry. So I assume we will be about 2.5"-3" fully loaded.
I took it for a test drive and it's nice. Firm and tight. I think it looks great
I plan to keep the 33" tires. Some photos attached so you can see how it looks with stock 33" KO2s. Reliability and MPG are a couple of our priorities so that influences our mods. We will eventually install a winch and a 17 gallon Aux fuel tank opposite the stock tank between the frame rails.
Lessons learned:
-AEV says five hours to install. That's laughable. Maybe in a 4WD shop! Or perhaps if you have installed one before. I am not a novice but have limited tools. I did it in my garage. I had a little help from my wife but 80 percent completed solo. Probably 12-14 hours. Split it up over three days.
-I had difficulty installing the bigger taller coil springs. I was uncomfortable letting the rear axle down any lower. I disconnected everything I could. One line, don't know what it is but goes over the transverse frame rail then down to differential and out to the rear brakes could not find more slack. I went to Advanced Auto and they loaned me for free a coil spring compressor with the safety pins. It was a slow process but they went in without a fuss. It was just time consuming. Plan accordingly.
-I have a 20v impact driver. A big help. Other than that just standard wrenches/sockets/extensions, etc. All meteic of course. I have a good torque wrench which you will need. Along with 16-22mm sockets and wrenches You will also need a 24 mm socket AND a 24 mm wrench for the front end of the passenger side lower control arm. A 15/16 is the same as a 24mm so if you have that you should be GTG. You need 15mm wrench to center steering wheel when the lift is complete.
- I did the rear suspension first to get a feel for the process and that worked well for me.
-The AEV kit is complete but the instructions can be improved. Example--You get a bag of bolts, nuts, and washers but no diagram of exactly what goes with what. There are some fine thread M12 flange nuts mixed with the standard thread and it isn't till you are almost done that it mentions that interesting little tidbit. I read the instructions a couple times before the installation and highlighted key info. That helped me especially when I got tired.
-The front control arms--I watched a couple videos and in the comment section people doing the same project said they could not get the bolts and holes lined up. I think some folks are trying to install the geometry correcting brackets with the Jeep in the air and with the suspension unloaded. The directions are very specific about installing those brackets with the wheels mounted and the Jeep on the ground. I had no trouble at all. You do one side at a time (stated in the instructions) and push the front tire forward to get the control arm to line up with the bolt hole. Nothing to it.
-Torquing the bolts. The instructions basically state do not torque fasteners until nearly everything is installed and the Jeep is on the ground. On the last page they list all the torque specifications. I checked each item off as I torqued it. It would be easy to miss one. Be careful and have a process. Check them off as you go. It probably took 2 to 2.5 hours just to torque everything. Would be a faster if the Jeep was in the air (sitting on the tires with suspension loaded). I also used a white paint pin on the bolts to see if they loosen.
-I achieved all the torque specifications except the forward lower control arms. My torque wrench goes to 150lbs. Those are supposed to be torqued to 190lbs. Even if my wrench could do that I am not sure I could because it's very hard to get enough leverage laying on the ground under the Jeep. When I have the front end aligned tomorrow I will ask the shop to torque those four bolts.
-Steering wheel. After installing a lift kit the steering wheel will be off center. Simple 10 min process to correct.
-Installing the lift kit was not hard. But it was time consuming.
-In the attached photos the one with the camper top up was before the lift kit was installed. The photo with the camper top down was after the lift kit was installed.
-even though it's a 2.5" lift kit, we got 4.25" lift up front and 3.5" on the rear. AEV told me it will settle a little. Also the lift is intended to support a Jeep with steel bumpers, a winch, and all the normal stuff overlanders carry. So I assume we will be about 2.5"-3" fully loaded.
I took it for a test drive and it's nice. Firm and tight. I think it looks great
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