AEV 4” Dual Sport Suspension installed.

[azcoyote]

Well, you got me! Just ordered my AEV lift!!
Thank you for posting! LOL

 

[DamnRam1500]

Did some of my own fast talking and well now I have a problem. Found it for $1499 shipped. No way in h e ll I’m installing it myself tho. Comes with Bilsteins. Let’s see if I can pull a fast one too.

That’s awesome. Mine was $1600 after shipping so that sounds right. They all come with Bilsteins tuned specifically for this truck and lift and the shock tubes are longer than the regular Bilstein 5100s you can buy off the shelf for a Ram 1500. Good luck!

 

[bfill_rebel]

I found the AEV kit for the air suspension rams for $1499. Figure if I can find a shop to install for 1000-1200 that brings me to same cost as BDS kit with Fox shocks alone.

Have spoken to aev and awaiting answer about if I can re-use my stock Rebel rims with the kit or not. If I can still use my stock rims then I might have to pull trigger on this.


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[DamnRam1500]

I found the AEV kit for the air suspension rams for $1499. Figure if I can find a shop to install for 1000-1200 that brings me to same cost as BDS kit with Fox shocks alone.

Have spoken to aev and awaiting answer about if I can re-use my stock Rebel rims with the kit or not. If I can still use my stock rims then I might have to pull trigger on this.


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No you cannot use any OEM wheels with the kit. 17s won’t fit at all and 18” rims and most will hit the steering knuckle where the tie rod ends mount unless they have a very heavy offset or spacers. You can use wheel spacers on 20” wheels.

I have spoken with Paul and David at AEV many times and can answer a lot of the questions you might have.

 

[bfill_rebel]

No you cannot use any OEM wheels with the kit. 17s won’t fit at all and 18” rims and most will hit the steering knuckle where the tie rod ends mount unless they have a very heavy offset or spacers. You can use wheel spacers on 20” wheels.

I have spoken with Paul and David at AEV many times and can answer a lot of the questions you might have.

So even 1.5” spacers on my 17” rims wouldn’t work? That would be 17x8 and -20 offset with spacers on.


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[DamnRam1500]

So even 1.5” spacers on my 17” rims wouldn’t work? That would be 17x8 and -20 offset with spacers on.


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It’s possible.

This is from their website.

top picture if from the air rise lift page, bottom picture if from the spring ride lift page. Both lifts use the same knuckles and front end parts with only the air ride struts being the difference.

 

[bfill_rebel]

It’s possible.

This is from their website.

top picture if from the air rise lift page, bottom picture if from the spring ride lift page. Both lifts use the same knuckles and front end parts with only the air ride struts being the difference.

View attachment 224217

View attachment 224218

Yea I saw those too. “Recommended” vs won’t fit is different. I’m feel like they will say no. However BDS says no too and I’ve seen a few Rebels with their lift on stock wheels too. So I just would like to know. I really don’t mind the Rebel wheels. So having to replace them isn’t something I’m crazy about. Plus I like all the sidewall on 35s when on 17s.


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[DamnRam1500]

Yea I saw those too. “Recommended” vs won’t fit is different. I’m feel like they will say no. However BDS says no too and I’ve seen a few Rebels with their lift on stock wheels too. So I just would like to know. I really don’t mind the Rebel wheels. So having to replace them isn’t something I’m crazy about. Plus I like all the sidewall on 35s when on 17s.


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I can confidently say with out spacers 17 will not fit. 18s with out the proper offset will hit the tie rod end mount and not bolt up properly. Even stock 20s won’t fit with out spacers because the upper control arm mount will run the sidewalL of the tire and I assume that would happen with the 17s as well. I could have fit my Oem 20x9 sport wheels with 35x12.5 with my 1/4” spacers to keep the side wall from rubbing.

 

[bfill_rebel]

I can confidently say with out spacers 17 will not fit. 18s with out the proper offset will hit the tie rod end mount and not bolt up properly. Even stock 20s won’t fit with out spacers because the upper control arm mount will run the sidewalL of the tire and I assume that would happen with the 17s as well. I could have fit my Oem 20x9 sport wheels with 35x12.5 with my 1/4” spacers to keep the side wall from rubbing.

This is going to be a long post. By no means I am trying to argue. Just want to lay out some “math”.

So their site does recommend 18x8.5 with 5.32 backspace

Or 20x9 with 5.25” BS:

Now my Rebel wheels with the 1.5” spacer is equivalent to 17x8 with -20 offset (1.5” is 38mm so that’s how I got to -20). Using the info above here is my Rebel wheels with spacers vs AEV recommended 18s


Now here would be my Rebel wheels with spacers vs the AEV recommended 20s



Here is another visual for my 17s with spacers vs the 18 set up AEV recommends:


(The AEV set up is closer to suspension components)

Here is a visual showing my Rebel wheels with spacer vs the recommended AEV 20” set up


(Again AEV set up is closer to suspension components)

Just for another reference here is a conversion chart for backspace to offset:


Now I’ve never had a full lift kit so maybe I’m not accounting for something. But when I do all of this math and look at it on my own I don’t understand why my 17” OEM Rebel wheels with spacers making them essentially 17x8 -20 couldn’t work...


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[DamnRam1500]

Yes, the rebel wheels with 1.5” spacers should work yes, I was referring to no spacers.

The other thing is the AEV knuckles move the front wheels forward something like 8mm to help prevent rubbing.

I have the AEV 20” delta wheels and 35x12.5s and no rubbing anywhere.

the only reason I don’t like these wheels is the fake beadlock is made wide like a real bead lock and it causes the wheels to hold in water after washing, raining or driving through mud.

 

[bfill_rebel]

Yes, the rebel wheels with 1.5” spacers should work yes, I was referring to no spacers.

The other thing is the AEV knuckles move the front wheels forward something like 8mm to help prevent rubbing.

I have the AEV 20” delta wheels and 35x12.5s and no rubbing anywhere.

the only reason I don’t like these wheels is the fake beadlock is made wide like a real bead lock and it causes the wheels to hold in water after washing, raining or driving through mud.

Thanks for all of your help and confirming my calculations.


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[DamnRam1500]

Any time, if you or anyone else has any questions I’m happy to help.

 

[azcoyote]

I realize you are talking 17s but here is the conversation I had with Matt at AEV about why my stock 20x8 won’t fit. I’m guessing tie rod clearance and steering knuckle would both be a factor on 17s. Maybe even with 1.5” spacers

Unfortunately, the OE wheels will not fit with our lift. Wheel specs are incredibly confusing…basically a 20x8 wheel w/ a 5.25” backspacing is the equivalent to a 20x9 wheel w/ roughly 5.75” backspacing. Simply put, the OE wheels sit too far “in” on the truck and the wheel contacts the steering knuckle. Hope that makes sense! ​

 

[bfill_rebel]

I realize you are talking 17s but here is the conversation I had with Matt at AEV about why my stock 20x8 won’t fit. I’m guessing tie rod clearance and steering knuckle would both be a factor on 17s. Maybe even with 1.5” spacers

Unfortunately, the OE wheels will not fit with our lift. Wheel specs are incredibly confusing…basically a 20x8 wheel w/ a 5.25” backspacing is the equivalent to a 20x9 wheel w/ roughly 5.75” backspacing. Simply put, the OE wheels sit too far “in” on the truck and the wheel contacts the steering knuckle. Hope that makes sense! ​

Thanks for posting. But it is my understanding that spacers would move wheels out. In his scenario you would need a 1/2” spacer to make the 20x9 their 5.25” backspacing. It’s not like the back side of OEM rims are shaped different than aftermarket.


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[DamnRam1500]

Thanks for posting. But it is my understanding that spacers would move wheels out. In his scenario you would need a 1/2” spacer to make the 20x9 their 5.25” backspacing. It’s not like the back side of OEM rims are shaped different than aftermarket.


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FYI AEV is extremely against wheel spacers.

 

[azcoyote]

Thanks for posting. But it is my understanding that spacers would move wheels out. In his scenario you would need a 1/2” spacer to make the 20x9 their 5.25” backspacing. It’s not like the back side of OEM rims are shaped different than aftermarket.


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For sure. Mine are 20x8 tho but agreed.

I would suspect that the size of the spindle and position of steering components factors too in the case of the 17s reduced diameter even with a spacer. Spacer won’t make the wheel diameter larger after all. No?

 

[DamnRam1500]

For sure. Mine are 20x8 tho but agreed.

I would suspect that the size of the spindle and position of steering components factors too in the case of the 17s reduced diameter even with a spacer. Spacer won’t make the wheel diameter larger after all. No?

But it will push the wheel far enough away from the hub, upper BJ and the tie rod end.

 

[azcoyote]

Fair enough. I’m looking at aftermarket 20x9 with 0 offset and 5” backspace.

 

[bfill_rebel]

For sure. Mine are 20x8 tho but agreed.

I would suspect that the size of the spindle and position of steering components factors too in the case of the 17s reduced diameter even with a spacer. Spacer won’t make the wheel diameter larger after all. No?

True. I need tires within next month to 6 weeks. Also will do brakes while I’m increasing tire size (also stock brackets/rotors have 63k on them and are loosing their bite).

I blame all this thinking on kids (dont get me wrong, I love my kids and they make my days better). Years ago I’d buy it and if my spacers didn’t work oh well the pick out a set of method or black rhino rims and not think twice. Now I’m like well I wanna buy the kids a mini atv for Christmas and I just bought the wife a new SUV (outgrew her old Forester as kids grew).

Oh responsibility... lol


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[azcoyote]

True. I need tires within next month to 6 weeks. Also will do brakes while I’m increasing tire size (also stock brackets/rotors have 63k on them and are loosing their bite).

I blame all this thinking on kids (dont get me wrong, I love my kids and they make my days better). Years ago I’d buy it and if my spacers didn’t work oh well the pick out a set of method or black rhino rims and not think twice. Now I’m like well I wanna buy the kids a mini atv for Christmas and I just bought the wife a new SUV (outgrew her old Forester as kids grew).

Oh responsibility... lol


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hear you loud and clear my friend. My current upgrades are the first in 3 years. For all of those reasons.