I did a thing.. AEV.

[czervika]

Lets see some pics of the finished product!

You're install pics look nice and clean. Well done.

Thank you.

 

[RJL1]

Pics look outstanding!!

Very nice looking rig.

 

[az chip]

AEV 5100s vs stock Bilsteins.


View attachment 495687


AEV knuckles compared to stock.

View attachment 495688


Frame modification pics

View attachment 495689

View attachment 495690
View attachment 495691
View attachment 495692

I am looking at doing this lift on my '17 Rebel. How hard was it? Nice truck, looks great with the lift.

 

[czervika]

It was my first ever. It's not hard. Time consuming. If I would have had another adult person with me and a lift I would have been alot quicker. My 11 year old simply didn't have the lift or the knowledge of what I was asking him to be efficient.

Would I do it again? In a heart beat.

There's also a few of us around here to bounce questions off of or help if you get stuck. The instructions leave a bit to be desired.

Read this step by step about 5 times before you order.

https://www.aev-conversions.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/AEV30300AF-Suspension_RAM1500.pdf

This is the only cut I made with a 4" angle grinder. took FOREVER.

https://www.ramforum.com/attachments/20220617_190834-jpg.495689/

All the cuts after that I used my portaband. MUCH faster, much cleaner. If I can advise anything it's find a way to cut metal with out the death wheel. Portaband was difficult because you had to hold your mouth just right to get the cut you needed but again worth it.

 

[az chip]

It was my first ever. It's not hard. Time consuming. If I would have had another adult person with me and a lift I would have been alot quicker. My 11 year old simply didn't have the lift or the knowledge of what I was asking him to be efficient.

Would I do it again? In a heart beat.

There's also a few of us around here to bounce questions off of or help if you get stuck. The instructions leave a bit to be desired.

Read this step by step about 5 times before you order.

https://www.aev-conversions.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/AEV30300AF-Suspension_RAM1500.pdf

This is the only cut I made with a 4" angle grinder. took FOREVER.

https://www.ramforum.com/attachments/20220617_190834-jpg.495689/

All the cuts after that I used my portaband. MUCH faster, much cleaner. If I can advise anything it's find a way to cut metal with out the death wheel. Portaband was difficult because you had to hold your mouth just right to get the cut you needed but again worth it.

Which portaband saw worked for you?

 

[czervika]

I just used the HF portable bandsaw. Afterwards I think a smaller Milwaukee would do it but I cant say for sure. Either way you're not going to have a straight shot at the cuts and the saw is going to be at an angle and you just have to power it through.

Or you have to find some other saw or just use a cutoff.

 

[LV4WILN]

What size are your tires? Your truck looks great, looking at this lift and Superlift. Have you still been happy with the kit?

 

[ginandtonic]

Thanks for bumping this thread ^ .. I've been wanting one of these kits for a while to replace my 4" RC lift. I love the aluminum steering knuckles and proper geometry they give.. I emailed AEV a few months ago asking if they'd sell me just the knuckles but they said no :/ if anyone knows of any being sold used im all ears! Honestly the RC knuckles are probably the biggest factor that makes that particular lift ride worse than others.

 

[czervika]

What size are your tires? Your truck looks great, looking at this lift and Superlift. Have you still been happy with the kit?

295/75-18 off the top of my head. Yup still love it. Happy i dis it. Might change the wheels to get a different offset and run 37's. We'll see.

Thanks for bumping this thread ^ .. I've been wanting one of these kits for a while to replace my 4" RC lift. I love the aluminum steering knuckles and proper geometry they give.. I emailed AEV a few months ago asking if they'd sell me just the knuckles but they said no :/ if anyone knows of any being sold used im all ears! Honestly the RC knuckles are probably the biggest factor that makes that particular lift ride worse than others.

Well you're in luck, the full kits are back in stock.

AEV 4" SC DualSport Suspension for 2013-2018 Ram 1500

AEV's DualSport SC Suspension System for the 2013-2018 Ram 1500 4WD with a 4-inch lift introduces revolutionary design concepts and innovative engineering achievements to the aftermarket world of IFS suspension systems. AEV's lineup of DualSport Suspension Systems have long been synonymous with...

www.aev-conversions.com

Yeah I'ma **** but I like the kit...

 

[ginandtonic]

Well you're in luck, the full kits are back in stock.

AEV 4" SC DualSport Suspension for 2013-2018 Ram 1500

AEV's DualSport SC Suspension System for the 2013-2018 Ram 1500 4WD with a 4-inch lift introduces revolutionary design concepts and innovative engineering achievements to the aftermarket world of IFS suspension systems. AEV's lineup of DualSport Suspension Systems have long been synonymous with...

www.aev-conversions.com

Yeah I'ma **** but I like the kit...

I'd do it if I didn't already have the frame cut for the RC lift! I don't imagine it would be possible without some frame fabrication first :/

 

[PaleFlyer]

The day I bought it, March 2021.

View attachment 496759


After the AEV lift.
View attachment 496762

First trip out to the swap after doing a string and angle finder alignment in the garage.

View attachment 496761

And... I need a better paying job now...

 

[ginandtonic]

Thanks for bumping this thread ^ .. I've been wanting one of these kits for a while to replace my 4" RC lift. I love the aluminum steering knuckles and proper geometry they give.. I emailed AEV a few months ago asking if they'd sell me just the knuckles but they said no :/ if anyone knows of any being sold used im all ears! Honestly the RC knuckles are probably the biggest factor that makes that particular lift ride worse than others.

I reached back out and AEV does in fact now sell the knuckles themselves. Here's the link they provided: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/aev-nrm0054aa

These are apparently up to 25lbs lighter than the "competition" which I assume to be RC/Zone/BDS and their super heavy cast knuckles. I imagine that these would make a rather drastic improvement in ride quality since they're unsprung weight.

 

[czervika]

Forgot to tie the bow on this thread.

2016 Ram 4x4 outdoorsman. AEV 4" lift, Black Rhino Chase 18x9.5" 4.5" back spacing in 37x13.5R18's Radar Renegade RTs. No rubbing at lock and full articulation.

 

[Adamcr68]

Forgot to tie the bow on this thread.

2016 Ram 4x4 outdoorsman. AEV 4" lift, Black Rhino Chase 18x9.5" 4.5" back spacing in 37x13.5R18's Radar Renegade RTs. No rubbing at lock and full articulation.


View attachment 542877

Looks awesome! Stance is perfect.

 

[RJL1]

Forgot to tie the bow on this thread.

2016 Ram 4x4 outdoorsman. AEV 4" lift, Black Rhino Chase 18x9.5" 4.5" back spacing in 37x13.5R18's Radar Renegade RTs. No rubbing at lock and full articulation.


View attachment 542877

WOW! That is one nice rig. What gearing do you have? Any issues with the 37's?

 

[czervika]

WOW! That is one nice rig. What gearing do you have? Any issues with the 37's?

Thank you.

It's stock geared in 3.92's. I don't find it awful to drive. Is it slower out of the hole? Yeah. Will it still spin the tires when I want it to with the loud pedal? Yes. Will it overdrive the traction control like.it used to? no. No it won't. But in this area that's kind of a good thing with all the rain.

The stock tires were hot garbage on the rain. The 295/70-18 Yokohama x-at's weren't much better. The 37s are better in the rain.

Brakes now seem to be my limiting factor. Power stop drilled and slotted rotors and braided steel lines are just good enough to stop it. I want more. But for now I'm just gonna run it.

 

[broncoduecer]

Wow that looks great czervika!
Does the skid plate block the oil pan drain? I'm looking to install one on my 2017 Laramie Ecodiesel, granted our oil drains are probably in different locations. But I was curious if it made it more challenging to change the oil. It doesn't seem like this skid plate is something you'd want to take off to do an oil change.

 

[czervika]

Wow that looks great czervika!
Does the skid plate block the oil pan drain? I'm looking to install one on my 2017 Laramie Ecodiesel, granted our oil drains are probably in different locations. But I was curious if it made it more challenging to change the oil. It doesn't seem like this skid plate is something you'd want to take off to do an oil change.

Oil changes are a pain in the ass now. Not really because the drain is blocked but rather the skid plate acts like a giant catch pan for the oil filter. Everything that runs out gets trapped by the skid plate. Though the filter is super simple to get at now. I haven't F' around enough to figure out a less messy way. Yet.

As far as taking the skid plate off, it becomes part of the frame/suspension/front diff mount. The shape significantly stiffens the front frame/ cradle area. It's not something you want to remove.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Oil changes are a pain in the ass now. Not really because the drain is blocked but rather the skid plate acts like a giant catch pan for the oil filter. Everything that runs out gets trapped by the skid plate. Though the filter is super simple to get at now. I haven't F' around enough to figure out a less messy way. Yet.

As far as taking the skid plate off, it becomes part of the frame/suspension/front diff mount. The shape significantly stiffens the front frame/ cradle area. It's not something you want to remove.

Oil Udder, maybe?

 

[czervika]

Oil Udder, maybe?

Maybe