Help me Decide - DIY Mopar Lift or AEV Dualsport

[sdk131]

My Jeep: 2021 Sport S w/ max tow. 285/70/17 Wrangler Rubicon take off wheels and tires. Fab Fours Overland rack, ARB classic deluxe front bumper, mopar performance rock rails with step assist (the larger rock rails that double as steps).

How I use it: Daily Driver, errands for the house, family camping, light wheeling on forest service roads or trails. Nothing Extreme. I will never have a need for max articulation, and never have a desire to go above 35" tires and admittedly that will just be next time I need tires and mostly for looks. Nothing I do requires even more than the current 33" tires.

Goals: Best possible ride and handling for daily driver driver, while adequately supporting the additional weight of the roof rack, arb front bumper, rock rails, an occasional full load of camping gear, bikes, firewood and a family of four....while trying to work this into my budget. Note - I know a spacer lift is an option but I really want to be able to properly handle the constant load of the rack, side steps, front bumper and family of four with the best possible ride and handling. The original max tow suspension already seems to be struggling with the constant load as it is....and that is without the front bumper even installed yet. The Fab fours rack is heavy and really made a huge difference in handling when I added it. I really wasn't planning on going that route, but found a deal locally that was too good to pass up on a used one.


Option 1: DIY Mopar Lift (buy all the parts separately) with Standard Bilstein 5100s, steer smarts front and rear track bars, and rear driveshaft spacer added. Total cost to me estimated at right about $1,640 if I shop carefully.

Option 2: AEV Dualsport 2.5" with a Steer Smarts front trackbar added since the AEV kit does not address the front trackbar. Total cost to me estimated at about $2,075


The AEV kit of course has the geo brackets which I know improve ride and handling....but is the difference that much? The AEV kit would also have the specifically tuned Bilstein shocks versus the "untuned" Bilsteins if I went the "DIY Mopar" route. The AEV kit also has the triple rate springs and I don't believe the Mopar kit does. The AEV kit includes the jack base (not a big deal to me) and the procal snap (also not a concern to me since I have Jscan and an obd adapter already). Thoughts? Is the AEV kit with the tuined shocks and the geo brackets worth the ~$400 difference?

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[PuddleJumper]

I think if handling and ride quality are that important to you, AEV all day. You aren't doing anything crazy so having brackets that hang lower, will probably never be an issue for ya. The more overland oriented coils and shocks are well worth the additional 400 ish bucks.

 

[GI Grandpa]

My Jeep: 2021 Sport S w/ max tow. 285/70/17 Wrangler Rubicon take off wheels and tires. Fab Fours Overland rack, ARB classic deluxe front bumper, mopar performance rock rails with step assist (the larger rock rails that double as steps).

How I use it: Daily Driver, errands for the house, family camping, light wheeling on forest service roads or trails. Nothing Extreme. I will never have a need for max articulation, and never have a desire to go above 35" tires and admittedly that will just be next time I need tires and mostly for looks. Nothing I do requires even more than the current 33" tires.

Goals: Best possible ride and handling for daily driver driver, while adequately supporting the additional weight of the roof rack, arb front bumper, rock rails, an occasional full load of camping gear, bikes, firewood and a family of four....while trying to work this into my budget. Note - I know a spacer lift is an option but I really want to be able to properly handle the constant load of the rack, side steps, front bumper and family of four with the best possible ride and handling. The original max tow suspension already seems to be struggling with the constant load as it is....and that is without the front bumper even installed yet. The Fab fours rack is heavy and really made a huge difference in handling when I added it. I really wasn't planning on going that route, but found a deal locally that was too good to pass up on a used one.


Option 1: DIY Mopar Lift (buy all the parts separately) with Standard Bilstein 5100s, steer smarts front and rear track bars, and rear driveshaft spacer added. Total cost to me estimated at right about $1,640 if I shop carefully.

Option 2: AEV Dualsport 2.5" with a Steer Smarts front trackbar added since the AEV kit does not address the front trackbar. Total cost to me estimated at about $2,075


The AEV kit of course has the geo brackets which I know improve ride and handling....but is the difference that much? The AEV kit would also have the specifically tuned Bilstein shocks versus the "untuned" Bilsteins if I went the "DIY Mopar" route. The AEV kit also has the triple rate springs and I don't believe the Mopar kit does. The AEV kit includes the jack base (not a big deal to me) and the procal snap (also not a concern to me since I have Jscan and an obd adapter already). Thoughts? Is the AEV kit with the tuined shocks and the geo brackets worth the ~$400 difference?

AEV!!!

 

[ng1111]

Depends on why you want it for. I have the AEV and the Mopar 2.0. The AEV I think is substantially stronger for what I use it for.

 

[Josh00333]

AEV 100%

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

You will not need a rear track bar, or bracket… this is low enough that the 1/16-1/8” offset/change is not worth chasing. You will need a front ?? I like the steer smarts with sector shaft brace/enforcement bracket.

Driveshaft spacer- I noticed zero difference on daily use… but it’s cheap, and does straighten the angle for wear a little.

For your described use ??‍ either way. Buy the nicest shocks you can afford, as this will, in my opinion have the best ride feel return.

 

[DanW]

My Jeep: 2021 Sport S w/ max tow. 285/70/17 Wrangler Rubicon take off wheels and tires. Fab Fours Overland rack, ARB classic deluxe front bumper, mopar performance rock rails with step assist (the larger rock rails that double as steps).

How I use it: Daily Driver, errands for the house, family camping, light wheeling on forest service roads or trails. Nothing Extreme. I will never have a need for max articulation, and never have a desire to go above 35" tires and admittedly that will just be next time I need tires and mostly for looks. Nothing I do requires even more than the current 33" tires.

Goals: Best possible ride and handling for daily driver driver, while adequately supporting the additional weight of the roof rack, arb front bumper, rock rails, an occasional full load of camping gear, bikes, firewood and a family of four....while trying to work this into my budget. Note - I know a spacer lift is an option but I really want to be able to properly handle the constant load of the rack, side steps, front bumper and family of four with the best possible ride and handling. The original max tow suspension already seems to be struggling with the constant load as it is....and that is without the front bumper even installed yet. The Fab fours rack is heavy and really made a huge difference in handling when I added it. I really wasn't planning on going that route, but found a deal locally that was too good to pass up on a used one.


Option 1: DIY Mopar Lift (buy all the parts separately) with Standard Bilstein 5100s, steer smarts front and rear track bars, and rear driveshaft spacer added. Total cost to me estimated at right about $1,640 if I shop carefully.

Option 2: AEV Dualsport 2.5" with a Steer Smarts front trackbar added since the AEV kit does not address the front trackbar. Total cost to me estimated at about $2,075


The AEV kit of course has the geo brackets which I know improve ride and handling....but is the difference that much? The AEV kit would also have the specifically tuned Bilstein shocks versus the "untuned" Bilsteins if I went the "DIY Mopar" route. The AEV kit also has the triple rate springs and I don't believe the Mopar kit does. The AEV kit includes the jack base (not a big deal to me) and the procal snap (also not a concern to me since I have Jscan and an obd adapter already). Thoughts? Is the AEV kit with the tuined shocks and the geo brackets worth the ~$400 difference?

I just installed the AEV on Saturday and I could not be more happy with it. The ride and handling are superb. The ride is tight and very controlled, but not harsh. I was worried it would be on the harsh side. It also handles a load very well. I have a boat with a heavy tongue weight and it shrugs it off. It pulls beautifully.

AEV gives you everything you need. Even a jack pad to lift the standard jack and make it usable. They also include a Pro-Cal Snap to correct your speedo and shims to lower the drive shaft coupler bearing, which probably every other kit neglects to include. The only thing I am adding is a front adjustable track bar to center the front axle, which is barely off. I am very meticulous about that kind of stuff, but most people would never notice. I bought a Rough country for $150 on Amazon and it will do the trick.

My brother had the Mopar and loved it. It rode softer but also was a bit more floaty, which would have been fine with me. But if you go that way, if you are as picky as me, you will want a front and rear adjustable track bar as well as a drop bracket or shims for the drive shaft coupler. I also had to get a tighter steering stabilizer, which turned out to be a Fox, to shop an occasional shimmy. AEV gets that right with their lower control arm drop brackets, which contrary to popular belief, do not really cost you any ground clearance. I can show you pics if that worries you.

Anyway, I plan to get the AEV off road soon. I had it on my JKUR (2.5 Dualsport) and the setup is similar. It had every bit as much articulation range as the Mopar on my JL and performed exceptionally well off road. I have no reason to think the JT version won't do the same or better. I feel like the JT will be the best of the 3 Jeeps I've lifted (JK, JL, JT).

All that said, my brother's set up with the Mopar was great. He loved it and it was very impressive off-road. Smoothest riding Jeep I've ever felt and my JL is a close 2nd.

Let me know if you have more questions. I'm on day 4 with AEV and am loving it.

 

[KevinC]

How much cost is in tuned shocks and geo correction brackets? That should answer your question, AEV seems like the better deal.

 

[DanW]

A word about front control arm relocation brackets....I´ve heard all the thoughts about how they ¨hang low¨ and reduce clearance. I am going to measure tonight how far down they actually protrude, and I can tell you it is not much. And the location of where they hang down is, in my opinion and experience, not a place that frequently strikes obstacles. Can it happen? Sure. But if you are slow crawling, they can handle some contact. If you are driving like a 4x4 TV commercial, they won´t be the only thing that gets damaged. It likely will not be a common component to get rubbed. Time will tell....And I am sure I will know more once I get this thing off-road, but I don´t believe they are any kind of a significant weak point. What they bring in terms of ride, handling, and precise adjustment of caster angle, (no death wobble). If it is a concern, I´m pretty certain that there are skid options for them.

I highly recommend the control arm relocation brackets and AEV does them with precision. In fact, I´m not sure about this, but I have a strong suspicion that they were the first to come up with these, at least for the mass market.

 

[DanW]

How much cost is in tuned shocks and geo correction brackets? That should answer your question, AEV seems like the better deal.

Not sure, but the AEV tuning was done with their own kit and components. As everyone already knows, the whole system works together.

These things are all the reason I went with their kit. Not that Mopar wasn´t done well. It is just that AEV went to more detail and thought with the extra components that are necessary, such as the rear track bar relocation. I am actually surprised AEV did not include a front adjustable track bar. But it really isn´t necessary except for aesthetics. Functionally, it drives and performs just fine and is only a fraction of an inch off to one side. 99% of people would never notice it.

 

[sdk131]

Thanks everyone for all of the ....confirmation. I was really leaning toward the AEV anyway. I did contact AEV today to ask about the adjustable front track bar and they explicitly stated that it is not required for the 2.5" lift. I'm going to go ahead and order it and give it a go without adding a front adjustable track bar.

 

[vicsvx]

I have 21sport eco with mopar, 1/2" spacer, adj trak bar and fox stabilizer... I'm happy with it. No complaints other than maybe a little more lift. The ride is great. Install was easy and I get a lot of compliments

 

[DanW]

Thanks everyone for all of the ....confirmation. I was really leaning toward the AEV anyway. I did contact AEV today to ask about the adjustable front track bar and they explicitly stated that it is not required for the 2.5" lift. I'm going to go ahead and order it and give it a go without adding a front adjustable track bar.

I just drove a 160 mile highway round trip tonight and it was perfect.....without the adjustable track bar. I am only doing it to satisfy my own obsessive compulsive desire for that axle to be perfectly lined up. But I agree with AEV, it is not necessary. I am sure if I kept it this way I would soon forget about it and it would be a non-issue.

I had a smile on my face the whole drive. It is the best feeling Jeep on the highway I´ve ever driven. The only one that I think feels as good is the stock Mojave. It just feels darned good. I could not be happier with the choice.

I can´t wait to hear your thoughts on it once you get it installed and put some miles on it.

My next mod is also from AEV. It will likely be a snorkel.

 

[chorky]

Here is what I did

Post 49, 65
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/destination-unknown-2022-jtr-journal.66430/page-4

I just got home from a 900 mile round trip today (all in the same day), and considering my medical issues practically zero driver fatigue in some windy and bad road quality conditions. I highly recommend. It has performed very well off road for me as well (note I do not do hard core rocks or extreme trails)

 

[Josh00333]

My AEV kit went in today. Very happy with it on the 6 mile drive home ?

See the build link.

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