AEV 2" spacer lift for Mojave Gladiator

[Zachanadandy]

Great advice in this post. I just got done installing this weekend and wish I had seen some of this earlier. I do have a question, the upper front frame control arms had a heat shield. I put the geo brackets on so now the heat shield won't fit. Is it not needed because the control arm bushing is now moved downward and the heatshield would only be protecting the bolt of the geo bracket?

No, you don't need the heat shield because the rubber bushing is far enough from from the exhaust with the geometry brackets.

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[Panther69]

No, you don't need the heat shield because the rubber bushing is far enough from from the exhaust with the geometry brackets.

Thanks. That’s what I was thinking but I’m ocd about this stuff.

 

[rxbfk]

Old thread here but I'm wondering if wheel spacers are needed with 37's and stock rims? Im ready to install AEV 2 inch Mojave spacer kit, AEV geo brackets with 37X12.5X17 Nitto ridge graplers on stock rims. Photo attached is 37's stock rims on stock Mojave, just wondering if I'm gonna need wheel spacers and if so what size is recommended? Thank you

 

[Billkowski]

Old thread here but I'm wondering if wheel spacers are needed with 37's and stock rims? Im ready to install AEV 2 inch Mojave spacer kit, AEV geo brackets with 37X12.5X17 Nitto ridge graplers on stock rims. Photo attached is 37's stock rims on stock Mojave, just wondering if I'm gonna need wheel spacers and if so what size is recommended? Thank you

I have the 2inch AEV lift with 37s and stock wheels and did not need wheel spacers, no fitment issues. Having said that, I did add spacers just for a little wider stance

 

[rxbfk]

What size wheel spacer are you running?

 

[Billkowski]

What size wheel spacer are you running?

1.75 inch Synergy's...any smaller and you will likely have to trim the studs

 

[Pismo61]

With stock aluminum wheels you can do 1 inch spacers.There are pockets on the back side of the stock wheels to make room for the studs.Ive done this on other JKs and JLs.Check your wheels first incase Jeep changed something.

 

[GladLad]

Wondering if anyone has bought the AEV Mojave lift in recent years and not had issues with degrading boots on the sway bar links? As there was certainly a rash of such reports in 2023 as seen below.

I have doubts because I saw at least one more report in another thread in Aug '25, saying his degraded in less than a year. I'd suggest looking before saying they're good, as others said so too until they looked.

AEV said it was a bad batch, but if it continued that's not the case.

I replaced mine with newer and seems ok now. They said there was essentially a known bad batch and that seems to line up.

Lucky @Lunentucker avoided the issue at that time. How are they holding up now, still the lucky one hopefully?

Checked my links this morning after seeing the comments herein, and I'm happy to see that they still look brand new. 18 months installed.

But the rest weren't so lucky...

I have had my AEV lift installed for a year now. It has been a great system but the boots on all the the sway bar links are completely shot. All of them are brittle with large cracks everywhere.

Yes, I have the same issue after less than 6 mo ?

Same here!!! I just noticed this a few months ago when I put on my 37s and was playing with my alignment. Boots are pretty done and was upsetting considering I’m at about a year and a half now since installed. Thinking I should go with something with quick disconnects. If anyone gets with AEV please post. I will if I find time to.

Never mind, add me to the list on the torn boots. Damn.

I had mine on for about a month before I swapped the fronts to Apex Autolynx. The boots on the links looked like a tire that had been sitting out in the desert for a decade. For the price of the kit I had expected better,

Noticed the same also this weekend. I expected better from AEV.



Cracks on the rubber, and this is living in a pretty easy climate PacNW

I am having the same issue with the front end link boots. I remember when I put them on thinking they didn't give off the vibe as being as nice as the OEM ones I took off. Upgrading to Clayton links soon. Expensive, put they look solid. You have to cut to size, but that allows you to customize how much angle up you want on your sway bar when the jeep is sitting flat.

 

[MOJAVEC22]

@GladLad My rears are still in good shape but yea the fronts didn’t last long. Still have them on there they’re solid/tight besides the boot. Might get some apex designs autolynx soon.

 

[GladLad]

@GladLad My rears are still in good shape but yea the fronts didn’t last long. Still have them on there they’re solid/tight besides the boot. Might get some apex designs autolynx soon.

Thanks, that's good info! You installed early 2022, and still have good rear boots in 2026. And the front boots you noticed were going bad in 2023 are at least still operating.

I wonder why, you'd think they'd have the same supplier for both. Perhaps it's how the UV or road treats the fronts.

 

[MOJAVEC22]

Yea it’s odd. Maybe a bad batch of boots for the fronts. I was happy with the spacer lift for a few years, but I’ve since upgraded to metalcloak 2.5” springs front and rear and still using the AEV bump stops, shock extensions, and links. Also added metalcloack front track bar and rear track bar relocation bracket. Front track bar brace, sector shaft brace, rear sway bar link reinforcement brackets. After I added the bumper and winch the Mojave springs sagged and gave me a lot of rake. Now I’m sitting pretty level. Only raised it a bit compared to when I first put on the AEV kit. If I could do it all over I would have gone with a metalcloak lift from the beginning. They have an option to keep the fox shocks.

 

[GladLad]

Yea it’s odd. Maybe a bad batch of boots for the fronts. I was happy with the spacer lift for a few years, but I’ve since upgraded to metalcloak 2.5” springs front and rear and still using the AEV bump stops, shock extensions, and links. Also added metalcloack front track bar and rear track bar relocation bracket. Front track bar brace, sector shaft brace, rear sway bar link reinforcement brackets. After I added the bumper and winch the Mojave springs sagged and gave me a lot of rake. Now I’m sitting pretty level. Only raised it a bit compared to when I first put on the AEV kit. If I could do it all over I would have gone with a metalcloak lift from the beginning. They have an option to keep the fox shocks.

Thanks. The MC lift is a strong step up from the AEV. In level of changes and cost. Glad you like it, and the AEV enough to have kept some of the parts.

I was thinking of going with Mojave/Rubicon X front springs if a bumper/winch mess with the suspension too much. Or some other aftermarket spring, but there's not much info on the rates to know which way to go.

 

[MOJAVEC22]

Thanks. The MC lift is a strong step up from the AEV. In level of changes and cost. Glad you like it, and the AEV enough to have kept some of the parts.

I was thinking of going with Mojave/Rubicon X front springs if a bumper/winch mess with the suspension too much. Or some other aftermarket spring, but there's not much info on the rates to know which way to go.

Cost wise it’s a bit more yea but it’s about the same amount of work. I’ve taken apart my suspension twice now good learning experience. Also I agree with the changes, with the AEV kit I kept the stock track bars and controls arms(I did get the AEV geometry correction brackets when I put the kit on tho, that helped caster angle.) now with the 2.5 coils I finally got the adjustable front track bar and rear relocation bracket. anything more than 3” of lift then you gotta start looking at driveshafts as well. For me I’m happy with the 2.5” springs.

I also installed a fox ats steering stabilizer and a sector shaft brace(metalcloak, but various companies make them). Def helped steady the 37’s.

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