AEV 2.5" vs MC 2.5" Gamechanger

[Warped]

Hope you feel better and have a good time later this month. Your set up didn’t level the front from the pictures is that right or just the angle?

Thanks. To be honest, I never looked enough to see if the rake was there, nor did I care. But I agree the picture makes it look like the rake is still there. I don't see it in pictures that AEV took before shipping it.

 

[Excaliburitto]

Interesting. I didn't rub on 37s. The offset of the new wheels will aid in some of the possible clearance issues.

The width of the tire will likely negate the new offset. Also the rubbing was due to increase diameter, not width.

However, that plastic is easy to cut to solve this, so it shouldn't be a showstopper (on 37s at least).

It's interesting that AEV is selling vehicles with larger tires than the ones they recommend:

 

[Narbeh392]

I debated long and hard on the MC kit versus AEV. I ultimately went AEV on my 392. Got the 3" high capacity springs with the reservoir shocks. I just did Miller jeep trail and Rowher this past weekend. It is absolutely fantastic. Rides like butter. No noise whatsoever. The high capacity springs are perfect. Smooth on rebound. Not stiff. Rides like a cadillac on the trails and compared with the stock suspension out performs in every way. One happy camper here. Testament to AEV's quality.

 

[Winston]

I debated long and hard on the MC kit versus AEV. I ultimately went AEV on my 392. Got the 3" high capacity springs with the reservoir shocks. I just did Miller jeep trail and Rowher this past weekend. It is absolutely fantastic. Rides like butter. No noise whatsoever. The high capacity springs are perfect. Smooth on rebound. Not stiff. Rides like a cadillac on the trails and compared with the stock suspension out performs in every way. One happy camper here. Testament to AEV's quality.

Photos!

 

[Narbeh392]

Photos!

Top of Rowher OHV in Santa Clarita from this past Sunday. 392 is an animal and makes every obstacle a breeze.

 

[Warped]

The width of the tire will likely negate the new offset. Also the rubbing was due to increase diameter, not width.

However, that plastic is easy to cut to solve this, so it shouldn't be a showstopper (on 37s at least).

It's interesting that AEV is selling vehicles with larger tires than the ones they recommend:

View attachment 40645

Not to mention that they use a smallish 37" Yeah, well aware of AEV's recommended sizes. Just taking a risk as I kept scraping bottom.

 

[Narbeh392]

Not to mention that they use a smallish 37" Yeah, well aware of AEV's recommended sizes. Just taking a risk as I kept scraping bottom.

they use bfg at k02 which is 36.5" per BFG measurements on their site. No rubbing whatsoever even on factory rubicon xr wheels.

 

[Argo392]

Yeah I been thinking long and hard about the new set up. I was one of the first ones with a 392 when they first came out and haven’t touched the suspension. Just a Winch & lights bc I’m a sucker for amber backlight but I’m changing that now bc I’m over the light bar look. Thinking of going with the next KC titan bc now it finally has a backlight actually more of a dust light which is nice. I am going with AEV for sure, thank you everyone for your input and pictures!

But I am stuck in do I stick with OEM XR wheels (which I really do love) or do I go with either the JK AEV Borah (bc I think it has a better offset and back spacing) or go with another 17x8.5 wheel. Only bc I would like 13.5 width. Wish the XR wheels came in 8.5. But I’ve seen the set up with OEM with 12.5 and still looks good especially if you go with a more aggressive ridge grabbers.

As far as height I was looking at 37’s at first but with my research I saw that the Falken 38x13.5r17 were lighter than the 37x13.5r17 bc load rating is D vs E. Which I would prefer a D. Side note BFG makes a 39x13.5r17 that is lighter than the Falken but not willing do go 39’s on the AEV. 38’s would be max I would try with this set up.

I have the E rated falken 37x13.5r18 on the TRX and those have been great. And I got it to fit as a spare under the bed too like OEM(pain in the ass but it fits with some modifications of course.

Pictures since everyone likes to see what you’re talking about lol. TRX on Eibach stock wheels no spacers. Just sold my 40 inch Baja, I still have my 50 inch Baja I will need to sell at some point, looks so naked without it now.

 

[Rogue]

This is the best answer that I think can help you by @Stonehide below.

Based on experience in my JK, the AEV was brilliant, especially on road, it handled superb. When I lifted above 3" and my off-roading got a little more aggressive I chose to stick with the AEV springs, but picked up some adjustable control arms as the geometry was better, handling was improved and I felt this was the best compromise.

I used the AEV kit for 10 years on the JK as I did not find another kit that handled on road as well as off road in the dunes and mountains. I don't do any rock crawling, its only just gaining traction now in the UAE.

I will be going with the Metal Cloak on the W392 - purely because AEV does not have a 3.5" lift on their regular springs. (Right now I do not need the High Capacity Springs, I'm not running loaded)

AEV, and other kits like it use drop-down brackets to ensure that as you lift the jeep, you retain stock suspension geometry (caster in particular). This generally does a much better job of preserving OEM ride quality than other kits, which generally use adjustable length control arms to dial in geometry.

Here's a gif from MC that does a pretty good job of visualizing what drop down brackets do after adding lift coils:

The AEV 2.5" will retain your stock control arms, utilizing just a coil spring and drop down brackets to achieve the lift. As mentioned, this will do a great job of preserving OEM ride, at the expense of some ground clearance loss due to that drop bracket and little to no improvement on suspension flex due to retaining the stock control arm bushings.

The 2.5" MC Gamechanger on the other hand comes with a full set of adjustable control arms with more flexible joints than the stock arms. Suspension geometry correction is achieved by lengthening the control arms rather than lowering them. Generally with more flexible joints, you're sacrificing some ride quality, though these days modern aftermarket joints do a much better job than they have in the past.

View attachment 6473

If you're not planning to do much more offroading than the stock 392 can already handle, the AEV system will be great for you.

If you do plan, or even think you might want to get into more technical offroading, I'd go for the MC system as the superior option for a bit of "future proofing".

Hope this helps man!

 

[Warped]

Yeah I been thinking long and hard about the new set up. I was one of the first ones with a 392 when they first came out and haven’t touched the suspension. Just a Winch & lights bc I’m a sucker for amber backlight but I’m changing that now bc I’m over the light bar look. Thinking of going with the next KC titan bc now it finally has a backlight actually more of a dust light which is nice. I am going with AEV for sure, thank you everyone for your input and pictures!

But I am stuck in do I stick with OEM XR wheels (which I really do love) or do I go with either the JK AEV Borah (bc I think it has a better offset and back spacing) or go with another 17x8.5 wheel. Only bc I would like 13.5 width. Wish the XR wheels came in 8.5. But I’ve seen the set up with OEM with 12.5 and still looks good especially if you go with a more aggressive ridge grabbers.

As far as height I was looking at 37’s at first but with my research I saw that the Falken 38x13.5r17 were lighter than the 37x13.5r17 bc load rating is D vs E. Which I would prefer a D. Side note BFG makes a 39x13.5r17 that is lighter than the Falken but not willing do go 39’s on the AEV. 38’s would be max I would try with this set up.

I have the E rated falken 37x13.5r18 on the TRX and those have been great. And I got it to fit as a spare under the bed too like OEM(pain in the ass but it fits with some modifications of course.

Pictures since everyone likes to see what you’re talking about lol. TRX on Eibach stock wheels no spacers. Just sold my 40 inch Baja, I still have my 50 inch Baja I will need to sell at some point, looks so naked without it now.

Congrats on your decision and great looking TRX. I hear ya on being over the light bar look. I like the one that I have below the bumper as it's pretty hidden and not normally seen (AEV option). Hope this set up works great for you. My '23 Punkin' Jeep with the V6 drives better than my brand new '24 392 at the moment. I credit the AEV lift, SteerSmarts/Yeti products for that.

 

[Argo392]

Congrats on your decision and great looking TRX. I hear ya on being over the light bar look. I like the one that I have below the bumper as it's pretty hidden and not normally seen (AEV option). Hope this set up works great for you. My '23 Punkin' Jeep with the V6 drives better than my brand new '24 392 at the moment. I credit the AEV lift, SteerSmarts/Yeti products for that.

Thank you! Yeah I actually like that location of the AEV. Yeah my set up was overkill and to be honest a waste of money just for the amber set up. The 4 flex 4 from 4 are more than I would ever really need as each puts out around 8k lumens so 32k is plenty bright.

 

[Argo392]

Top of Rowher OHV in Santa Clarita from this past Sunday. 392 is an animal and makes every obstacle a breeze.

Do you have any steer smarts on yours or just the AEV set up only?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Top of Rowher OHV in Santa Clarita from this past Sunday. 392 is an animal and makes every obstacle a breeze.

You must be on the wrong obstacles.....

 

[Narbeh392]

Do you have any steer smarts on yours or just the AEV set up only?

Nope. Just the AEV stabilizer. Haven’t gone extreme with mods. Not yet at least.

 

[Narbeh392]

You must be on the wrong obstacles.....

lol

 

[Argo392]

Bad wording and no emotion. The difference was very noticeable. Driving my 392 on the interstate, it is squirming over the road similar to what my other Rubicon did right after I put 38s on it. It needs the firming up that the SteerSmarts & Yeti combo provides.

I was rereading the thread and do you think it’s bc you went with the standard springs with a D rated tire?

Bc I know I been looking at the Falken RT and which direction I’ll go for the jeep and if I go with 37 either 12.5 or 13.5 they are both E rated, but the 38 is only D. I prefer D for a jeep. On the TRX I have them in E and I prefer that with the larger weight and how soft the suspension is it’s a perfect mix IMO.

 

[Warped]

I was rereading the thread and do you think it’s bc you went with the standard springs with a D rated tire?

Bc I know I been looking at the Falken RT and which direction I’ll go for the jeep and if I go with 37 either 12.5 or 13.5 they are both E rated, but the 38 is only D. I prefer D for a jeep. On the TRX I have them in E and I prefer that with the larger weight and how soft the suspension is it’s a perfect mix IMO.

I don't think that had much, if any, influence. I believe it was more the additional unsprung weight and different wheel offset. It wasn't that bad, but the SteerSmarts made the Jeep drive like a dream and better than my 392 when stock. Like you, I prefer the D load rating. The standard AEV springs have worked well and I did upgrade to the 8100 AEV/Bilsteins and it is the perfect combination for me. If I was into overlanding and had the RTT and other items that added a ton of weight, I would have upgraded the springs, but I prefer a hotel these days.

 

[Argo392]

Would AEV be the same height if you did the same set up on your 392?

 

[Brutus 392]

I don't think that had much, if any, influence. I believe it was more the additional unsprung weight and different wheel offset. It wasn't that bad, but the SteerSmarts made the Jeep drive like a dream and better than my 392 when stock. Like you, I prefer the D load rating. The standard AEV springs have worked well and I did upgrade to the 8100 AEV/Bilsteins and it is the perfect combination for me. If I was into overlanding and had the RTT and other items that added a ton of weight, I would have upgraded the springs, but I prefer a hotel these days.

I’m really considering this setup for my 24.

 

[Warped]

Would AEV be the same height if you did the same set up on your 392?

Good question. I have no idea. I would suggest contacting AEV and asking them. They should know as they have done many of them. 248-926-0256