I've been leaning toward getting the AEV lift for my Rubicon Unlimited. I was looking through the install instructions and noticed that you have to move the lower end of the front shocks to the outside of the stock brackets to keep them from hitting the frame during articulation. They supply a "spacer tube" to put on the inside of the stock bracket, then you run a longer bolt through the tube and just bolt the shock to the outside of bracket. Would this put more stress on the stock bracket and risk breaking? How do the other lift manufacturers address this? Here's a photo from the install instructions with the shock relocated.

 

yes, this would put a lot more stress on a suspension component that sees a lot of stress already and seeing as how easy other brackets such as the track bar mounts tear off over time, i can't see how this design without any additional reinforcement is a good idea. as far as shocks hitting the frame goes, so far as i know, they are just using basic bilstein shocks just like FT and RE uses on their 3"-4" kits and i don't think i've ever heard of this being a problem.

 

One of my wheeling buddies and I have incorporated this idea to the suspension lift we both have with out issues so far.

 

Anyone with more than two minutes of high school physics can see that it adds a moment arm to the outside of the bracket that was not subject to those stresses in it's original design.

Sure the tube will support the bracket at it's original design stress points, but it doesn't address the torque added to the brackets that have already been proven to be weak when stress is applied to them.

If it added gussets to the axle/stock bracket to strengthen it i might agree, but from what i see in that picture, it's going to keep stressing the connection of the stock bracket to the axle tube until it gives up. To each there own, if you think it's going to work, then go for it, but there is No way in hell would i put that on my Jeep.

 

I couldn't disagree with you more here - How in the world does the tube act as a gusset?? It acts more like a lever if you ask me.

ScottK, I'm not aware of any other mfg's that have this clearance problem.

 

Thanks everybody,
So, if none of the other manufacturer's have an issue with this and don't need to address it, why would AEV? They're all lifting the same height (3 - 4") and using the stock brackets. I don't see why AEV would have the shock hit the frame a full articulation and the other manufacturers wouldn't. Is AEV being overly cautious (which I kinda like) or are other manufacturers just not addressing it? I'm really not trying to start any kind of argument here, just want to do this right the first time and avoid as many issues as possible. Has anyone seen any type of reinforcment that could be added to allow the shock to be moved and not increase the stress on the stock bracket?

 

and maybe none will break. however, the specific quetion asked was "Would this put more stress on the stock bracket and risk breaking?" and, i would argue that this kit hasn't been out long enough for anyone to know for sure. however, you are kidding yourself if you really think there wouldn't be more stress placed on this mount or that there isn't a "risk" of it breaking.

i personally have run 2 different 4" short arm kits and have not seen this to be a problem. i have also personally installed most of the 3"-4" lift kits on the market today and have seen them perform on the trail and none of them seemed to need their shocks relocated in this manner. i should point out that this even includes the currie rock jock kit which has by far the most droop out of any short arm kit and again, a relocation of this manner up front was not needed. why is this company doing this? who knows for sure, maybe just to be different and convince people like you that they have a product that you want.

of course....

 

Doesnt Currie make a front shock relocation kit like this too ?

Edit: nevermind... I just looked, its for the rear. I think its so the shock body misses thier trackber bracket.

 

as you have noticed, it is for the rear and is done to allow 11" long travel shocks to clear. the bilstiens are not 11" long travel shocks.

i'd like to reitterate that the original question was specifically "would this put more stress on the stock bracket and risk breaking?" and, i would like to state once again, yes, more stress would be placed on the factory mount and yes, there is a risk of breaking it as extending this mount out would effectively make it a lever. over time, there is a potential for this lever to work it back and forth enough to cause the factory mount to fatigue and break. have any doubts? please examine the photo below....



this is a shot of my tj's rear shock mount back when i was running a shock extension bracket on it. why was i running this bracket? because it was the only way i could get the shock i was running at the time to clear the lower spring perches. while this did the trick, it also created enough leverage to eventually fatigue the fatory mount and cause it to tear off the axle. but hey, you can choose to believe whatever you want to believe.

 

I agree, I don't see how it could not put added stress on the bracket, that's why I originally asked the question, and I have spent a lot of hours on these formums doing searches on lifts and can't recall anybody complaining af the front shocks hitting the frame. I didn't know if other manufacturers had addressed this issue in a different way. I also don't understand why a well regarded company like AEV would require that you relocate the shock unnecessarily. As far as "convincing people like me they have a product I want" I guess anything's possible, but I have a hard time buying that.

Wayoflife, is that bracket in the photo available to purchase from one of the vendors? What was the reason in that particular application for relocating the shock? If I do go with the AEV kit, I'd definitely want to do something like that.

Like I said, I just want to do this once and do it right the first time. Of coarse all lift manufacturers will tell you theirs is the best, that's their job. I'm just trying to get as much unbiased info as I can before I decide on which lift is best for me. I have not 100% decided to go with AEV yet, in fact, I've changed my mind several times. I really like the Currie kit, and would probably go with them but I'm not a welder and really want to install the kit myself.

This website is a fantastic source of information and people who are willing to help. Thanks to everybody!