As some of you know, I spent last night and today installing my AEV 2.5 kit. Had some hiccups that you awesome folks helped me overcome, and finished the lift install about an hour ago (minus a few things) (Big shout out to ScubaSteve913 for his help). I have 2 observations/questions for you experts. First, the Bilsteins came with new bushings, but we were unable for the life of us to use both new ones on the shocks. They were too tall and did not expose any of the top shock mount threads for the nut to grab. We re-used the OEM bushing for the very top, which was a little shorter and gave enough thread to get the nut on. Will that cause any problems? It wasn't loose and compressed nicely under the washer.

2nd question surrounds the OEM front brake brackets that secure the line to the bottom spring perch. Per the AEV instructions, it says to remove the bracket from the line completely. We tried and tried and tried. Used vise grips, channel locks, etc. and couldn't get that bracket to un-bend from the line. So, I unbolted it from the frame and left it on the line and just zip tied the slack to the shock per the AEV instructions. Any suggestions, ideas, tips on this? Pic of said bracket is below from their instructions.


I left the front swaybar disconnected, as my discos get here tomorrow. I'll install those and the geometry correction brackets tomorrow night, as well as the adj. front track bar that should be delivered with the discos.

 

bump.......

 

Removing the brackets from the brake lines is a total bit#h! Just keep working at it. Eventually you'll get them off. However, most other 2.5" lifts don't have you remove them and if you cycle your suspension, you may find the brackets can stay attached.

As I recall, the Bilstein have a tip on one bushing that slots through the shock tower hole. If it doesn't go through, you won't see any threads.

 

Thanks Invest! Any other ideas? I think I'm just going to carefully dremel the brackets off tonight.

 

I actually had a pretty easy time with these. If you leave it bolted in, and align the tip of your vice grips right on the edge of the bracket, it should turn out enough to remove it. I found it to be easier than I thought it would be. Maybe it's cold where you are, it was pretty warm when I did mine, but I wouldn't suggest heating the bracket as it's too close to a rubber brake line...

Good Luck.

 

Yeah, we tried the vise grips while it was bolted in, but didn't really help much. The wider/larger pliers were older so didn't have many "teeth" left, and the newer ones I had were more of a needle nose design so not much surface area to grip. It was 70 yesterday, which is technically cold for us

 

Take your dremel with a cutting wheel and carefully score a line lengthwise on the bracket. Of course be careful not to get your rubber line. This will weaken it enough to bend very easily. This is what I did and it worked perfectly.

 

X2, exactly what I did and comes right off..Good Luck

 

Exactly my plan for tonight!

 

So what do the instructions say to do after you pull the lines from the bracket? Are you supposed to attach them to anything? I left mine installed with my 2.5" TF lift I finished on Saturday, the driver side seemed fine but the passenger was a bit tighter. Does the AEV have a drop bracket for the rear brake lines? I'm still trying to figure out how to deal with the extra length that is coiling on mine. They are touching the shocks and I'm concerned they might wear the break lines. I was thinking about sleeving the lines with bigger diameter tubing that I would slit and keep it in place with zip ties. Thoughts?