AEV Ram HD 3″ DualSport SC Suspension Installation Guide

3” Dualsport rear suspension ram truck 2500

AEV30254AC

Last Updated:

05/23/19

PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU START

TO GUARANTEE A QUALITY INSTALLATION, WE RECOMMEND READING THESE INSTRUCTIONS

THOROUGHLY BEFORE BEGINNING ANY WORK. THESE INSTRUCTIONS ASSUME A CERTAIN

AMOUNT OF MECHANICAL ABILITY AND ARE NOT WRITTEN NOR INTENDED FOR SOMEONE NOT

FAMILIAR WITH AUTO REPAIR.

INCLUDED PARTS

Rear Axle Kit

Power Hop Bracket Kit (optional)

Shocks PN: 24-241601

QTY

1

(1)

2

NOTE: Installation on a Powerwagon requires the purchase of new Coil Springs,

Mopar PN: 68172091AA (front) and 68091216AA (rear).

NOTE: Installation on vehicles with a Two-Piece Drive Shaft requires the purchase of AEV PN: NRM43400AA. See Appendix for instructions.

This product is covered under the AEV Parts Limited Warranty, a copy of which can be found at aev-conversions.com/warranty.

ii

2500 Rear Suspension

A. Rear Suspension Preparation

NOTE: Two-Piece drive shafts require PN: NRM43400AA. See Appendix for Instructions before beginning.

1. Support the vehicle by the frame until the rear wheels are off the ground.

2. Remove the wheels and tires.

3. Remove the rear sway bar links.

4. Remove the axle vent tube and clip from track bar bracket (fig. 1).

5. POWER WAGON ONLY — Remove locker wiring from the parking brake cable.

6. Remove the power hop bracket and save the hardware — if equipped (fig. 2).

7. Remove the track bar at the axle end only.

8. Support the axle and remove the shocks and coil springs.

9. Remove the bump stops from the frame. POWER WAGON—Discard cast bump stop spacer.

10. Remove the left side sway bar bolts from the axle (fig. 3).

11. Remove the left side brake line bolt at the axle (fig. 4).

Figure 1 Figure 2

Figure 3 Figure 4

1

B. rear suspension installation

1. Install the track bar relocation bracket.

a. POWER WAGON ONLY – Drill out an additional hole for the track bar 1” higher than existing (fig. 5).

Treat for corrosion.

b. Drill the existing hole in the control arm bracket to 1/2” and treat for corrosion (fig. 6).

1 INCH

Figure 5 Figure 6 c. Position the rear track bar relocation bracket on the axle and secure using the supplied hardware

(fig. 7). NOTE: You will still have one hole to drill before all hardware can be installed.

FACTORY BOLT

AND FLAG NUT

145 LB-FT

SPACER

M10 X 30

M10 FLAT WASHER

40 LB-FT

Figure 7

2

d. Drill the remaining hole in the control arm bracket and treat for corrosion, then install the remaining bolt (fig. 8).

e. Tighten all the track bar bracket bolts and torque to spec (fig 7–9).

f. Re-install the brake line bolt at the axle.

g. Install the track bar into the track bar relocation bracket passing the bolt through from front of the vehicle to the rear (leave loose at this time).

2. Install the sway bar spacer plate behind the right side of the sway bar with supplied hardware and torque to 40 lb-ft (fig. 9).

M12 X 30

M12 FLAT WASHER

70 LB-FT

M10 X 30

M10 FLAT WASHER

40 LB-FT

M12 NUT

Figure 8 Figure 9

3. Install AEV Power Hop bracket with factory hardware (if equipped). Attach the parking brake cable to the power hop bracket with supplied hardware and torque (fig. 10).

4. Install the bump stop spacers and factory bump stops with supplied hardware and torque to 40 lb-ft

(fig. 11).

FACTORY HARDWARE

122 LB-FT

M10 X25

M10 FLAT WASHER

M10 NUT

40 LB-FT

FACTORY HARDWARE

40 LB-FT

Figure 10 Figure 11

M10 X 90

M10 FLAT WASHER

40 LB-FT

3

5. Install AEV coil spring spacers with supplied hardware and nut plate (fig. 12).

6. Install the factory coil springs with the factory isolators. Be sure springs are properly seated .

M12 X 70

M12 FLAT WASHER

69 LB-FT

Figure 12 — Left: Tabbed nut-plate, Right: AEV Coil Spacer

7. Assemble the shock bushings as shown (fig. 13) then install AEV shocks. Torque the lower bolt to

136 lb-ft

Figure 13

8. Install AEV sway bar links with the factory nut at the axle end and the supplied hardware at the frame

Torque as specified (fig. 14).

M12 X70

7/16” FLAT WASHER

M12 NUT

55 LB-FT

M12 X70

7/16” FLAT WASHER

M12 NUT

55 LB-FT

FACTORY NUT

37 LB-FT

Figure 14

FACTORY NUT

37 LB-FT

4

9. AIR RIDE ONLY — Remove sensor arms and links a. Disconnect battery.

b. Unplug the wire harness from the sensor.

c. Remove the torx head screw holding the sensor arm in bracket.

d. Remove the link from the axle by popping it off of the ball stud.

e. Remove the link from the sensor arm.

f. Remove socket ends from links. An easy way to remove the socket ends is to place a metal trim tool under the socket end and pry upwards (fig. 15).

g. Reinstall the socket ends onto the new link rods (fig. 16).

Figure 15

Figure 16

5

10. AIR RIDE ONLY — Install arm extensions (fig. 17) a. Place arm extension over the ball stud on the factory sensor arm and align with rib.

b. Flange should go on the top side of the factory arm.

c. Clamp arm and drill holes using a 1/4 in. drill bit.

d. Fasten the extension to the factory arm using 6 mm bolts, washers, and nuts. Use a medium strength thread locker.

e. Install ball stud on the extension arm with an M6 nut.

Figure 17

11. AIR RIDE ONLY — Reinstall sensor arms (fig. 18).

a. Snap link rod onto ball stud.

b. Position sensor back onto the bracket and reinstall torx screw.

c. Gently pull the link rod down until you can snap the other socket end onto the ball stud at the axle.

d. Plug in wire harness.

Figure 18

6

12. Reattach the axle vent to new track bar tower (fig. 19).

Figure 19

13. POWER WAGON ONLY – Zip tie the locker wiring to the parking brake cable.

14. POWER WAGON ONLY – Check the clearance from the drive shaft to the skid plate. If necessary lower the skid plate brackets as shown and reconnect drive shaft (fig. 20).

Figure 20

15. Install the wheels and tires.

16. Torque at ride height

Once the vehicle is on the ground at ride height, you will need to torque the following:

• Front radius arm bolts at frame end.

• Front track bar bolts

• Loosen then torque rear control arm bolts at frame and axle end to 229 lb-ft

• Rear track bar bolts (loosen and retighten at frame end). Torque both sides to 145 lb-ft

After everything is tight, drive the vehicle back and forth on flat ground to check steering wheel position.

Adjust the drag link to straighten the steering wheel as needed.

7

appendix

for trucks with a 2-piece drive shaft installing aev pn: NRM43400AA parking brake cable extension

1. Disconnect parking brake cable (fig. 1).

a. Note the tension on the forward and rear parking brake cables loosen the brake adjustment nut to just short of the end of the threads.

b. Disconnect forward section of the rear brake cable.

c. Disconnect rear section of the rear brake cable.

d. Disconnect rear brake line pass through fitting.

A.

B.

C.

D.

Figure 1

2. Install AEV parking brake cable spacer (fig. 2).

a. Install the AEV rear brake cable spacer onto the pass-through fitting on the forward part of the rear brake cable.

b. Insert the brake cable and spacer back into its original location and secure with AEV provided jam nut using anti-seize, torque to 14–16 lb-ft c. Reconnect the rear section of the rear brake cable to its OE position.

d. Reconnect the forward section of the rear brake cable to its OE position.

e. Adjust nut in a tightening direction and set to previously not tension.

f. Check the operation of the parking brake and adjust as needed to ensure proper tension.

8

A.

D.

E.

Figure 5

carrier bearing spacers

Carrier Bearing spacers are required to maintain proper drive shaft angles and help to eliminate drive shaft vibrations.

1. Support the carrier bearing and drive shafts in place.

2. Remove the two (2) carrier bearing bolts and discard (fig. 6).

3. Consult the spacer allocation chart (fig. 7) to determine the number of spacers required for your application.

4. Lower the carrier bearing assembly and slide in the required spacer(s).

5. Insert the supplied hardware and torque to 56 lb-ft.

B.

Model

2500

3500

3500

3500

3500

Cab

Crew

Mega

Crew

Crew

Crew

Bed

Long

Short

Long

Long

Long

Figure 6

Powertrain Transmission Spacer(s)

Diesel 6 Speed Auto 4

Diesel

Diesel

Gas

Diesel

6 Speed Auto

Aisin

6 Speed Auto

Manual

2

2

1

2

Figure 7

9