Right after I put on the Eibach lift I noticed a small amount of fluid exiting both struts. The problem went away so I never gave it much more thought. The problem I am now experiencing is a rocking of the front end up and down when cruising on the highway. It's the same as having bad shocks. Is there a way to fix this? Did I ruin the struts when I replaced the springs? I really need a stiffer ride up front, whats the solution?

Mark Brown
2002 Sportage 2 Door
Durango Co

Sure sounds like you need to replace the struts. Leaking fluid is bad- especially when it quits. Means your struts probably have nothing left in them to leak out... or dampen the ride!

OEM struts are junk, i went through 3 sets under warranty. Yours are bad, any type of shock that leaks fluid is going bad.

yup, need new struts, in fact, not sure if you got new ones when you installed your Eibachs, but normally, that is the recommended proceedure, always get new struts with new springs. this is recommended for a number of reasons. the old struts have a built a slightly worn "memory" of where they normally ride on the strut shaft, now they are riding in a different area that is not as worn and this is either causing more wear to the teflon or poly seal in the strut or it is causing the seal to leak where the original wear was. then there's the possisibility that the coils have too much rebound for an older, used shock to handle and the seal is just not up to the task of handling all that extra pressure, and leaks. just some possibilities.

Yea I was afraid that was the concensus. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Any recomendations as to replacements? Thanks for the help.

KYB's. Although if you have 4WD and vacuum hubs you'll have to fashion a new retainer for the vacuum hose. Or...at the same time get rid of the vacuum hubs and install Warn manuals. The vacuum hubs will fail on you sooner or later anyway.

Or the Monroe sensa trac (not monromatic). They fit right in and work fine with the kind of lift you or I have.....

Roan

Yje same bouncing ws evident in mine after the Eibach's. I had to replace my struts and the bouncing went away. Then I got cocky and replaced the rear shocks (on my 2DR 4WD), although not with the reccomended size "Monromatic" shocks but with the same length "Sensatrac" shocks (for what exact vehicle I have no idea but they were the same length). Bigger must be better, right...wrong <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />. They are so stiff that now sometimes it feels like the end of a diving board looks after one dives off. I may have to go back and get the "Monroemayic" and keep the rear "Sensatrac" for when I pull a small trailer.

QUESTION TO BOARD ON WARN MANUAL HUBS: Can you still engage the 4WD from the inside of the truck or do you have to go outside and do something ?

on the rear .. its good to get a little longer than the stock after putting a lift .. and the new coils made it stiffer than the stock coils .. well .. i guess u can do the swap .. but i have a pretty good feeling the ride will stay the same .. and about the warn manusl hubs .. yes u have to go outside to lock both hubs, then u can engage the 4wd on the transfer case ... u can go back to 2wd without unlocking the hubs .. problem is , it will just eat ur gas milage... well ... maybe someone can give more information .. to help ya out

For the rear you can get Gabriel gas ryders. They are made for the sportage and perform well. I always thought it odd that Monroe makes gas truck shock/struts for the front of sportages (sensa trak), but only offer lighter car shocks for the rear, while Gabriel does the opposite making gas shocks for the rear of sportages, but only offer car shocks for the front. Weird.