Anyone know what the length of an Eibach or other lifting spring is uncompressed? I'm trying to put a set of TJ springs in the front but after taking the drivers side down and attempting to put the new spring on I was convinced I needed a longer strut. Now that I've read some more about the front struts I see that longer is not an option and am wondering if the TJ spring is just too damn long for the front?

Chris

well, first, it won't fit very well on the strut and upper strut mount coil seats because it curves inward at the top and is a different diameter at the bottom. second, it may be too stiff to use with IFS, or not stiff enough, check the rates. third, why go this route when there are as many choices out there as there are now? fourth, stock front coils, unweighted, are about 11.5-12" tall. Eibachs, unweighted, are around 13-13.5" tall. TJ front springs are around 11.5" weighted. TJ weight distribution is 49f/51r for the 4 cyl and 51f/49r for the 6. the Sportage's weight distribution is 58f/42r, very different weight distro, very different suspension type, i would guess the coils shouldn't work, it will be dependent on rates, free length and active # of coils.

Dave is right. I would go with spacers, they leave your stock suspension intact and you get the height you want without messing your suspension geometry.

I have TJ rear springs in mine but TJ front springs I think is just a bad idea. If you want more lift than the Eibach I have spacers that bolt on top of the strut that combined with the Eibachs you get 4 inches of front lift. I make front and rear spacers that work great and are very strong.
Dennis

if you really think you want TJ springs in front....
go get one and really look at it next to the kia
it just doesnt work....I thought long and hard about that too only because they came with the set of rear springs I got they are completely different. A set of spacers in the front from Dennis is what I'm going to do for my front(soon as I can spend more play money

the spacers are a better option because when you lift the front that much you need longer struts and there arent any for the sportage the spacers lower the struts and give the extra lift you need solving the longer strut problem.

Thank you all for the many replies.

Dave I won't argue point-by-point but I am surprised a guy like you is questioning do-it-yourself-itude. Bad things are said about the Eibachs in some circles, and while the Rock Sport Gear is highly rated the TJ springs fell into my lap for nothing.

Dennis and Lady Frog had demonstrated the back springs worked, I couldn't find a straight answer on any of the boards as to the fronts. While I certainly learned alot on how springs are measured and employed, I had to break down and have the local suspension shop explain it all to me and hook me up with a set for the fronts. Stiffer and just a hair taller uncompressed, 2.5 inch lift once they were installed.

I may be impatient sometimes but I'm not a complete idiot, I knew the minute I got the stock spring off that I might be going the wrong direction with that TJ front spring. They are like 7" difference in height alone, once I started trying to compress that sucker I realized how many dimensions there are to a coil spring.

Look for more stoopid newbie mistakes soon, I just finished a conversation with my jeep buddy that he started with "If I was going to fab up better bumpers for your Sporty..."

Rusty

Now, how much lift do you get out of the TJ springs? How much drop do you get out of those springs, articulation I mean? I know that if it goes up too high, 38" measured from ground to center of fender, the drive shaft will tend to vibrate when speed is reduced from 70+mph. I had mine that high and had to cut the spring one full circle in order to come down to 36.5" and reduce the vibration. I used the Kia fromt springs in the rear, they ride a little harder, but I really feel good with them. Only thing I don't really like is that I don't have as much articulation as before.

no one said you were an idoit or that you were "stoopid."

i merely said, i didn't hink it would work due to the massive differences between the types of vehicle suspensions, the weight of the vehicles and size of the top and bottom diameter of the coil springs and the repective seats they need to fit into. now, modification of those seats could be in order to greatly increase the possibility of fitment, but as far as rates and weight-handling, i can't help with anything other than to say that is something you should find out before going through all the effort, unless you just don't mind the process. in the end, it's up to you, but you asked what we thought.

Won't get to find out until the weekend, I'll get you an update then.

Hey Dave I should have put some smilies in there, jk <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I appreciate all the info and don't mean to be a wiesenheimer. It was a big, unexpected learning curve. But it was fun!

Some may say bad things about the Eibachs but I have over 60,000 miles on mine and the fronts have held up extreemly well. I have jumped it, drug it through mud, snow, rocks, and at least 4 Utah winters. (They use lots of salt on the roads here). My rear springs did not hold up as well but my Kia is always loaded down. I keep my search and rescue gear in it all the time and have a big sub box with 2 15" subs. The TJ springs don't even know they are loaded. Good luck and let us know how it works out.
Dennis