I would be putting my money on a Ford 8.8" 28 spline x 30.5 mm (1.20") as found in the Mazda B4000 and pick-up (RD 82). I would assume there was a circlip holding the axle into the sidegears on the rear of the 28 spline Kia??? If so then looking at the specs, this would be the most likely donor for us (if in fact it isn't a drop-in replacement for it).
nope, not possible. the rear Sportage diff is a thrid memeber drop-out- how would one ever remove the c-clips?
more than likely, ARB will have to build SOMETHING for this diff. i said maybe look at the 7.8, but it's a c-clip too. reason i said that- if the ring gear is 7.5, the carrier might just be the right diameter and may have the same bolt pattern, but i really don't have a clue. this is beside the fact that Ford owned a portion of Kia at the time of the BroncoII's demise and may have been looking for a replacement and possibly, some parts may be interchangeable, although i am not holding my breath.
Mitzu axles will be too large for the Sportage. the Montero is heavier, has a v-6 available and was expected to handle more severe off-roading than the Sportage, to a degree. the rear of a Montero is rumored to be almost as strong as a Ford 9". i seriously doubt the Sportage is on that level. on that note- i also thing the Suzuki parts will be too small. i think if we start with items about the right size, we will find something that can be lightly machined to fit.
sorry to be a downer, but you gotta be realistic, for some reason, nothing on this vehicle seems to fit the vast amounts of junk out there and if that's the case, might as well go with that assumption here as well.
the Miata diff fits, but again, some light machining will be required to build the groove for the snap ring on the short side inner axleshaft. nothing is bolt-on.
