i broke both of my rear springs actually the week before i had planned on installing my rsg lift! i think one was already broke before that though, but that is when i noticed it.

Dave when talking about the front shok you mean the KIA one? ( factory ) or also the other brands like Monroe....

doesn't matter, they are all the same collapsed and extended length. only difference is valving and gas charge.

I never Knew this.


Are you saying that struts made for the Toyota Tundra are the same length as the Sportage?


If you are correct, then That answers my questions that I had earlier regarding a larger front strut for us!!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

no, dave means the ones specifically for the kia sportage.

He is referring to the different brands you could buy for the sportage, they are all the same length as stock.

of course other vehicles will have different lengths. A lot of it depends on where the shock or strut is mounted.

Think of it this way. Lay an 8' 2x4 on the ground. Now pick up only 1 side and lift it. If you lift it 8" , how far off the ground is it in the middle? 4" ? so you can see if you mounted the shock in the middle it would have moved 4" if you mounted it at the end it would be 8" . Therefor you'd need a LONGER shock/strut at the end than you would in the middle.

Your lower A arm has a fixed point on one end so to get more travel you'd need a mounting point closer to the frame., but then your spring rate changes as it would take more force to hold the truck up. Place it more towards the wheel and you'd have less travel. (using a stock shock or strut for both areas).

BUT I still say in STOCK form 4" is max. go higher and you will HAVE to drop the diff and make lower mounting points for the A-arms.

so either waste all that money and still have weak front axle. OR do an sas and have 9" of lift like dave. and it will be way more capable. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Jay!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

no, i mean the 3 that are available for the 1994-2003 Kia Sportage are all the same collapsed and extended lengths.

struts for other vehicles are different.

Has anyone tried other struts for the KIA with the RSG lift adapter?????






This my friends (and DAVE) would be a trial test to be had! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

sure, like mentioned in another thread, try the Liberty strut, fork and maybe the coils, or lifted coils for it on the Sportage. couldn't hurt.

the only problem with this theory is that in order to use a strut/shock from another company without changing a lot of other stuff, you have to find ones that match the other parts, bolt patterns, etc. the Liberty strut is really the ONLY one that comes close, but the bottom end of the shock itself is different and would require use of the Liberty fork, which may not fit the Sportage lower A-arm. so, in other words, there aren't many choices unless you change a LOT of parts, or do some cutting and welding to the strut tower and lower A-arms, and maybe other parts as well.

In other words...alll we got to go on is the "Jeep Liberty" thing!



Any other data that we can share here???