Kia Forum banner

Lift Kit????

94K views 118 replies 43 participants last post by  missingcurlybracket 
#1 ·
Looking for a Lift kit for the 17 Sorento, anybody have any leads????
 
#3 ·
I've been wondering how different our Sorentos (2016+) are to the 2014 - 2015 on the suspension side. The 2014 to 2015 has springs available by H&R. They are not on the US H&R site, but on the main German site.

Lift spring part number 28771-1

i'm seriously thinking about installing them. I would like a little more altitude.
 
#8 ·
HA!!! I about shit myself on the minivan pic! HAHAHAHAHAH... Good times! OMG...

OK, so I'm Ok now but, what's wrong with a lift? I'm not talking monster truck height but 1-2" would open up the wheel wells and you could fit some beefier looking rubber. In truth, it is a soft roader. But how much different is it than folks putting 22" rims on a Grand Cherokee or G Wagon and castrating it's original intent = off road ability. Some stuff doesn't make sense to me but what's wrong with customizing your own ride for the look you want?

I can't lie... back in the day I had a Honda Accord and I WAS! 2 Fast AND 2 Furious! Hind site, I ruined that car. My brother somehow managing to roll it 4 times through a rice field, totaling it, was a blessing in disguise. But I thought I WAS Paul Walker and I liked it and it felt good to me.
 
#9 ·
Lifting your vehicle doesn't just change the look, it also changes the center of mass on the car. The car was designed to be driven at a certain height, so if you change it, it could be a safety risk.

But realistically speaking, many people lift their cars and never have an issue.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TK22007
#10 · (Edited)
Agreed!

I do over 99% of my driving on road. I may drive on the beach say 10 times in a summer and that is the only time I could use more clearance. Going off the dune is rough, has deep ruts, the Sorento sometimes hits bottom (especially in the front) and people get stuck all the time (probably mostly due to poor driving technique and not airing down enough - I always chuckle when lifted trucks and Jeeps get stuck.... it is happens all of the time).... but thus far the Sorento has been amazing. I for sure wish I had a few more inches of clearance when going over the rough stuff.... but I just could never justify a lift on my soft roader as again, 99+% of the driving I do is on pavement with the occasional dirt road.

Not only is there the cost of a lift kit, you have the worse driving dynamics and the increased fuel consumption to deal with 99%+ of the time.
 
#11 ·
On the towing thread several of us are looking at the Air Lift 1000 for some lift and help with tongue weight sag. More reasonable approach that a full suspension lift. I actually have a set purchased, waiting for me to install. Hopefully this weekend. Replacing Coil SumoSprings which I have on now. The SumoSprings gave it a little firmer ride (took the luxury liner feel out of it) I hoping for some lift and the same stiffer ride I enjoy now. https://www.airliftcompany.com/workshop/air-lift-1000-universal-air-spring-kit/
 
#13 ·
On the towing thread several of us are looking at the Air Lift 1000 for some lift and help with tongue weight sag. More reasonable approach that a full suspension lift. I actually have a set purchased, waiting for me to install. Hopefully this weekend. Replacing Coil SumoSprings which I have on now. The SumoSprings gave it a little firmer ride (took the luxury liner feel out of it) I hoping for some lift and the same stiffer ride I enjoy now.

Very interested to see how this works out for you. What kit number did you order?

Subscribed
 
#12 ·
i'm looking for 2 reasons myself, the low slung trailer hitch and a little more clearance. I think the sorento would look pretty good with it being raised by 1 inch. i'm not looking to raise it high up in the sky and fit 35 inch tires or anything. Even in my old 2012 i was looking to do 1 inch lift. Daystar had a 2 inch spacer for the 2012 but i thought that would be too much. Living 20 miles from the middle of nowhere and having tons of dirt roads leading to interesting fishing, hunting or photogenic areas (lakes, rivers, etc) i would definitely like to have a little bit more clearance. Oh, and lets not forget the snow. i think having that extra inch of clearance and i would have had an easier time during a few snowstorms last year.

i will admit, that air spring kit does intrigue me for when i'm towing, or if i have a bunch of stuff in the back, but i still would like to have just a little more ground clearance
 
#20 ·
There is a lift kit sold for this (30mm lift which is 1.2"). I don't care about looks,minivan blah blah. I am interested in hearing from anyone who has done this. The EBAY seller is in Russia, but tells me he has North American buyers as well. Here is the link
 
This post has been deleted
#22 ·
The answers to too many questions depend upon the trim level or the market since there are quite a few variations in how these things get built.
Tell me your car won't start, and I won't know if you have a mandatory immobilizer system (Canada) or not, for example. Especially with electrical issues, I find the correct answer depends upon what you're driving and where you are.
 
#23 ·
The answers to too many questions depend upon the trim level or the market since there are quite a few variations in how these things get built.
Tell me your car won't start, and I won't know if you have a mandatory immobilizer system (Canada) or not, for example. Especially with electrical issues, I find the correct answer depends upon what you're driving and where you are.
Ah, so that msg was automatically generated? Still hoping to find someone who has installed the 30mm lift
 
#24 · (Edited)
Davevail.

For our other vehicle (which is a 2014 CRV AWD), I bought and installed 4 x 20mm coil spring spacers in it. And yes, I ordered the parts from ebay / Russia seller. Installed them in my driveway - to give it 1.5"-1.75" lift (for ease of entry/exit with my bad back) and to better align its AWD's CV/universal joints. In time, its soft comfort suspension sagged. So, this spacer lift gave it a nice re-fresh look to it as well. Knowing what I know now, I should have installed 20mm in its front and 30mm in its rear. Thus, giving it a better visual stance look as well. Lesson learned for next time. LOL!

For my above AWD vehicle, I would install coil spring spacers again. Especially on older age / sagged suspension vehicle and we plan to keep that vehicle for many more years. Before lifting it 1.5 inches, I was told many times that max 20mm front and 30mm rear is the max lift on factory designed suspension. Not too sure what the max spacer lift is for Sorrento AWD vehicle. I assume its the same. To place it save, only install the 20mm size.

Do keep in mind that coil spring spacers do NOT create more load support. It only lifts the vehicle a little higher off the ground. If looking for more rear load support, install Firestone air lift system instead. Thus, reduce sag under load as well. Based on my experience, no change in cornering / leaning afterwards either. Then again, I don't drive like a Formula 1 race car driver. I'm now way too old for that stuff... LOL!

Note: Do get 4 wheel tire alignment after minor lift as well.

And yes, I would install coil spring spacers (to create minor lift) again. Especially in our non-Towing AWD "older age" suspension vehicle - that was showing early signs suspension sag / suspension settling.

Hope this helps...
 
#27 ·
This is a link to russian Sorento (Prime, as they do have both models in sale yet) forum:

Company called: Begunokart.ru
info@begunokART.ru / info@prostavki.su , phone: +7-905-725-64-35
if you will need assistance in communication feel free to ask...
 
#29 · (Edited)
For my auto mechanic skills / experience and specialized coil compression tools, they were an easy install - DIY on a flat driveway type work. For me, I completed 1 wheel hub each night - after dinner time. Started Monday night, allowed 1 day of rain and by Friday night, it was all completed. Ready for wheel alignment afterwards. Took me full 5 days mostly due to my bad knees & bad back. re: Older age pain things. LOL! If outside your skills / available specialized tools, do ask your local auto shop to perform the 20mm or 30mm spacer install task instead.

For install instructions, simply Google Search Internet and/or U-Tube for similar product and/or similar vehicle. Then, "clone" the tasks they used. For example, surf: http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/instructions/rls-66-1090_instructions.pdf

Before buying either 20mm or 30mm suspension spacers (that fit above its coil springs and/or above its struts mounting surfaces), recommend putting your vehicle on flat ground, empty load, and use your floor jack to lift the vehicle xx mm amounts. Then, stand back - to check "visual stance look" and check CV alignments to each wheel hub as well. And when lifting, remember that its not a direct xx mm lift numbers. re: Since coil springs and struts are connected to A-Arms at their 2/3 out position, a 20 mm spacer creates end results of 30 mm lift. And, a 30 mm spacer creates end result lift of 40 mm lift. Thus, for visual stance checks, its best to jack up your vehicle 30 mms for the 20 mm lift spacer. And, jack up 40 mms for 30 mm spacers.

IMO, lift spacers are an easy low cost way to lift suspension 1" -> 2" - to help eliminate natural old age suspension sag. Especially on older age "suspension settled" vehicles. If planning to install monster tires and/or go off-roading afterwards, I would install a geometry movement tuned HD Suspension lift kit instead. Changing factory's suspension geometry movement angles can be very delicate on some vehicles. Thus, why I went with minor 20 mm spacer solution (on my wife's AWD vehicle). Anything more and it will over stress the factory build geometry movements and increase risk of over wearing moving parts - like delicate CV/Universal joints/seals at each wheel hub. But, I do think 30mm on my wife's AWD vehicle's rear would look slightly better.

Hope this helps as well..
 
#31 ·
Got these lifting springs for my 2016 Kia Sorento V6 AWD:


Was able to fit 265/50/r20 Nitto AT tires.
 

Attachments

This post has been deleted
#43 · (Edited)
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top