just wondering what is the easiest way to install my front spacers in my sportage. I figure were several of you guys already did these steps would have some tips for easy installation...hehe...Thanks in advance.

start off with lots of pb blaster especially paying attention to the lower nut and bolt on the strut fork, try to spray the sleeve that the bolt goes thru as well,that thing can be the <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />, mine didnt come out and made it a real pain in the <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />...when you think youve sparayed it enough spray that much again and let it sit at least a week...i started spraying mine about 3 weeks before a couple times a week and all the nuts come off easy but i guess i didnt realize i needed to spray that sleeve and i was sol by the time i got to that point

Good point..

so i should be ok with a set of torches. I just cant wait three weeks even a week.. Im gonna start at it tonight..So you are saying that the strut has to come all the way out to install spacer. Even with a spring compressor.

Yes.. It would be a lot faster at the end..
also if you disconect the sway bar to allow the lower arm to drop a bit more - you will probably need it..
take extra care on the brake hoses - they will be streched at the same time when you low more the lower arm.
It may be also wise to split the "fork" in two by loosening the bolts, and then during mount, putting loosely the top 3 scrous then put the forks back. the last one havent tried it myself so I may be wrong

Have you seen this????
http://www.4wheelnoffroad.com/kialift.html

I think it will help you a lot

you don't need to wait 3 weeks, that is over kill. Use a peneraiting oil, PB blaster WD whatever a day or so before, depends on the amount of rust you have. Be careful using heat as there are some bushings, oil seals bearings etc! that could get damaged. I used a impact wrench with no issues breaking or striping anything. I just removed the sway bar, and used a spring compressor (McPherson Strut compressor), removed the whole strut/spring assembly bolted the spacer on at the work bench and put her back in. Hardest part for me was removing one of the wheels as it was siezed on the hub, took about 1 hour per side. did all four corners in an afternoon!.

I did all 4 wheels of my lift in 1 day too. What really helps is if you have an impact wrench. My bolts were rusty but a few squirts of PB Blaster and 5 minutes later they came off with the impact wrench fine.

If you don't have an impact wrench then yeah you could have a hard time but the torch will probably do the trick as well. That, and a big cheater bar, and make sure you're using good 6 point sockets that fit right.

yes three weeks may be overkill but like i said all of my nuts come loose no problem, and yes i used an impact but you cant use an impact on the lower bolt for the fork only for the nut which came off just fine...i tried a hammer, a clamp, pry bars, everything i could grab except a torch which we didnt have anyways...wasnt sure it would help either since i couldnt really access the sleeve itself just the bolt or the fork...was able to maneuver the drivers side in without too much problem even though the 1 side of the fork had to stay on the car, but the pass side took about 5 hrs of sweat and muscle until i finally dropped the axle out and gained enough room to pry it into the 1 side of the fork assembly that had to stay on the car...should have done that to begin with and would have been done in about 2hrs instead of 6

just completed the front lift...had no problem with either side. Didn't even have to remove the shaft...Thanks for all info. it was all very very usefull.

What size spacers you go with, 1.5" or 2"??