Rear rides low

[mrmac]

My SXP with tow package is perfectly level.

 

[dempa13]

have the LX and added he tow package, got a 3rd party 7 pin and brake assist added. Why they would have a tow capacity of 5000 and no 7 pin ,ake no sense since you have to have breaks on anything above 2200 on average. you can tow 5000 for marketing but in real life keep it on the lower side
The car has no problem pulling but the drop in the rear is crazy. We have a 3200 camper and added a 600 lb WD hitch and it drops about 2 inches. KIA clearly mus have known something or it wouldn't have been an option in higher levels. Would have purchased one of them if I had known. Any suggestions as to how to get decrease the sag? They should really add air bags for free if you've already added the tow package. The towing capacity and crappy info around it has be ridiculous.

 

[Wap52]

I have no problem with mt black copper AWD SX with tow package
Pulls my 22 foot bass boat just great

 

[2020Telly]

If you are interested look on Youtube for ZF Sachs video on Nivomat self-leveling system and it may clear up some confusion.

This is what I think is happening, for the Nivomat shocks to "activate" and raise you don't simply drive 1-2 miles slowly on a flat surface to notice a difference. I think pressure needs to be put onto the shocks for it to respond. So for example with load 1 mile on a bumpy or gravel road or some turns that shift weight on the suspension might be enough to raise the Nivomats to get the rear back to normal drive height and each time you park the suspension will relax and wait to be activate again when you drive with load over some terrain.

As for towing, if you watch that video the entire thing shows car trunks and station wagons with cargo, only about 7 seconds of 4min 38sec video mentions it might help with towing, which is why I believe this is a ride convenience feature rather that a towing feature. In fact, it is my belief when towing anything other than a small trailer that requires a weight distribution system it is a towing inconvenience. Let me explain my logic.

Loading and towing a vehicle without Nivomat shocks and no aid for suspension:
- Pack up your cargo in the back of the vehicle
- Connect your trailer and load it
- See where the hitch falls, configure your weight distribution hitch and/or weight distribution system to help move some of the weight off the tongue and over to the front axle and the trailer and level out your vehicle
- Drive
With the config above will I ever achieve normal ride height? Depends, if I don't have much over the rear axle normal shocks will handle it and the WDS will level the trailer so ride level should not be impacted much, but if I have a lot weight from cargo and/or passengers plus hitch weight, there is a higher likelihood the rear will sag and I can't do anything about it other than move stuff around.

Loading and towing a vehicle with standard shocks and something like air bags to aid suspension:
- Pack up your cargo in the back
- Connect your trailer and load it
- Activate your suspension by adding air to achieve normal or desired ride height
- Configure your weight distribution
- Drive

Loading and towing a vehicle with Nivomat shocks:
- Do not load your vehicle up yet
- Connect your trailer and load it
- Drive 1-2 miles on a bumpy road to see if the trailer added any sag
- Configure your WDS to level the hitch and trailer before the shocks settle back down to parked height
- Now load your vehicle
- As you drive the vehicle suspension should activate if necessary to make up for the height difference in cargo and passengers over the rear axle
- Know that when you park with the trailer it will settle and rise back up after you drive
- If your load changes you may have to revisit your WDS settings

From what I have read towing and hauling with self-leveling shocks requires more thought and time to setup and tow properly.

My personal experience has shown me that pulling a utility trailer loaded up to the max did not do much to my ride height on my S FWD without self-leveling. It was only when I added passengers in the rear seat, a cargo carrier on the roof and a hitch basket that I noticed my rear sag. So to overcome this I'm not going to buy self-leveling shocks but rather look at an air spring assist system.

That's why I feel the self-leveling shocks on the Palisade are advertised as a convenience feature and not part of the Palisade tow package. If you are buying it for your Telluride and hauling not towing, the self-leveling shocks will be fine even if you do some light towing (ex. small boat or utility trailer). But if you plan to add air bags then you are spending money on self-leveling shocks that aren't necessary and when they do need replacing they are more expensive than standard shocks.

______________________________

 

[alexdrums]

If you are interested look on Youtube for ZF Sachs video on Nivomat self-leveling system and it may clear up some confusion.

This is what I think is happening, for the Nivomat shocks to "activate" and raise you don't simply drive 1-2 miles slowly on a flat surface to notice a difference. I think pressure needs to be put onto the shocks for it to respond. So for example with load 1 mile on a bumpy or gravel road or some turns that shift weight on the suspension might be enough to raise the Nivomats to get the rear back to normal drive height and each time you park the suspension will relax and wait to be activate again when you drive with load over some terrain.

As for towing, if you watch that video the entire thing shows car trunks and station wagons with cargo, only about 7 seconds of 4min 38sec video mentions it might help with towing, which is why I believe this is a ride convenience feature rather that a towing feature. In fact, it is my belief when towing anything other than a small trailer that requires a weight distribution system it is a towing inconvenience. Let me explain my logic.

Loading and towing a vehicle without Nivomat shocks and no aid for suspension:
- Pack up your cargo in the back of the vehicle
- Connect your trailer and load it
- See where the hitch falls, configure your weight distribution hitch and/or weight distribution system to help move some of the weight off the tongue and over to the front axle and the trailer and level out your vehicle
- Drive
With the config above will I ever achieve normal ride height? Depends, if I don't have much over the rear axle normal shocks will handle it and the WDS will level the trailer so ride level should not be impacted much, but if I have a lot weight from cargo and/or passengers plus hitch weight, there is a higher likelihood the rear will sag and I can't do anything about it other than move stuff around.

Loading and towing a vehicle with standard shocks and something like air bags to aid suspension:
- Pack up your cargo in the back
- Connect your trailer and load it
- Activate your suspension by adding air to achieve normal or desired ride height
- Configure your weight distribution
- Drive

Loading and towing a vehicle with Nivomat shocks:
- Do not load your vehicle up yet
- Connect your trailer and load it
- Drive 1-2 miles on a bumpy road to see if the trailer added any sag
- Configure your WDS to level the hitch and trailer before the shocks settle back down to parked height
- Now load your vehicle
- As you drive the vehicle suspension should activate if necessary to make up for the height difference in cargo and passengers over the rear axle
- Know that when you park with the trailer it will settle and rise back up after you drive
- If your load changes you may have to revisit your WDS settings

From what I have read towing and hauling with self-leveling shocks requires more thought and time to setup and tow properly.

My personal experience has shown me that pulling a utility trailer loaded up to the max did not do much to my ride height on my S FWD without self-leveling. It was only when I added passengers in the rear seat, a cargo carrier on the roof and a hitch basket that I noticed my rear sag. So to overcome this I'm not going to buy self-leveling shocks but rather look at an air spring assist system.

That's why I feel the self-leveling shocks on the Palisade are advertised as a convenience feature and not part of the Palisade tow package. If you are buying it for your Telluride and hauling not towing, the self-leveling shocks will be fine even if you do some light towing (ex. small boat or utility trailer). But if you plan to add air bags then you are spending money on self-leveling shocks that aren't necessary and when they do need replacing they are more expensive than standard shocks.

I think the moral of the story here is don’t use self-leveling shocks with a weight distribution hitch. It’s either one or the other.

 

[2020Telly]

I think the moral of the story here is don’t use self-leveling shocks with a weight distribution hitch. It’s either one or the other.

Not exactly. A weight distribution system is a trailer safety feature and never a bad idea. It just means you need to consider the self-leveling shocks when setting up the WDS and take some extra steps in order to level the trailer with the vehicle. It is easier to set up the WDS if you are towing without the self leveling shocks. And air bag systems by their nature are self leveling but you can adjust them when parked.

 

[G-42859]

I am glad to hear that! So if others have the sagging issue they should probably take their Telly to the dealer to get checked out.
There was some measuring done of the ride height in this thread:

Self-Leveling Suspension

Nice, maybe a future upgrade. Thanks for the info Makes Me feel much better for the 800 bucks I spent

tellurideforum.org

I have had them replaced. While turning into an incline the rear would make a loud grinding noise. Now the rear is again making the noise out of the left sign.

 

[Batman3365]

So was there a solution mentioned to the sag or one just has to live with it?

______________________________

 

[2020Telly]

So was there a solution mentioned to the sag or one just has to live with it?

If you have the self leveling shocks and understand how they work but you still aren’t happy with them, you can pull it all out, put standard upgraded shocks and an air bag system or shocks with air lift assist.

If you have standard shocks and are unhappy with the sag either get better shocks, ones with air lift assist, air helper bags or put in an air bag system.

Otherwise you may have to live with it and if you look at other similar sized SUVs you might notice a similar design. I’m guessing it’s to reduce drag and improve gas mileage.

 

[Batman3365]

If you have the self leveling shocks and understand how they work but you still aren’t happy with them, you can pull it all out, put standard upgraded shocks and an air bag system or shocks with air lift assist.

If you have standard shocks and are unhappy with the sag either get better shocks, ones with air lift assist, air helper bags or put in an air bag system.

Otherwise you may have to live with it and if you look at other similar sized SUVs you might notice a similar design. I’m guessing it’s to reduce drag and improve gas mileage.

I have the tow pkg so guess it is what it is. Not spending additional funds to address that since I guess thats how its suppose to be. Already dropped over $55k for a KIA with tax and incoming aftermarket wheels.

It sits next to a x5 in the garage, which appears to be the opposite. It sits a tad bit higher then the front. To me thats how it should be.....

 

[2020Telly]

I have the tow pkg so guess it is what it is. Not spending additional funds to address that since I guess thats how its suppose to be. Already dropped over $55k for a KIA with tax and incoming aftermarket wheels.

It sits next to a x5 in the garage, which appears to be the opposite. It sits a tad bit higher then the front. To me thats how it should be.....

Yup, when parked the self-leveling shocks will have the rear sag. They activate on motion and when there is downward pressure. I think they are meant to level side-to-side, so I'm one of the skeptics that thinks they will never really help with sag back to front. If you want to achieve full height of the shock while driving, while sitting and even under load, you just need better shocks.

 

[Batman3365]

Yup, when parked the self-leveling shocks will have the rear sag. They activate on motion and when there is downward pressure. I think they are meant to level side-to-side, so I'm one of the skeptics that thinks they will never really help with sag back to front. If you want to achieve full height of the shock while driving, while sitting and even under load, you just need better shocks.

Thanks for the info.................Whats considered a better shock? How much are they? Installation cost? Have you done this yet?

______________________________

 

[2020Telly]

Thanks for the info.................Whats considered a better shock? How much are they? Installation cost? Have you done this yet?

I don't think any official aftermarket upgrades shock/strut options for the Telluride have come out yet, but Monroe, Gabriel, Rancho, KYB and Bilstein are all popular brands. I'm guessing since there are Tellurides that have been on the road since 2019 now, as we get closer to about 4-5 years from initial release we might to see plenty of great options. I think Bilstein makes a performance shock/strut kit for the Sorento. Prices vary depending on the option of course. You could spend a couple hundred or get up closer to $1,000 installed.

 

[2020Telly]

@Batman3365 this post discusses someone adding a lift kit to their Telluride with self leveling and they mentioned a solution around adding extensors to their self leveling shocks and adjusting a sway bar to lift the back.

Post in thread 'Truxx Lift with Self Leveling Shocks'
Truxx Lift with Self Leveling Shocks

This may be the part they used: Amazon.com: Rear shock extenders 30mm for Hyundai TUCSON 2015-present: Automotive

 

[G-32710]

Not disappointed with the Telluride at all. But if I knew the vehicle would sag like an old Cadillac I wouldn't have purchased it. Vehicles are meant to be level not sag so this seems to me like a case of overengineering a product. When the Telluride starts selling in larger numbers Kia will either have to address it or be more public about the sag.

Its lower so you can get out easier