Self-Leveling Suspension

[WhiteSX]

Which is just another 'blog' - but, apparently, more believable than us, the owners of the Tellurides - to marcinboston anyway.

Same misinformation was posted on the other T-Ride forum, by the same guy...

What'da goin' do...

Too funny....how much we know about this vehicle. The service Mgr at my dealership never doubts me when I tell him about problems and fixes. (have done business with him at previous dealers / brands)

 

[blitt]

Anyone remember when newspapers and magazines would have columns where they would post corrections and correct mistakes from prior issues? It use to be a big deal to make a mistake on print and even after the damage was done the corrections were attempted. Today if feels information goes out on webpages and very few times do you see someone go back and review for accuracy and correct mistakes. So it feeds into the miscommunication.

Yup....!

 

[Serpens]

Dude, all of those references to air suspension are wrong. Simply wrong. The press gravitated immediately to report this as air suspension when the Telluride was first introduced because there previously were no mass market implementations of Nivomat self level shocks other than in some Volvo products.

Well that's certainly not true. Chrysler has been using these for decades. Hell, the 2001 Town & Country minivan my family had in my youth had a self-leveling suspension with Nivomat shocks.

 

[d2425]

Sorry if I missed an answer in this thread, but I am still curious about the original question. I will probably be targeting an EX AWD Premium. I do not currently tow anything, nor do I anticipate towing in the near future. Is there still an added benefit to the tow package with self-leveling suspension for non-towers that is worth the extra expense of that option?

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[jw_tx21]

Sorry if I missed an answer in this thread, but I am still curious about the original question. I will probably be targeting an EX AWD Premium. I do not currently tow anything, nor do I anticipate towing in the near future. Is there still an added benefit to the tow package with self-leveling suspension for non-towers that is worth the extra expense of that option?

It's all personal preference. Self leveling shocks could be useful if you do many road trips with vehicle loaded down with people and cargo. If you're not towing anything, I wouldn't let the tow package hold you up on a purchase. Even if you ever decide to tow in the future, you can always add a hitch and wiring and add air bags to help compensate for any sag.

 

[Serpens]

Also, if you're planning on keeping your Telluride for a long time, be aware the self-leveling shocks are quite expensive when they wear out.

 

[MarcinTexas]

Sorry if I missed an answer in this thread, but I am still curious about the original question. I will probably be targeting an EX AWD Premium. I do not currently tow anything, nor do I anticipate towing in the near future. Is there still an added benefit to the tow package with self-leveling suspension for non-towers that is worth the extra expense of that option?

I think the question is how much are you going to haul in your Telluride - not just if you will tow. If you routinely have people and/or cargo in your third row - then having the self leveling suspension will help to keep you from having your rear end squat.

 

[d2425]

Thanks for the feedback. Initially, I probably won't haul a ton but as the kids get older that will probably change. It was mentioned that the shocks are more expensive to replace. If not towing, hauling frequently, do they wear out at about the same pace as regular shocks?

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[2020Telly]

Thanks for the feedback. Initially, I probably won't haul a ton but as the kids get older that will probably change. It was mentioned that the shocks are more expensive to replace. If not towing, hauling frequently, do they wear out at about the same pace as regular shocks?

I just checked the Manual on page 7-10 and it doesn’t appear that the shocks and struts fall under the normal maintenance schedule other than to inspect and if necessary, adjust, correct, clean or replace as part of the suspension all the way up to 112,000 mi.

Normally shocks wear out and you notice a pronounced lean or sag. With the Nivomats, from some Chrysler minivan and Dodge Durango forums, people reported the fluid leaking at about 50,000 mi. But I really think it comes down to a number of factors like weather and usage before you have to replace them. But when the time comes the difference could be 5x more than standard and could cost as much or more than an air bag upgrade. Air bag systems date back to a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado so they’ve been around a while. I think Nivomats were first introduced on some BMW touring motorcycles in the 1970s and then the French tried them on Citroens followed by Volvo, GM, Chrysler, and others on family haulers as a substitute for air bag systems, so they have been around a little while. The basic difference is that the Nivomats are self contained and use movement of the vehicle create their own pressure/energy to raise the vehicle vs air bags and air lines where you add air and they self level by distributing pressurized air. But in order to be self contained systems, like the Nivomats are, they have more internal mechanisms that could fail. Chances are with harder use and worse extreme weather they are more likely to wear out or fail.

The Kia Telluride and Dodge Durango appear to be the only vehicles that advertise these Nivomats shocks as part of a towing feature and in my opinion that is a misrepresentation of the real convenience benefit. One disclaimer is that the Durango is sold as RWD or AWD so the rear suspension may work harder than the Telluride since the Telluride is a FWD based vehicle. If you plan to haul a lot that could push down on the rear axle they may help you and would be a nice benefit. But if you end up spending $900 to replace them sooner you might be just as well off with decent standard shocks and struts and an aftermarket air bag system that does have a more clear towing advantage.

 

[surefirewizard]

Not sure if I am right or not but...from what I have gleaned on the leveling.... This is not an Air system. In order for it to "level" you have to drive it a short distance for the fluid in the shock to actually begin to "adjust". My understanding is that this shock system is similar to Volvo and some GM products. The shocks are not regular shocks but can cost up to over $350 a pair... not $200/pair or less.. To be honest I wish it were more like my 1990 DeVille which had auto-air adjust shocks... You could feel the car rise when loaded and key was on BUT...this is what it is... I have more of an issue with no one able to ACTUALLY say... they DON'T know jack crap about the towing package and it seems that it isn't being advertised right in the first place... 5000# my arse and tongue weight of 351# WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT!!!!

The 351 Tongue Weight is a typo admitted to by KIA. The actual TW max is 500.

 

[jw_tx21]

.

 

[d2425]

I just checked the Manual on page 7-10 and it doesn’t appear that the shocks and struts fall under the normal maintenance schedule other than to inspect and if necessary, adjust, correct, clean or replace as part of the suspension all the way up to 112,000 mi.

Normally shocks wear out and you notice a pronounced lean or sag. With the Nivomats, from some Chrysler minivan and Dodge Durango forums, people reported the fluid leaking at about 50,000 mi. But I really think it comes down to a number of factors like weather and usage before you have to replace them. But when the time comes the difference could be 5x more than standard and could cost as much or more than an air bag upgrade. Air bag systems date back to a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado so they’ve been around a while. I think Nivomats were first introduced on some BMW touring motorcycles in the 1970s and then the French tried them on Citroens followed by Volvo, GM, Chrysler, and others on family haulers as a substitute for air bag systems, so they have been around a little while. The basic difference is that the Nivomats are self contained and use movement of the vehicle create their own pressure/energy to raise the vehicle vs air bags and air lines where you add air and they self level by distributing pressurized air. But in order to be self contained systems, like the Nivomats are, they have more internal mechanisms that could fail. Chances are with harder use and worse extreme weather they are more likely to wear out or fail.

The Kia Telluride and Dodge Durango appear to be the only vehicles that advertise these Nivomats shocks as part of a towing feature and in my opinion that is a misrepresentation of the real convenience benefit. One disclaimer is that the Durango is sold as RWD or AWD so the rear suspension may work harder than the Telluride since the Telluride is a FWD based vehicle. If you plan to haul a lot that could push down on the rear axle they may help you and would be a nice benefit. But if you end up spending $900 to replace them sooner you might be just as well off with decent standard shocks and struts and an aftermarket air bag system that does have a more clear towing advantage.

Thanks for this. I'm thinking more about this and am not sure I would haul that much for quite some time. My kids are little, and we would not be taking any long trips with people in the 3rd row. I have no plans to tow anything in the near future. Like you suggested, worst case scenario, if that changes in a few years I could always have it installed (or get a new car). If ordering one, I would probably pass on it. If one became available that had one, it wouldn't be a dealbreaker.

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[Lou Panozzo]

Had to replace one self Leveling shock left rear it was making noise..

 

[alexdrums]

Had to replace one self Leveling shock left rear it was making noise..

Under warranty? Do you know how much they cost?

 

[WhiteSX]

Under warranty? Do you know how much they cost?

55367S9000 Genuine Kia Shock Absorber Assembly

Genuine 55367S9000 Shock Absorber Assembly fits 2020-2024 Kia Telluride. KiaPartsNow offers 55367S9000 for $239.29.

www.kiapartsnow.com

 

[Gottago]

For those interested I have a EX-AWD Premium with tow package and hauled some landscape blocks this week. With 350 pounds spread from the lift gate to the second row seats the "squat" was 1" and with 160 pounds the "squat" was 3/4 inch. Handled like there was no weight at all.

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[Serpens]

For those interested I have a EX-AWD Premium with tow package and hauled some landscape blocks this week. With 350 pounds spread from the lift gate to the second row seats the "squat" was 1" and with 160 pounds the "squat" was 3/4 inch. Handled like there was no weight at all.

Would've been great if you could've measured the squat once you got to your destination. The shocks actually do their leveling work after you've gone over some bumps.

 

[G-295984]

The measurements were taken after I traveled about 8 miles with the load. Did two separate trips.

 

[Gottago]

Would've been great if you could've measured the squat once you got to your destination. The shocks actually do their leveling work after you've gone over some bumps.

Those were the measurements after I traveled about 8 miles withthe loads. Did 2 separate trips.

 

[Serpens]

Those were the measurements after I traveled about 8 miles withthe loads. Did 2 separate trips.

good to know, thanks for the follow up!