I have heard it a few times now and cant find pics, a thread, any definitive answers. does some kia's have the same front differential as trackers/sidekicks? are they steel? same ratio's? etc.

nothing kia fits a suzuki. ive seen these rumors flying around. they are 2 completely different vehicles.

nothing kia fits a suzuki. ive seen these rumors flying around. they are 2 completely different vehicles.

That is a BIG statement.  Speed sensors on their 5 speed automatics fit & work on Suzuki's, of course they are both AW transmissions.  Lots of rumors.

I have heard/read this also about the front axle housing supposedely working on a Trackick. IF I ever see a Sportage sitting around, I will be looking to see, as I would like a definative answer myself.

nothing kia fits a suzuki. ive seen these rumors flying around. they are 2 completely different vehicles.

is it safe to say you have personally tried to interchange every part from a kia to a sidekick or tracker?

The housings, No, but the internals might.
I was looking over several KIA Sportage in the wrecking yards, the rear axles
look hauntingly similar, totally different looking drums, but I didn't look any farther
than that.

There are also some front suspension components that looked like they could make
an upper/lower A-arm suspension easier to do, need more time and measurements
to get a total idea of what could work

The Auto Trans shifter looks identical to mine in the 89' Kick

Wild

http://www.turbomagazine.com/tech/0804_turp_kia_sportage_s2000_garage_tech/index.html

Not quite what you asked for, but, hey - it's interesting reading.

is it safe to say you have personally tried to interchange every part from a kia to a sidekick or tracker?

im not talking dumb shit like sensors and piddly things that dont matter cuz im not 100% sure on that. as far as axles and transfers go, they dont even remotely resemble each other. ever try and put a chevette carrier in yer tracker chunk? they just dont fit man.

Well thanks for the input hustler.
I wanted a cross section on input on the subject because in my years of vehicle building ive saw some crazy things interchange, and back then I was much younger and ignorant,thinking I knew all. And had egg on my face more than once.That's why I ask questions now.

im not talking dumb shit like sensors and piddly things that dont matter cuz im not 100% sure on that. as far as axles and transfers go, they dont even remotely resemble each other. ever try and put a chevette carrier in yer tracker chunk? they just dont fit man.

You're just compounding it man - generally speaking differentials do resemble each other, and so do axles - and if I'm to believe some of the stuff I've read today, the differential from a Kia Sportage is very similar in size (less than 0.1" difference) to that of a SideKick.  Apparently, depending on the year, they may even both use 26 spline axles (that's just there for resemblance - it doesn't mean they'll interchange)

I'm no expert but I've swapped Suzuki diffs (not SideKicks) that had a bigger difference than that - no grinding or clearancing required - the smaller diffs couldn't handle the power.

Maybe you should take a look at the link I posted earlier - those guys are putting the third member from the Kia Sportage into Hondas (S2000) and Mazdas (RX7), where they apparently bolt right in, with no modifications.

That's a great read fordem. Thanks

You're just compounding it man - generally speaking differentials do resemble each other, and so do axles - and if I'm to believe some of the stuff I've read today, the differential from a Kia Sportage is very similar in size (less than 0.1" difference) to that of a SideKick.  Apparently, depending on the year, they may even both use 26 spline axles (that's just there for resemblance - it doesn't mean they'll interchange)

I'm no expert but I've swapped Suzuki diffs (not SideKicks) that had a bigger difference than that - no grinding or clearancing required - the smaller diffs couldn't handle the power.

Maybe you should take a look at the link I posted earlier - those guys are putting the third member from the Kia Sportage into Hondas (S2000) and Mazdas (RX7), where they apparently bolt right in, with no modifications.

ok, so even IF there is a kia diff or axle that fits in a kick (everyone i have seen was significantly smaller) why would you "upgrade" your kick with  these much harder to find smaller parts when the ones we were blessed with dont hold up as it is? 

Man, I don't get it. Who out there is still breaking front diffs? There are several good ways to make these safe and sturdy. Are you talking the housings or the gears? I'm still runnin' an aluminum housing ( braced up well) with an air locker and have done plenty of stuff that should have broke an unbraced one. 

Man, I don't get it. Who out there is still breaking front diffs? There are several good ways to make these safe and sturdy. Are you talking the housings or the gears? I'm still runnin' an aluminum housing ( braced up well) with an air locker and have done plenty of stuff that should have broke an unbraced one. 

i was done breaking front diffs as soon as i put a sammy axle under it. LOL!
before i went SAS i was running stock aluminum banjo which held up fine unless it got smashed on rocks. a simble skid plate solved that problem.
the chunk was from a sammy with a mount welded on
the carrier was a sammy bored out on the pass side to fit the CV
inside the carrier was a lock right which held up ok with a broken pin here or there.
after breaking a 22 spline shaft i went 26 then couldnt keep CVs in it.
at that point enough was enough and havent broke a single thing since the SAS and i have been beating it harder than ever.

I have heard it a few times now and cant find pics, a thread, any definitive answers. does some kia's have the same front differential as trackers/sidekicks? are they steel? same ratio's? etc.

I pulled a kia sportage front third once to compare.....
The third does not have the same bolt pattern as a trackick housing.
I can't remember if it was steel...I think it might have been.
Seems like it had an odd ratio and a really thick ring gear.
I don't remember what the axle spline count was.

I have a paper around here with a bunch of info, but I can't locate it right now.