GT2 Front Struts

[dtrail7a]

Has anyone had to replace front struts with ECS? I have checked the dealership and every parts store imaginable, as well as ordered parts online just to be shipped struts that aren't ECS compatible. Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm currently checking junkyards on my travels.
2021 GT2

 

[oddball]

Those will definitely be a dealer-only item. Aftermarket rarely picks up the controllable type of shocks.
Kia is painful to look up real part numbers. Not many sites open up the catalog. KiaPartsNow.com is one I use.

Using a '21, v6, RWD, LHD, front left hand looks like:
54611J5270 is the ECS strut. It's expensive, that's a hint.
54650J5270 is the ECS strut plus wire extension, but it's discontinued. No need if your wiring is OK.
54650J5230 is the non-ECS strut.

The non-ECS struts also said "ECS" in the description, which isn't helpful. Looking at the pictures, one of them shows a strut with a wiring harness. Dig into that and you'll get the strut-only part number.

 

[NS_Stinger]

This is what worries me about holding onto mine long term. I'd check Ebay but if you have a broken or worn out strut you might have to considered an aftermarket solution like coilovers with ESC cancellers so you dont get a dashlight.

 

[Ozstung]

Yeah i got cold feet and parted out in Dec '23, the head light price spooked me think they're over $3k. (Aud)

 

[dtrail7a]

A friend of mine who buys and restores many salvage title vehicles took my vin and got ahold of a guy he gets parts from. He was able to order them direct from KIA $1,650. Suppose to arrive in 2 weeks. Price hurts, but is what it is. If they are the correct parts I'll be happy.
I order mostly everything from Kiapartsnow that I have needed as mentioned above and that is how I ended up with the wrong ones. My own fault for not paying attention. Thanks oddball for clearing things up on those part numbers.
I didn't want to go to coilovers as I run the Mando ECS 10 and absolutely love it. It's a total gamechanger. I'm just shy of 150,000 miles in case anyone is curious.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Out of curiousity at what mileage did you install the Mando ECS? How did you know the shock was bad?

 

[D.J.]

Out of curiousity at what mileage did you install the Mando ECS? How did you know the shock was bad?

To add to this question, were your struts damaged or worn out?
Leaking oil?

Mine are currently fine (@ approx 140k kms), but it's always on my mind that they will eventually wear out.

 

[oddball]

I order mostly everything from Kiapartsnow that I have needed as mentioned above and that is how I ended up with the wrong ones. My own fault for not paying attention. Thanks oddball for clearing things up on those part numbers.

There's an art to reading dealer part diagrams and part listings. Sometimes have to mess around with the filters to see all the options and figure out the correct one on your own.
Different online vendors will sometimes have different diagrams and lists, so it's worth checking out 2 or 3, especially if it's something unusual.

 

[dtrail7a]

Out of curiousity at what mileage did you install the Mando ECS? How did you know the shock was bad?

Sorry for the delay, but I just now got around to replacing them (156,000mi.)
I installed the Mando at around 70,000 I believe. Turns out it is the sway bar bushings that have been the issue all along, but wasn't able to notice until I disconnected the entire hub assembly/sway bar link from the sway bar. It didn't hurt to replace the struts whatsoever though.

 

[dtrail7a]

To add to this question, were your struts damaged or worn out?
Leaking oil?

Mine are currently fine (@ approx 140k kms), but it's always on my mind that they will eventually wear out.

No, but when removed and compressed the RF didn't expand back out as it should I guess so it was worn out.

 

[WHITEGT]

2019 Stinger with 100,000kms or 60,000 miles and mine are worn out They retail for $1200 each FML

 

[D.J.]

2019 Stinger with 100,000kms or 60,000 miles and mine are worn out They retail for $1200 each FML

Are yours the electronic damping controlled version?

Are they really worn out so early?

 

[dtrail7a]

I paid $1,650 for the pair. Mine are electronic.

 

[NS_Stinger]

2019 Stinger with 100,000kms or 60,000 miles and mine are worn out They retail for $1200 each FML

That seems early, how do you know theyre worn and do you have lowering springs?