Kdss

New to 4Runners is kiss worth having

 

Dam auto correct kdss

 

It all depends on what you plan on doing with your 4Runner. For me I opted for KDSS because I planned on keeping my suspension OEM. I have had trucks lifted in the past and never liked how they drove on pavement. If you don't plan on doing any type of upgrades to the suspension I would get it. It gives the best of both worlds in my opinion.

 

Why do you want it?

It has pros and cons.

If you want a nice balance of road manners and a little extra articulation for mild to moderate trails, get it.

If you want to do hardcore off-roading, don't get it.

It has benefits on a stock-ish truck. But, it becomes a limitation with more significant modifications, ie extended/long travel, higher lift, or if you get to a point where you want to delete the sway bars. Also, the front skid must sit lower to accommodate the flex of the sway bar. I hit rocks with mine all the time.

Although failures are rare, it is a potential failure point.

What are you going to use your 4Runner for?

 

You can edit posts, btw.

 

I have a 2020 4R w/ KDSS. I specifically sought out the option. KDSS significantly assists with controlling body roll when cornering. I am not a hard core off-roader, but my wife and I do a great deal of over-landing with our 4R. I can tell you that one time we were traveling on the highway where there were 4 lanes coming together. We were pulling our 5x8 overland trailer at the time. A young woman on our right mistakenly began to change lanes and did not see us. I had to make a very quick significant maneuver to the left to avoid being hit and instantly swerve back to the right to avoid hitting any cars coming up on my left side. I was able to make the maneuver and still kept from losing control. The young woman recognized her mistake and apologized. Without KDSS, I don't know that I could have controlled the very fast avoidance move, as the body roll would have been significant and I could have easily over corrected when moving back to the right. That day made my decision to have KDSS a very good one.

Here is a quote from Toyota:
When you are maneuvering at slower speeds on the trail, the suspension will soften to allow for greater wheel articulation and more freedom on extreme terrain. At standard driving speeds, KDSS allows anti-sway bars to work as normal, reducing body lean by as much as 50 percent and keeping you safe.

I will soon be putting a OME EMU BP-51 on my 4R. I will end up lifting my 4R between 2 and 3 inches. If you intend to do common off-roading and only need a small lift (2-3 inches) and can afford it, I highly recommend KDSS. There will be some who will tell you their reasons for not getting KDSS, and some will likely have to do with the potential repair cost. I take care of my 4R and always clean underneath my 4R after every trip. It is super easy to remove the metal shield covering the KDSS pump underneath the 4R on the driver side. I do not live where road are salted in the winter. Keeping it clean and free from rust is easy if you simply take care of your vehicles. Having said all of that, I have had zero issues with my KDSS.

If you have an opportunity to drive 4R with KDSS and one without, drive both and make some quick turns and take a fast corner in both. You can then decide for yourself if it is worth it. All I can say is that I love the ride of my 4R with KDSS and have never regretted it.

 

For some yes, for my liking its a no for KDSS. But here's a good tech article to read;

https://accutuneoffroad.com/kdss-suspension-tech/

 

I have KDSS. I'm also an aggressive driver. I also have a mild lift. I love the way this truck feels on road and off. KDSS gives me confidence while cornering on road because my truck doesn't feel like a pig. My truck has very little body roll. I take my truck into the dirt now and then and I have had no issues while doing so. I'm an old man, so no insane 4 wheeling for me. But moderate stuff? Absolutely.

 

Driving Mtn roads daily - KDSS is required
I watch T4R without it on our hwy and wonder how they all aren’t car sick

 

No, they don’t. Early and often apexing is the norm.

 

Searching should pull up a ton of threads with pros and cons.

My TL;DR take - after owning multiple with and without, if you aren't lifting 3"+ KDSS is absolutely worth it.

 

To the OP: My 4 Runner has KDSS. Knowing what I know now and the type of off-roading I do. I would’ve been good with an SR5 Premium and just upgraded to an aftermarket lift / suspension like Kings or Fox because I wanted larger tires and to eliminate the nosedive and body roll. If you’re going to keep it stock and maybe just change the tires to a true 265 AT tire, then I would get KDSS, because without it you’ll have nosedive and body roll no way around that.

 

My parents have a basic SR5 with the basic suspension, I have Limited with XREAS. If the XREAS is something similar to the KDSS then the difference is night and day compared to the basic suspension. Wife was getting sick in the SR5 when we borrowed it for a weekend, she quite likes the suspension in the Limited. Body roll, nose dive, just the wobbly drive was getting her sick in the SR5.