Stumped!! entire right side lean!

So, my entire right side both front and rear is leaning about 1” to the right. Four months ago installed Elka 2.5dcs for a 2.5” lift, oanhard correction, and rear swaybar drop from Dr KDSS.

Can not figure out for the life of me what recently started the 4R to lean to the right. It’s 108 here in TX.

do you think the kdss is messed up?
Did two Elka (the most expensive shocks on the market) fail in the heat and leak nitrogen??

only 28k on the odometer. Any help is appreciated.

 

Driver side?

 

Looks like you're not alone...

 

I hope the shop used the correct ELKA setup for KDSS. Because I know it's different. The time I installed mine it was not KDSS ready but now they have KDSS version.

KDSS swaybar spacer (if installed correctly) should help more. Panhard bar correction kit should help to avoid panhard bar hitting KDSS bracket.

If TX don't have shops know how to work on KDSS there are few shops in CO who knows how to correct KDSS issues including lean and trackbar issues. I have discussed this 2 issues with Hugo at Running4Tacos here in Denver and they seems to have lot of knowledge about KDSS.

Can ELKA fail due to 108F heat in TX, not sure. Would be interesting to know 108F ambient temp + high speed run could reach the oil to dangerous temps that could fail. Keep us posted and hopefully get a warranty replacement if it's a failure just in 4 months.

Truly wishing you to get it fixed without anything from your pocket or atleast not too much money

 

I have a hard time believing the Elka's failed. Especially one front and rear on same side. That is assuming your not doing baja style desert racing. KDSS lean is my bet.

 

I have a ‘23 t4r orp with a kings setup. The shop dialed in the front coilover it sits even. Always did. But the back is an inch higher on the drivers side. Shop says it’s the kdss. My shocks are for the kdss system. But the rear springs are ome. And not specific for the kdss system. When I go up in springs I’m going to look into some dobinsons c59-725. I think they are for the kdss system and are higher on one side. It should fix the lean. Idk.
It’s the kdss lean mystery. Good luck

 

Going to assume right side is drivers side. Just need to adjust suspension.

If its the passenger side I'm going to guess the shop tried to compensate for settling ahead of time and just over did it.

Stick your head in there and take some pics of both sides.

 

Why would "right side" ever be the driver's side?

 

England!

 

Passenger ;(

 

so it’s passenger which is on the right of the vehicle. Lean started months after install. Shocks are pre set to height when they arrive so it’s not shock length.

 

that is helpful to know. I also went with dobs and put them sided as you said.

going to loosen my kdss valves and try to reset the system. I’ll report back

 

Agreed!

 

Good to know. Kdss reset time

 

Dont assume anything.

Dude could be look at it from the front. There is special people out there.

 

Seems strange the KDSS would have an issue after 4 months. Is the KDSS idiot light on the dash lit? When I had my lift done and it was off kilter the light came on right away. The shop had to take it to a Toyota dealer to have them equalize the system. That was almost 4 years ago with no further issues. Guess a valve in the KDSS could have gone bad, but hope not. Hopefully cracking the valves will fix the issue.

 

Yeah don't crack your KDSS valves.

 

Get one of these and put it on the top of the passenger side rear coil spring. It should get you to within 0.5” of level.

https://exitoffroad.com/product/dob...gen-fj-cruiser-prado-120-150-lexus-gx470-460/

Easy install. Jack up the back end, undo rear lower shock bolts and remove shock from lower mount, let it droop. I then used death spring compressors to compress my passenger spring about 1.5”, slid the spacer on top, and reversed the process.

 

I don't have personal experience but when I discuss with the 4x4shop that is the procedure they follow to correct KDSS lean after lift. loosen KDSS valve -> lift on the lean side -> measure , repeat if needed. Again I could be wrong and no personal experience but what my 4x4shop shared little bit of how to things with me.

If I were to do it, I don't go DIY. I would use a shop with proper knowledge.

 

Opening the KDSS valves isn’t that big of a deal if you do it right. Mark the bolts and count turns. I stopped at 2.5 turns. Some instructions below.

https://exitoffroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/KDSS-Instructions-4Runner-Exit-Offroad.pdf

All said and done, playing with the valves didn’t correct my lean. Getting my spring preloads and the 15mm spacer above installed is what did it. I’ve also found with KDSS there will be times where it holds a lean and then after some off-roading or right turns below 12 mph the lean is gone. Park on a slope with passenger side downhill, your KDSS will have a lean for a bit until you correct it.

The KDSS system closes the valves at 12 mph and will somewhat “lock in” any lean at that point. Driving around below 12 mph and hitting some bumps and taking some turns can level it out. Or, get the DrKDSS kill switch and harness and you can get the lean out a little easier.

https://drkdss.com/collections/kdss/products/kdss-control-harness

 

balancing kdss is one of the great uses for the drkdss control harness. off roading on chunky terrain can balance things too.

i lucked out and can restore level without adding trim to any of the springs.

it’s unlikely a shock problem unless some sort of damage is causing the shaft to bind. but you’d definitely be able to feel and hear a problem like that.

 

I have a lean in the rear. What’s the process to balance the kdss system. Just drive around with it off then park level and turn it back on. Idk. I have the d.r. Kdss switch. Just made 4r feel like a boat. Haven’t tried it off-road. Figured it is like a disconnect, sort of. Anyway. Switch didn’t help my lean.

 

i drive around the block making a few right turns with the control harness enabled (kdss off). coast straight to relax the rams and fluid then disable the control harness (kdss on). normal things like going up driveways, speed bumps or parking on hills eventually creates lean or corrects it haha.

 

So, I’m dyslexic and this is a classic example. I had installed the rear coil shim on the driver side! Yikes. I’ll take it off and install it on the passenger side today as well as reset the KDSS valve system. Will report back. Sorry so long to reply, was in Uganda teaching.

 

Check your front suspension also, if you’ve set the preload higher on driver side, you’ll want to change that also.

 

will do. The shop who adjusted the front May very well have screwed it up as it was not leaning at all after my initial installation. They owe me new front Elkas that should arrive this week. So will get that done first then fix the lean. Appreciate your insight my friend.

 

I’d start with the front coil overs equally preloaded. Standard/NonKDSS 4Runners typically have more preload on driver side to account for fuel tank and battery. From what I’ve seen, you don’t want that on KDSS 4Runners.

 

Thank you Boris. Just called to check when the new front shocks come in. They're set equal from Elka, so we will see if this solves it first before attending to the rear coil shim. Appreciate you.

 

You’ll 100% want to move the rear shim to the passenger side while you’re at it.

 

¡ɐᴉlɐɹʇsn∀