Levelling my 2018 ORP with KDSS

I would like to level my 2018 ORP with KDSS using the stock rear height as a reference. i.e. just lift the front the required amount for level. How much is that? Is a TRD Pro a good guide for stock level? Based on what I’ve read on here, the 1” lift of a TRD Pro should produce a level condition in my ORP and allow me to keep the rear stock. Is that correct?
Also, I haven’t yet decided on the best way to achieve that, maybe Fox, maybe Elka. Any suggestions?

 

Either of those 2 works.

I'd stay away from spacers but thats my personal preference.

I went with Icon coil overs so it was adjustable to get rid of the sideways lean but I figure this would be the easiest.

 

Did you go with 1” of lift and did it give you level? Did you leave the rear stock? Do you have a photo of the result? Thanks!

 

Pic with stock TRD rims/tires after lift. I lifted front and rear but if you are just looking to level 1" up front should just about do it.

I had the following measurements.

Measurements Before Lift (Center of hub to fender)
Both Rear's - 22"
Passenger Front - 19"
Driver Front - 19 3/4"

After
Rear - 24”
Front - 22”

 

Throw some Bilstein 5100 shocks on the front and then adjust it to the hight you like. Cheap. Effective.

 

If you are interested in leveling out your 4Runner, and increase ride quality on and off-road Fox or King will be the way to go. We can custom tune the shocks to ride extremely smooth based on the type of driving you will be doing. We have a great Tech Article on KDSS suspension as well if you are interested in learning more about the limitations you have lifting a KDSS equipped 4Runner:
https://accutuneoffroad.com/kdss-suspension-tech/

 

Great video, and thanks for sending that! I would prefer not to lift the rear, it is high enough, and I have never carried a load that has compressed the rear springs unduly. I would like to gain increased firmness in the front, though, and make the vehicle level. My thinking is that I should be able to attain the same lift a trd pro has (about 1”) with a good coil over shock. Your suggestion of Fox or King is a good one. Is it necessary to have an external reservoir?

 

No need to lift the rear based on what you said, but having a good shock will help with bottoming out. Remote Reservoir helps significantly with the shock dampening. We hardly ever recommend a shock without one, especially since we custom valve the shocks to perform extremely well. Here is a little more info on Emulsion vs Remote Reservoir shocks

 

The number that will get you dead nuts level is 1.75" of lift in the front with 0" in the back. This will give you a bottom of fender to middle of hub measurement of 22" on all 4 corners. Some people will argue that's not level, but to each their own and that's what I'm considering level in this response.

The Pro's are set 0.85" higher on the drivers side to compensate for the 4Runner lean. A lot of people round this up to 1" so if you like the look of the Pro and that looks level to you, you're going to want to lift the front 0.85" higher.

Coilovers are the best suspension components you can buy for our front ends. They're also the most expensive. If you need them (or just want them) by all means go ahead and get some, but make sure the lower limit on the pair you get is somewhere around 0.85" of lift. Some might not allow you to go that low.

A much more affordable option that will provide you with a great ride is Eibach adjustable front shocks. You can use them with your stock front coils and raise the vehicle to 4 different settings (one of them being the 0.85" setting, I believe). These firm up the ride but do not make the truck stiff or jarring. They ride really nice. I have these on my truck and put them on the 3rd setting from the bottom (1.6" of front lift) with 0" in the back. My front measures 21 3/4" and my rear measures 22".

 

Thanks nimby, your truck looks great and perfectly level.

 

I had the Bilstein 6112 front coil-overs/ 5160 rear combination installed. The front is adjustable and set at 1.6”. I kept the stock springs in the rear with no lift. I don’t see any lean and Looks dead level to me. No problems with the KDSS- worked out great.

 

I second the suggestion by @nimby - for the price and based on all the hundreds of posts I've read on Eibach shocks (and springs), you'd accomplish what you want, and you wouldn't come close to spending what you would on coilovers. Nothing wrong with those, they're just pricey, especially for a leveling solution.

@Oldtoyotaguy, I am in the same boat as you. I want more a of a level '19 4R OR w/ KDSS, and don't want to go up in tire size. Maybe A/T tires, but 265/70-17.

Also, for reference, @nimby has 285 tires, so his looks different from one with 265 tires. Not sure what your tire size preference is. Regardless, his setup levelled the truck without question, at a reasonable price point.

 

Same here, but I was leaning toward the Bilstein 5100s w/ the front set on .85 and a set of 265/70/r17 Falken Wildpeak AT3Ws.

Curious on the differences between the Bilstein 5100s and the Eibachs...

 

From the posts I've read, the majority of those who have run both prefer the Eibachs, and say they are less harsh. I've also heard from owners who have used the Eibachs at both the second snap ring setting -.86 & third setting, as @nimby did - 1.6, and both were happy with their results.

 

Yeah, level should be level no matter the tire size. I like stock size. I’m not trying to save money, haha, I’m not trying to waste money, either. I’d like something excellent, then I’ll figure out the money afterwards.

 

There have been lots of great suggestions on this thread. Sincere thanks, everyone. The high end seems to be Elka, and the low end seems to Eibach shock using the stock front spring. They both accomplish lift, but I’m guessing Elka will out perform Eibach. But, for about 5x the cost, haha.

 

So the main difference between a Bilstein 5100 and the Eibachs is that the Eibachs use a bleeder valve early in the suspension travel that smooths out the ride at low speeds. Once you get going a bit faster, start hitting larger bumps, or go offroad it will perform similarly to Bilsteins digressive valving. They are similar shocks, just some small differences in valving that make a big difference in ride quality.......especially on a rig that many of us use both on and offroad.

Oldtoyotaguy.......also consider the fact that Elka, King, and any other coilover are shocks that need a rebuild every 30,000 miles or so. You can do it yourself, but you might also have to send them in to have it done......which means your truck is down until you get your shocks back. Eibachs and Bilsteins are "lifetime" shocks. They probably won't last the life of the truck, but you can get them to go 100,000 miles before you replace them.

Food for thought.

 

After an excessive amount of research, I'm planning to do the 6112/5160 set up on mine. I think I'm gonna do 1.2 on the front though.

 

This may have been posted before. My apologies.

I see a lot of posts about fixing the infamous KDSS lean. The lean is caused by the missing mass of the driver who is outside the vehicle looking and wondering why it’s tilted. This video shows a very easy way to fix it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xtURdW66WM4

 

@Oldtoyotaguy, did you ever pull the trigger on a kit for a leveling solution?

 

Thanks for asking, glwood54! Sort of. I decided to use an Elka IFP non reservoir system, front and rear. It will level the vehicle and maintain stock height in the rear. It’s a bit expensive, but good. I talked to an engineer at the company, and he was really helpful in my decision. I won’t be getting it installed until April, though, because winter here is such a tough environment for chassis components I figured I may as well wait for the good weather and postpone the salt and sand on the new components as long as possible. I’ll post a review when I get them installed.

 

I have to say, I had not heard of Elka before your thread. Those look like a great setup. Is this what you plan on using, considering you wanted to level your truck:

https://us.elkasuspension.com/produ...ota-4runner-2010-to-2019-0-in-to-2-in-lift-4/

 

Yes basically but I’m using the 2.5 shock. It does the same thing. Elka is a really high tech suspension company based in Quebec Canada and their prime competition would be King. Everyone who has used their stuff says it’s the best so we’ll see. Also, I’m Canadian and I like to support North American industry whenever I can.

 

Also, my vehicle has KDSS and Elka designs some of their systems with that in mind. No one else does that.

 

What makes the 2.5" front shock kit worth $1k more than the 2" front shock kit, since they do basically the same thing?

 

Well in terms of levelling, they both lift the front 1 1/2” in their default setting. Elka will customize them for you too. But in terms of capacity, bigger is better and more heavy duty, just like any 2.5 shock.

 

Elka is not the only company... Dobinson makes KDSS specific lifts by fabricating a taller spring

https://www.dobinsonsdirect.com/pro...2-5-lift-kit-toyota-4runner-2010-18-with-kdss

That being said, I have KDSS and went with the 6112/5100 set up and the settings left to right up front are identical (top perch) as are the setting with the 5100/B12 combo in the back. No shim, spacer, or trim packer (OME) required. Truck sits level all the way around

 

Redned, I have a '24 OFP w/ KDSS and I'm looking into this same set-up. What setting did you use on the 6112s in the front to get it level? Notch #1 or Notch #2?

Thank you.

 

Hello Zax, welcome to the forum.

@Redned has not been seen here on the forum since December of 2021. I wouldn't expect an answer from him anytime soon. You could ask the question at Bilstein, or Toytec Lifts. They usually have people on staff that are familiar with these types of questions.

Otherwise, I'm sure that another member will chime in.

 

I just had the 6112/5100 Bilstein lift installed. Perfectly level and definitely a handling upgrade from the KDSS on the pavement. Also had the full Dr. KDSS/Treaty Oak spacer kit installed.