How many wish they had gone w/o KDSS?

Unplugging it don’t cause a DTC? If it doesn’t that’s good to know it won’t store a code.

 

I have a non-KDSS for simplicity, as well as I did not want a sunroof, which seems around here to be included on those builds with KDSS.

I drive daily through tight windy canyons. I was worried about excessive body roll, but my 4Runner handles just as expected. Not bad at all. I have a RAM 1500 with a 3” lift. Now that’s some body roll.

I’m sure KDSS drives better in the curves, but I’m very happy with my choice. Eventually I want a full suspension upgrade anyway and I plan to never drive a KDSS, so I won’t know what I’m missing.

 

Regardless of KDSS, A lift causes changes in geometry that will naturally make the suspension a little less compliant. For example, the lower control arms are are not flat after a lift. You can see that that the outside of the arms are below the pivot point. When it hit small bumps, the lower control arm has to travel over center, which will induce some inward forces. Without a lift, the lower control arms are already over center and move a little bit more freely on small little bumps in the road. It’s hard to describe, but basically geometry changes can cause a little bit rougher ride after a lift.

I think he said it was $700 for a delete, which sounds to me like a removal of the system. But changing it to a regular swaybar system would require a lmore work and money because the frame of KDSS equipped 4runners doesn’t have the bolts welded into the inside of the frame to hold the swaybar mounts. I think you would also need to get new spindles that have the holes for the end links. So if you do a delete of the KDSS then you are just running without sway bars at all.

What do you mean by that? I always understood KDSS to have two modes. One mode has the Rams contacting the sway bars so that they are connected. The other mode allows the Rams to move so that the sway bar can act as if it is disconnected, and that this happens at slower speeds. How are you experiencing slowness?

I think it was mentioned that there is a kit that allows you to lock it into one of the modes. I’d be hesitant just to unplug it, unless you know what mode it it defaults to when it is unpowered. For example, if you unplug it will the System stay in the “loose sway bar“ mode, or will it lock the Sway bar into place (severely restricting, articulation, off-road)?

I used to think KDSS was purely hydro-mechanical and passive, but it is electrically linked in some way. Apparently that’s what makes the kdss button kit to lock into an off mode. But I’m still confused as to what condition KDSS stays in in the off mode

 

I've had all of the DR KDSS parts as they've been released, but I'd totally ditch the KDSS system if I could and will eventually get rid of it.

The money is better spent on a decent suspension

 

The front doesn’t have threads to install normal sway bars to the frame, would have to tap threads or riv nuts, spindle does have a hole for the link. Rears will need fabrication I think, weld brackets for the links, not sure how it attaches on the rear axle. I’ll worry about that when the time comes, hopefully my kdss will last 150k+. Maybe one day I’ll put my buddies sr5 on the lift and take pictures of his sway bar setup just to have for future reference. What i don’t know is if Toyota can deactivate kdss from the computer so the kdss lights will not be on.

 

I searched this on YouTube last night, one guy had a kdss 4Runner, looks like he removed the sway bars, left the kdss lines hooked up and tied up the rams lol. Guess that’s a way to do it if you don’t want to delete the system.

 

I never saw any KDSS lights on my dash.

As far as I know, KDSS is a mechanical/hydraulic system.

 

Good to know. I would assume there would be a light on if someone were to delete the system, unplugging the connectors and all.

 

There is a light, pay attention when all the indicators light up before starting.

 

This may be of interest. I don't know anything about this kit myself, it may be designed for a dana 60

 

Not on my 2021 TRD Off Road Premium

Tried the cycle several times.

 

That’s what I thought too, but DrKDSS makes an aftermarket button that turns it “off”, or locks the mode to a default, then there has to be some sort of electronic interface.

 

Unless DrKDDS is just selling snake oil.

 

I’m curious now, when I get a chance I’ll go check if mine goes on and off when I cycle the key.

 

Some KDSS offroad chops



https://youtube.com/shorts/nnRvh1HQa8I?si=ukH6AHs2NvUBaS8N

 

he's not. If I had KDSS I would definitely install his mod. Stock KDSS is awful on washboards

 

True, even 15 psi didn't help in Death Valley.

 

Bingo! I bet KDSS is awesome, and I would never badmouth it. But, future repair cost was my biggest fear. I bought my '23 to last 20 or more years, and it rides just fine without KDSS. I won't be taking it to the local track, so a bit of nosedive under braking or lean in corners isn't a deal breaker for me. I also live in a state (Delaware) that is hit or miss on snow, but man, when the weatherman thinks there's even a slight chance, they send out an armada of tanker trucks and plows dousing the roads with salt brine, and your car is covered white in salt. Have a look. This is what they do for a 1" prediction:

 

Kdss or not it will rattle your jaw. What helps is lower the tire pressures. But I drove my cousins bronco on the same washboards and it rattles hard to, my mother in laws 01 jeep wrangler was even worst lol. At least to me there was no difference on washboards.

 

I test drove an SR5 and then my ORP and was very surprised at how well KDSS works when cornering. Thought I was going to roll the SR5 lol

 

I bought the KDSS model because it's my understanding it has more flex at low speed. Seems like a better sway bar (disconnect) for those that use their vehicle off road. If it helps on road, that would be good too.

 

Lowering tire pressure won’t make much of a difference like @Yotaholic said above.

What makes kdss great on road is also what makes it awful off road (above 12 mph) as it stiffens the ride. The only way to avoid it is to disable it (aka drkdss mod).

Try to get on a non kdss 4R with good suspensions and same tire pressure and you will see a night and day difference.

my buddy has ORP kdss (all stock) and we compared the ride both at 20 psi and it was god awful in his vs mine. And I’m on stock pro shocks, you can get much better aftermarket which will make the difference even bigger. Now he plan on drkdss disable switch.

On road his rides much better though. If you don’t go on any off road trails (other than rock crawling) there’s no point in doing this mod though.

I’ve also got a TJ (2000 wrangler on 35s) and it’s nowhere near as smooth as my 4R on washboards or dirt roads

ps: but yea I agree washboards suck regardless of the vehicle generally speaking. Only can make it less worse…

 

This is the kind of off-roading where KDSS shines, a Jeep trail. But those Jeeps will kill you if you corner at 50 mph lol

https://youtu.be/jljxI8MU3vc?feature=shared

 

Yeah, from peoples back to back impressions, it honestly sounds like it makes it a different all around vehicle on-road. Makes sense, because the swaybar on the kdss is gigantic.

 

KDSS shines more on road, offroad it offers just a little more flex.

 

Washboards do suck regardless. Lowering tire pressure worked for me. Ride feel is subjective tho. Does the kdss system get stiff above 12mph? Even when going straight with no steering input or anything? Who knows how this system really works, only ones that will know is who invented it and Toyota.

 

It's not a difficult system to understand.

Take a six inch balloon and put some volume of air into it. Make it easy. Take a six inch balloon and put two large breaths of air. Now take a twelve inch balloon and put two large breaths into it. Which balloon is tighter.

KDSS is hydraulic, not breaths of air, but works the same way. It's a closed system (a six inch balloon) when traveling over 12mph. When less than 12mph, it opens a couple valves, creating more space for the breaths (more volume, less pressure, maybe)...or becomes a twelve inch balloon with the same amount of breaths. I know that was a stupid example, but basically it holds pressure, more pressure, at over 12mph. Less than 12mph it has less pressure so the suspension can move up and down more easily.

 

It is either 100% or 0%, and nothing in between, right?

 

If you mean open or closed, that's my understanding. I don't believe it is (what I would call) progressive. Correct me if I am wrong though.

 

So when you start upgrading your suspension. Do you really think kdss is necessary? To me it just makes a simple suspension more complex... I say no to kdss