Is KDDS worth the money?

Aggressive driving and an idiot who slams on the brakes because they missed their turn can be disastrous. He hit her rear passenger corner with his driver side corner trying to swerve. It didn’t seem like much damage but the report said that some weld points were not repairable in the engine compartment (I think, I was still delirious ). Her car was barely touched, but she’s still trying to get a huge payout. No one’s airbags even went off. We have a picture of her walking around at the scene, but she suddenly needed an ambulance when the police got there and asked her if she wanted one.

 

My thought process is that KDSS is mechanical, and has actual parts that can fail.

The 2020+ safety systems seem to be just sensors/electronics, and I have faith in Toyota electronics.

 

KDSS is only $1,750. Repair bill shouldn't be very big. I would treat like other parts that go through wear and tear

 

Don't count on that. Any parts needed for KDSS have to be imported and are not cheap. It is not a dealer or port addon. It can also be difficult to find competent dealers who have actual experience with the system and the necessary equipment to service it. It's actually quite reliable and I would take it over Xreas any day. I love the KDSS on my '22 ORP. As mentioned pull the accumulator protector and clean and rustproof regularly.

 

I'm not sure why, but every time someone has a failure, the repair is way more than the initial cost. My best guess is that it's a bitch to work on, and possibly hard to get parts for as @Redwood mentioned.

 

I think if a mechanic tells you to avoid a used 4Runner with KDSS, probably has to do with most owners don’t care of it. The fact that most of us on here are … well, on here indicates that we are not “most owners”. In Canada we don’t get a choice as a model option, standard on TRD Off Road. The only 4Runner I was in before was a Limited. Weird thing is, I don’t know what it is like without KDSS. Before I lifted it, I really enjoyed the buttery smooth ride. This nose dive folks speak of, not sure how quickly they’re hitting the brakes?!? Like anything, if you spend a little extra time in doing some service yourself, or have a very good mechanic (hard to come by), an ounce prevention is a pound of cure.

My phone is annoying today, I had to correct this originally reading “moist owners”, lol. - that’s what he said

 

One of the parameters of KDSS is that the ride is stiffened above 12 mph. Under many off road circumstances this is not an issue, but particularly in the case of washboard roads which can easily be traversed at speeds above 12mph, the KDSS can make the ride a little harsh. Having the DrKDSS kit and switch allows the valves to be opened and the sway bar to be more active at speeds above 12mph.

So - if you plan to drive on a lot of washboard roads, DrKDSS is a good choice.

 

Is the KDSS as good as the Bronco's Swaybar disconnect? Bronco has IFS too so they should be comparable

 

I don't know that anyone's done a direct comparison, but my best guess is "no." However, due to the secondary (on road stability) benefit of KDSS, it's not really a direct comparison.

 

The Bronco’s sway bar disconnect is manual and is armed below a certain speed. Sway bar automatically reconnects at speeds above that threshold.

KDSS with a DRKDSS control harness comes close to Bronco’s system functionally minus the ability of being active under 12mph.

 

I think the mechanics were confused with Xreas vs KDSS because KDSS is reliable. KDSS is simple, that's what makes it great. Unlike their electronics that have a fit if anything changes, and don't get me started on their wiring that attracts squirrels and mice for dinner.

I got a 2019 because I didn't want the electronic garbage, just simple serviceable mechanical parts that Toyota is known for.

 

The version of TSS on the 4R for the most part won't affect the ability to safely drive until whatever problem is corrected. Those systems can also be disabled.

On the other hand for KDSS, if the hydraulic system is leaking, which is the typical failure if there is one, can potentially limit the truck's drivability and possibly render it unsafe to drive until it's corrected.

 

Its quite the opposite.

A failed hydraulic line/KDSS is no problem, the truck will still work 100% like all the pre WWII cars with no sway bars/KDSS (with a little lean lol). Failed TSS, let alone anything else electronic is a total fail, limp mode and tow. Dealer and thousands of dollars.

Trust me Toyota makes great cars, but if the electronics get messed up it really sucks. And it does not take much.

I am sure there are a lot of safety redundancy's in TSS. But if TSS fails catastrophically its a major problem, KDSS (Sway bar) really not a big deal. Like I said cars didn't come with sway bars for a long time. I think the first mass produced cars that used sway bars was after WWII.

Mechanical things can be fixed, and with some care they will last. Electronics on the other hand...

 

I agree with this also. Maybe a more appropriate response for KDSS failure would be unsafe or undriveable for some people.

I admit that I don't know the exact fail safes for TSS and what failure behavior completely is - though I do know other than the active cruise control, the system is more of a warning system than a system that actively corrects steering or does emergency braking. please do correct me if i missed something.

BTW i have a car that does emergency braking if it thinks i'm going to back up into something. turning off the sensors isn't persistent and is the stupidest thing in the world if i forget to turn sensors off.

 

Not to me,.. but to each their own.