To KDSS or Not

I’m sure it’s been asked multiple times but I’m not seeing a response for all my questions

looking to upgrade to a 2023 4Runner ORP and trying to decide if I should go with KDSS or not. I know that it supposedly makes handling and articulation better but also makes for a slightly rougher ride? My other question is it harder/more expensive to lift? And when does the infamous “KDSS lean” come into play?

Can you make a NON-KDSS 4 runner handle the same, as a KDSS 4R, on and off road with an aftermarket suspension?

Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

Good coilovers will make handling better.

I like my KDSS and don't intend to go LT.

 

I love my KDSS because it’s my daily. I won’t lift it beyond 2.5inches. The ride is smooth and little body roll in the corners.

 

Personally, I disagree with the statement of a rougher ride. KDSS will do things for you off road, and it will virtually eliminate body roll in city and highway driving. I'm an agressive driver, so I appreciate that about KDSS. Regarding your lift questions: it depends on how much you intend to lift.

The KDSS lean comes into play of someone breaks into the hydraulics.

 

$1000 option but $4000 to repair

 

At this point, buy whatever you can get

 

What's your plan with your truck is the real question and what do you want out of it? To me KDSS is for more for people that do some off-road but mostly daily drive. I don't think you can go wrong with or without it, just what do you want at the end?

 

DrKDSS makes some good products that adjust the suspension for a lift with KDSS and let’s you add a switch to deactivate the system. I like KDSS on my 2018 ORP.

 

That was my dilemma before I purchased my 4R and I agree with your opinion. It all depends what you want to do with your vehicle. Daily driver and some off-road - KDSS. Pleasure only, slight offroading only type of vehicle but very often - no KDSS. I mean, many 4R owners will have various opinions or some owners of other vehicles like Lexus of FJ will be able to tell you more from their experience. Go online and do research based on scientific data, like this one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ueshf401B0k. Some guys REALLY DO KNOW what they are talking about.

And me? Honestly I purchased whatever there was available. You cant be too picky these days. I did not want to have a safe in my under armrest but I had to accept that. I didnt want the SR5 premium, not enough for me. TRD OFF road premium good choice and I was thinking about it but I knew I would not get any other suspension that what is on trd pro as do not intend to do rock crawling and stuff. And I did not want to wait next 5 weeks for it. Boy, this stuff is endless....... Good Luck

 

Fortunately for me there’s still a steady flow of them in my area with 5 TRD ORP with KDSS headed our way in various colors over the next month or so. So availability is ok. And I’d rather hold out to get what I want.

As for use and intentions, it will primarily be a DD for my wife as I use it for “fun weekend trips” and eventual overlanding once it’s paid off and she gets the mom cruiser she actually wants

I only plan to lift it 2.5-3” but do the lifts for KDSS cost more/have issues/etc.?

Again, thanks for your help guys. I really appreciate it.

 

You'll just have to purchase KDSS brackets from Dr KDSS.

 

This is my preferred way. Non KDSS with suspension mod. For me personally non KDSS has more benefit. But KDSS has more front flex and less body roll. Every one has different taste. Nothing is better if you have a friend with 4runner with KDSS and without to see which one you like. You might like KDSS more.

 

I would only get KDSS if you want to modify lightly and do mild to moderate off-roading. It's a great setup for a weekend warrior.

If serious off-roading is a priority, I'd get the standard sway bar setup, and remove the front sway bar if I needed extra articulation.

You can't really duplicate what KDSS does with aftermarket suspension. But, a good set of coilovers and shocks will definitely improve the handling.

Another thing I've found that doesn't come up often is that the front sway bar sits pretty low, and the skid has to sit even lower in front to accommodate the movement of the sway bar. I bash my front skid on rocks pretty regularly. If you're going to stick to lighter trails, this might not be an issue. But, it's worth noting.

 

bingo. Exactly my thought.

 

If that is your case then get the TRD ORP with KDSS and get it lifted. There are so many off roaders here that you will have no problem with getting useful advice and someone already mentioned to get the KDSS brackets.

 

KDSS is great til it goes... 9K repair quote, 2015 Trail.

 

I can understand the pain.. Hope you could get few more quotes from other dealership to fix it and enjoy for few more years.

 

There is no way this system is $9k to repair.

 

In the real world no. In my dealership’s world apparently it is! I’m taking it somewhere else to see what can be done

 

Service manager was looking for a downpayment on his vacation home lol

 

It seems like quotes from dealerships are all over the place. $9,000 is higher than what I have heard in the past, but I haven't seen any cheap quotes, that's for sure.

It would also help to note the extent of damage, and what repairs are being quoted.

 

I would have other dealerships look at it as well. There isn't much that can be done without going through a dealer, or at least using OEM parts. You could delete the system, but then you would have no sway bars.

 

I think the quote is for the entire system, my experience with dealers is they like to replace the whole thing! I thought of just having it removed, but does that really leave it with sway bars? Will it not just become a 4Runner without KDSS?

 

remember to take the cover off twice a year at least and wash it

 

KDSS uses different sway bars than the standard suspension setup. The sway bars are attached on the driver's side with hydraulic rams. The hydraulic lines are attached to the accumulator, which controls the flow of the hydraulic fluid. Fluid. If you were to get rid of the hydraulics, the sway bars would do nothing as they would just hang loose on the one side. I'm sure someone handy enough could fashion a set of solid mounts for the driver's side, but the KDSS sway bars are extremely stiff and your ride quality would suffer.

That said, you could Remove everything, and switch to a stiffer aftermarket suspension, which would help a little bit. A lot of people with heavily modified 4x4s remove their sway bars, so it is not impossible to drive without them.

 

More front flex, you are right.