So I've been going to and from the dealership on a creaking when making a left hand turn at low speed and finally got under it and took out the skids (finding they forgot 3 bolts while I was at it) and saw this on the KDSS front boot.

Taking it in on Thursday to have a pretty enlightening conversation with someone that knows diddly about the KDSS system but now but here's the rub. I have Bilsteins set at 2.5" and im almost 100% sure they are going to give me the "you have modified it and we can't cover it".

Thoughts on this? From what I can see and understand, this piston only goes straight up and down and should not be persuaded one way or another due to the lift.

2014 TEP 2.5" lift with 285s

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You can try but here is how it works...

Dealer makes a claim with Toyota for warranty. If Toyota thinks its a reasonable/normal problem... Then it gets fixed with no more questions. If Toyota sees that this is not a common problem or it is an expensive repair... they start asking questions about modifications to the vehicle. The dealer either lies and gets it covered or they hand you a really expensive bill.

KDSS and lifts are not compatible according to Toyota. We all know that people run lifts with KDSS with no major problems, but you can understand why they would take that position. It puts the control arms in a static position that KDSS was never designed for.


Are you sure it is leaking. That may be some fluid from somewhere else...

Hi tral,

This is a "Pray for the best, prepare for the worst" scenario! When my 2012 Limited was new I added a set of PIAA '520' foglights to the bull-bar. At that time, or when I got the 4R I was having connectivity issues with ENTUNE's BT pairing with my 'Android' smart phone. I made an appt with the dealership where I bought the truck and went in to have it looked at. No sooner than I pulled in, I could see the SM and a tech pointing at my truck. I got out, gave the keys to the admin assistant and went to let reception know that I was there for an appoint; to which she replied... you can have a seat in the waiting room!

When the service mgr came out he said... "is there anything on that vehicle that shouldn't be..." I said, "what does that mean?" He said, "stuff like an aftermarket audio system or lighting systems...etc? I said, "the stereo is stock (which it still is to this day), but I added foglights for safety reasons! He replied, "Okay, have a seat and I'll have it checked out for ya!" When he came back (15 minutes later) he said, "I can't help you because the electrical system has been changed"! I told him that the electrical system is fine, it's just that the entune system is malfunctioning and I have to pull over to make phone calls.

Further more I reminded him that we had purchased my wife's Camery there, and I paid $40K (plus $3,000 tax) in cash for the 4Runner only one month earlier because it was a special order; due to the optional BP color, so I need you to help take care of this problem today or we're going to have a problem 'RIGHT HERE AND NOW'!... and we did; I fussed him out until some of the sales mgrs came out (who remembered me and happened to take a liking to me when we met about one month prior)! They all went in the back and talked and I went outside, too pissed-off to speak with a civil tone! When he came back he apologized for the "mix-up", and said he'll have his electronics specialist take care of it for me @N/C! Problem ended up being the worst version of entune (1.7.8) ever released! so they installed update vers 3.2.

Case-N-point... say you take the friendly 'Joe Bob', really nice guy approach and see where it's going. But if you begin to feel that things are starting to go south, then you let them know that you're not happy with their approach to a good customer! Maybe then it's time to be assertive and firm about your relationship with the dealership, and let them know that you ain't taken none of their bull ship! They may still knock you down, but they should know that you're willing to part company w/them as a result of this, ASAP if they treat you like you need them, and not the other way around; plenty of other Toyota dealerships in that cnty who would be 'thrilled' to welcome your auto repair needs and for you to go to them with complete confidence!

'Just my 0.00000000.2 cents; hope they make a serious effort to help you with this! 'Best to you',

rig

Agree. Quite frankly when it comes to the mechanicals of our rigs we probably know more than the techs working on it. Just a case by case scenario. It was lucky that the sales managers recognized you. If the first dealership doesn't work, I recommend hoping from one to the next until you find the best quote or can hopefully get it done for free without issue. Definitely a hassle but worth it if you can avoid a KDSS bill which I can only imagine would cost some serious $$$$.

I'm not suggesting that this would be perfectly ethical, but maybe try to get the factory shocks from someone who is upgrading and swap those in before you take it to the dealership?

i'm not sure shopping the issues to multiple dealerships, it seems like other dealerships would be able to see a denied warranty claim, right?

If you're really really concerned, set the shocks down to zero or .85 before you go in, they may not even notice.

I know that's not a small deal, but neither is standing KDSS repairs on your dime.

This is unfortunate and I hope you're able to get it fixed but if I had to guess, I'm going to bet they'll deny it.

I really don't think putting stock shocks on is the right thing to do either because if they cover it, they're basically covering a claim which is your fault and not theirs. All that means is that the price of warranties goes up for everyone else.

Personally, I'd monitor it a little more, do some more research about KDSS leaks/repairs, and if you need to replace/repair it.

Any update? Was it diagnosed as a KDSS leak?

I don't feel that it is a leak. I have monitored this thing every week and nothing. I think that the tech sprayed silicone on all the swayback bushings when i said it was making sounds so it likely spread a bit or over-spray prior to me complaining about it. Also,the creaking sound that i was hearing was the hood latch... amazing what a simple creak makes your head spin.

Shortly after I bought my 1999 Amigo Isuzu, it developed a pretty large thunk upon acceleration/braking. I could feel it on the floorboard of the driver side.

I checked everything underneath to see what might have been shifting around: shocks, exhaust, driveline. No indications of movement or metal to metal contact.

Then one day, I stuck my hand under the front passenger seat. It seems that Isuzu manufactured a pretty good recessed pocket in the flooring underneath the seat (and under the carpet). Well, my wife (me too, in full disclosure) likes to collect cool/pretty looking rocks when we are out exploring old mines, etc. It just so happens that one of the large rocks she gathered happened to fall into that pocket, and was shaped *just right* to allow to rock forward and backwards, banging the front and back sides of the pocket.

Every.Single.Time.I.Accelerated.Or.Braked.

Moral of the story: Sound and vibrations can travel a long way, and don't always originate where you think they do ;).

That's a lesson every full-suspension mountain bike rider learns. ESPECIALLY on carbon frames.

Haha. Rider: "I swear it's the bottom bracket!" Mechanic: "Sorry. It's your seat post."

Yeah, I don't know why I said it's just FS riders that go through hair-pulling sessions of creaking noise chasing. Having more moving parts certainly doesn't help but even the KISS crowd can have "fun". The derailleur hanger is one of my favorite WTF! ones.

Ti SS is the worst. there is nothing that should make any noise... i swear it it the WORST. At least i know there will be noises with gears!

I get some squeaks with my fully rigid steel hardtail 29er SS, too.

It's just one of those WTF moments.