Thought I would start a build thread.Went through over 7 months of BS 2 non KDSS allocation orders rejected then trying to work deals out of state i settled and ordered a KDSS equipped model (I did not want KDSS) at a price that made it palatable to not use it/Gut it. Now the Fun can begin!

Obligatory Stock Photo


Looking to take this build a step above my FJ. It was a moderate build and it took me everywhere i pointed it and this will be the evolution and some stuff will carry over.

The First Wave Of The Build. Ordering/already have queued
:Interior Lighting...led's (Done)
:Exterior lighting led's and XD Xtreme Hid (Done)
:KDSS Gut or at the very least disable the rear
:ET King 2.5 CO's and custom length rear kings
:TC UCA's
:MetalTech LT Springs,Links,bumps and extended lines
:Wheelers super bumps up front
:BudBuilt full skids and beefy bumpout sliders
:4x4 labs rear bumper
:Tuck exhaust
:Konig Countersteer type x
:255/80r17 Cooper ST Maxx (until i can hopefully get 34x10.5 BFG KM3's sometime in 2017 and re gear)
:Safari Snorkel (when available if ever)
:Odyssey Extreme 2150
:Blue sea or bussmann PD (leaning towards Buss.Ran blue sea in my FJ but want something cleaner)
: Diff/locker Breathers
:Roof rack delete
:Rigid D2 D Fogs
:Mount my Power Tank but might go with a compressor space is a concern...
:Remove left rear seat cushion ;)
: Ham= Either Keep my Kenwood V71 or go back to Yaesu. Want to drill for an NMO on the roof and run a Larsen but roof rack indecisiveness may prevent that for now.
:Speakers and amp (Ran focals in the FJ will probably do the same here)

Mods I hope to have done by the end of the year
Spindle Gussets
Goose Gear Drawers
Engel MT45 Fridge
Roof rack (really undecided here) and a baroud (wishful)

Long term
:Front Bumper and winch
:Front locker and re gear


Looking Forward To the Build And getting back out.

Thanks For Stopping Buy!

My Old FJ

Congratulations on the new ride!
I'm almost at the point of ordering a TEP in white, but I keep going back and forth on KDSS or not. I haven't had the chance to do a comparison drive, because the closest KDSS equipped vehicle is 2 hours away.
My question is, you seem very intent on not having KDSS. What are your reasons for not wanting it? I understand the down the road cost piece, but any other reasons would be helpful in my decision.

I would not consider this build "Slow" with the list of things that you have going on there

But seriously, looks awesome. You won't be able to disable just the rear KDSS also as they are linked to the opposite front corners. But it seems that you care whether or not it functions at all, so gut it!

I'll just be here watching...

Why would you gut or disconnect the KDSS? I hope you know it not a normal sway bar.

I'd either learn to live with the KDSS or trade for one that doesn't have it.

Guess i should be clear "disable" the rear would just be removing the sway and tucking the piston. Needs to be that way for the pseudo LT.
believe me i tried not very hard but i tried to get one without kdss multiple times good thing is i paid less than one without it.beauty is i do not have to live with it or i could live with it in the front for now.

There's no way to just disconnect the rear KDSS. WarnerD9 had a bypass fabbed and removed the rear piston, unfortunately I could not get to much info out of him and there was no write up. You either have the entire system or you don't. I disconnected but pistons and removed sway bars and "strapped" both pistons into the compressed position with steel cable. This allows putting the system back into service, should I decide to.

Thanks Yeah i am aware that the rear cannot be removed as such (see my post right above you) and tucking the pistons away. So that is where i stand gut or just disable the rear i have no problem gutting it and just dealing with the light. I guess you could answer how is it just running the front? Any odd behavior off chamber? other situations?

I have removed front and rear sway bars. My concern with removing the rear and strapping it up would be in how the system functions and how much pressure may be applied the the "rigging" of the one piston.

The system WarnerD9 had seemed to work good for him.

Sorry I misunderstood you should have caught the "both" lol i thought you were referring to tucking the rear piston only and leaving the piston free to extend. I ran no sways on my FJ and would have no problem running just a standard front but with the kdss There a situations that i could see leaving just the front bar with the full system intact could end up interesting.

I'll subscribe to your journey... I too would like to know what you plan on doing with KDSS system. I have Kdss and just waiting for it to go haywire or give up the ghost and off to the trash bin it goes...

this thread lacks a meaningful story arc and character development. i am disappointed.

Well main reason is that it will not play nice with what i have planned for the rear suspension. Having 2 5th gens one with and one without and honestly the difference is not that dramatic. onroad does feel nice but not earth shattering it does afford a little more articulation offroad but nothing that some sway disconnects would not even up. it really comes down to preference and use.

Thank You!

It is unfortunate we don't get the same system as the LC200. It flexes like a LT 4runner off the show room floor. The linkage system up front on the KDSS works well. Could be copied for a 5th gen? You won't be able to buy a kit, but it should be pretty easy to fab if you're doing your own fab work.

Basically you could use any of the aftermarket sway bars in the rear and modify them to use end-links and a lever arm like this:



The rear of a LC200 is totally different too - also long travel KDSS. Basically replicate this behind the rear axle with the existing cylinder. Might even be able to use the existing sway bar, just reversed and new mounts welded to the axle tube. Just depends if it'll clear the rear tire.


The LC200 really is a thing of beauty in engineering. I hope they bring that system to the 6th gen.