you might feel a side to side difference driving a stock kdss vs no kdss, but even mild after market suspension changes everything with 4runners

I had a 2015 with no KDSS and just bought a 2021 with KDSS. Night and day difference for me. Don't plan on massive suspension upgrades and do 90% street driving. I really appreciate the KDSS.

If you buy a 4runner and use it like this... KDSS is great

80% street even ... its worth it

But if you wheel it and put suspension pass 2.5" then it just becomes a headache. That 1" to 1.25" gangster lean sucks

KDSS is pretty awesome for on-road performance, and as a daily driver, even when lifted.

KDSS sucks offroading, since it does limit articulation when rock crawling, and your teeth will fall out driving at full speed on gravel or corrugated roads even when you air down. It will do almost everything a nonkdss equipped 4runner, you just have to do it slower or in less comfort.

KDSS sucks when it comes to aftermarket prices and installation quotes.

KDSS sucks if you have to do the install yourself.

Its basically a trade off. It's kind of like the AT vs MT tire debate, it depends now what you plan on using your 4runner for.

I love my KDSS equipped 4runner and wouldn't trade it for anything else.

I drove the kdss and non kdss models. Personally, I couldn't tell the difference. Maybe I didn't test drive it hard enough to find out. Either way, kdss wasn't a must have. When I found a 2021 4runner non kdss ORP with trd wheels and factory rock sliders for ~ 9% off msrp, I knew i had to jump on it. So it just boils down to your priorities.

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2012 TE with KDSS and 212,000 miles. No issues with KDSS.

Write ups with photos here that I found very helpful on KDSS:
Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road with KDSS Suspension Deep Dive | Autoblog
and another layer deeper:
Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Suspension Flex Test | How does KDSS work and what does it do? | Autoblog

I said this in another thread but I test drove a 2018 ORP with and without KDSS. Concluded that they both are terrible for body roll.

The biggest difference for me was riding in a pro with stiffer suspension (something you should switch out anyway).

The only other difference I would eventually feel is my back and wallet when it comes time to wrench the suspension.

I'm going to give you the pro KDSS sell since there's so little.

I have a '13 trail with KDSS and 100,000 ish miles lots of which have been on the trail FWIW.

On road hands down you want KDSS. Amazing stability and cornering, greatly improved driveabilty. Consider how many miles your rig will spend on road vs. off unless it's going to be a trailer rig.

I think KDSS has benefits off road also. Yes the thicker sway bar can make for a stiffer ride in 12 mph plus situations. However, this can be compensated for (To some degree) with tire air pressure and a higher quality shock with adjusters. Off road the thicker KDSS sway bar will also help a heavier loaded (especially top loaded.) vehicle sway less.


As far as more expensive to install I have never seen this directly quoted in the 7 years I've had my rig in Denver. Maybe it just shows up in additional labor.

Additional cost of lift parts is simply untrue. You "can" run a regular lift like a non KDSS 4Runner with no other needed parts than the coils, shocks/struts and maybe UCA's and diff drop. That being said if you want to resolve (improve is probably a better word) the travel issue in the rear and run an extended travel setup you can do so for about $500 over the cost of the Radflo lift. (I can point you in the direction of this information if needed.) Yes KDSS sucks if you want to do the install yourself, no arguing there. However, it's not impossible.

And let's be real here if you want a full long travel setup it's many thousands of dollars more than a regular lift with or without KDSS. Many seem to misunderstand the difference between extended travel and long travel.
Lift height: You shouldn't go over 3" lift KDSS or not without significant cost or modification.If you actually want more than 3" lift follow the long travel path. 4Runners without a long travel or similar setup lifted in excess of 3" ride like garbage IMHO. And on that note KDSS or not more lift isn't better and won't help fit bigger tires. I run 34's on 2.5" lift with no rubbing. I'm talking real world on trail fully loaded full compression not rubbing. Not I drove on a dirt pile in my back yard and it didn't rub.

KDSS lean: It can happen apparently. I've been through 3 lifts from 2" to 4" (Yes I was a dumb a$$) and never had a bit of lean that I couldn't resolve by adjusting my coilovers. If some lean is gonna bug you probably don't lift your rig. Lots of people struggle with lean regardless of KDSS.

Reliability: Really? It's a Toyota. KDSS is equipped on Land Cruisers and Lexus that travel the world over without issue. The incidences of KDSS failing catastrophically are few and far between. Is it an additional mechanical system that needs maintained from time to time sure. If you want reliability keep it OEM, it's designed for the long haul.

All that being said, if you want a rig for heavy trail duty or long travel conversion KDSS is probably not the route to go. If you want an overland rig KDSS is exactly what you want. (Consider that KDSS actually increases articulation in a stock situation.) And if you want a lifted rig to get you just a bit further away from humanity when you want to go I'd definitely consider it.
I love my KDSS rig and I won't be getting rid of it or ripping KDSS out anytime soon. I completely endorse and recommend KDSS in the right applications.

If I could go back and get a 2013 Trail without KDSS, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Subjective but the body rolls without KDSS can be compensated by stiffer coils, which OP already said you would switch out to. Save your $ and skip KDSS and spend that for something you really actually want. Other smaller examples like not being able to mount my King reservoirs in the preferred location irks me some but just another example of having to live with KDSS.

The venture is indeed a price increase over the ORP however without kdss on the venture the price difference is only about 1200$. After making the changes i want the dealership said it would be just shy of 4K higher than the venture. Again, can't always trust the dealership but that's what I was told. Id also like to paint the front silver bumper and the quote i got for that was an additional $350 (not through the dealer).

I did drive KDSS vs no KDSS trucks consecutively not once but twice (including freeway ramps, round abouts and some basic in town stop light/stop sign driving) and really just didn't notice much difference between the two... I will say seeing as i am transitioning to a taller vehicle with much more weight than my current daily Subaru that I've had for the last 10 years and that could absolutely be a factor.

I will likely drive both once more before reaching a final decision, but appreciate input from experience since I'm used to small no roll at all -- just hard to tell. Thanks again

good to know its not just me. Test drove both KDSS and non KDSS on multiple occasions and just could see or feel much difference... Thanks for the input

2015-2020 Toyota 4Runner Valance Panel 53901-35250 | Toyota Parts Center

Toyota 53901-35250

There, saved you $150.


Pro wheels are a high price of $250 each, plus mounting, is $1100

Yakima Basket is $500 on the high side

Black badges are $100 on eBay or anywhere

Pro Front Grill is like $150 from CarTrimHome

My Off Road is a non-premium / non-KDSS model.
Being 6'4 I didn't want the moon roof that robs headroom in the premium.

I live in the Ozarks or Missouri. It's all hills and curves here. Driving it home from the dealer, 2 years ago, I was like Holy SH*T this thing handles curves horribly!!! Tons of body roll.

My test drive around the suburbs of Springfield, MO didn't reveal the body roll.

A $750 Eibach Pro Truck Lift (shocks & springs) + $450 install w/ alignment solved the body roll issues on road, reduced the nosedive, and tightened it up a bit off road. Now I love it now.

Except that the RCLT kit isn't out yet.