Best single KDSS-compatible suspension option for slight lift, soft ride
- Thread starter 1996_Valencia_Owen
- Start date
DesertFish
New member
So would the current consensus be that Kings are the single best option for a soft ride with a slight lift? Is there a specific spring/coil combo or just King all the way around King everything?
DeepSea
New member
Did you read the comment above from [MENTION=171339]HVLSTON[/MENTION] ? If all you want is a slight lift (1-1.75") with a buttery stock ride, just go with a set of 5100s or Eibach Pro shocks with the stock coils. Anything 2" or more, replace the shocks and coils (Eibach or OME). Ride quality is somewhat subjective though. What some people consider firm may feel normal to others and vice versa. Tires and wheels (weight, width and load rating), tire pressure, road quality, etc.. will all contribute to ride quality
DesertFish
New member
That is the thing, I don't want a 'buttery stock ride', the stock ride is harsh. Its harsh on E rated KO2s, and it was harsh on the stock Duellers at 32 PSI. I understand if you jack it up 3+ inches there isn't much you can do about a firmer ride, but surely a small lift/level or even keeping stock ride height in the pursuit of more compliant/softer/better dampening setup is possible. And before you say it isn't, as I mentioned earlier - KDSS comes stock in the GX/LC and nobody complains about too firm of a ride in those vehicles. If the solution is an aftermarket narrower anti-sway bar that is compatible with KDSS, then so be it.
mrblah
Senior Member
GX/LC also come with air suspensions on some models if i remember correctly.
You should reach out to someone in your area for a ride along in their vehicles if you can.
messing with your suspension is all about compromise. You gotta compromise somewhere.
If you didn't like the ride quality of your KDSS rig b4 lifting, you won't like it after lifting it, but it will perform better at the expense of your ride quality.
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jagsr71
New member
My prior rig was a GX470 w/KDSS. I loved that truck but it just got to the point where I put so many miles on it, I was going to have to put some serious money into it. That or make a change for something new. Enter the TRD ORP I bought last month.
Yes. The rears on the GX were air suspension and the higher you jacked it up, the harsher the ride. The Lexus rode like a dream w/ KDSS. As a side note, I think the seats added to the comfort as they were a luxury plush leather which is always a bonus w/ the Lexus brand.
I'm a big fan of KDSS and wanted in my next truck. When I bought my 4runner, it rode much harsher than the GX470. However, I knew I could improve upon the stock suspension and make it ride much smoother with a mild lift. It now rides as smooth as my prior Lexus. Especially at higher speeds on rough terrain as its meant to be a desert baja style suspension.
I'm thoroughly impressed with it. It's spendy but so are many others. You can't go wrong with it.
mrblah
Senior Member
edit: to put my own foot in mouth.... lol
I didn't read you have kings...good to know.
CoolMax
New member
in spite of all the praise for kings, i'm tempted to go this way: Trail/TRD Off Road KDSS Full Articulation Kit - Resivoir Front - $2,998.00 : Sonoran Steel Fabrication LLC, Toyota Truck Parts
1996_Valencia_Owen
Banned
Wow that Radflo/Sonoran kit looks fapworthy.
May need to start savin'.
May need to start savin'.
CoolMax
New member
Seems like they're the only ones catering to the small KDSS crowd.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...rticulation-long-travel-trac-panhard-bar.html
Jetboy
New member
The air ride is only in the rear. It's softer with air springs - but shock valving is tricky. Nothing off the shelf works with air springs because they're extremely progressive, so you'd want to match with a digressive shock. I may go back at some point, but there's a few other issues to work out first. Namely the electronics for auto leveling. I setup my manifold for auto pressure balance - but that's not ideal. It needs the leveling sensors to work well as an automated up/down system. Then I need to make it "smart" and it turns into a much longer project to use an ecu and all of that. I haven't come up with a simple reliable method to balance it otherwise.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/217482-rear-airsprings-replace-coils-full-airbags-2.html
But - again - only on the rear. The front I've been working on a few ideas - but none of the bag-over systems work on 2.5" or larger front shocks. So I'd have to drop down to 2" front shocks to consider bagover or air coil bucket setup in the front. I've gone down the rabbit hole on planning and the only way I think it really works up front is to go with something totally custom built. Maybe match something like an ORI strut with a bypass shock? Or run a simple fox air shock along with the 2.5 coilover. Neither are intended for adjustable height on the fly, but they work just fine with clean, dry, compressed air, so they could be modified to work.
The fundamental problem outside of ORI shocks is the lack of a negative air spring. It's hard to make air suspension work really well without the ability to use a negative spring.
