Best single KDSS-compatible suspension option for slight lift, soft ride

[1996_Valencia_Owen]

Does anyone have any recommendations for the best spring/shock brand/part #s for the below?

-KDSS friendly
-1-3" lift max (my garage door is 6" above my roof at stock height now, and need to leave a little for bigger tires.
-As soft/buttery of a ride as possible.
-I don't pack the truck too heavily. Usually under 1,200 lbs combined people and cargo weight, so I don't need anything super firm.

Thanks!

 

[Jetboy]

Depending on budget of course -

Accutune will custom valve fox or king shocks to your wishes included in the purchase price.

I found the Fox factory shocks to be very supple at near stock height in the front. Mine are not custom tuned, but I plan to revalve with a flutter stack soon to soften them up a bit more. As you go up in height - everything gets harsher. Just the nature of the angles of the suspension arms - nothing shocks can do to solve that geometry problem. Basically keep the lift relatively low is the best bet for soft suspension.

The fox 2.0 Performance rear shocks in my 4runner are not supple at all. IMO they are too stiff of valving without 400+lb in the rear. With the trailer on or lots of weight they're about right.

As another alternative I would guess the TRD Pro suspension would be a good bet for soft ride. I think they run pretty soft springs - like 550lb/in or something like that in the front. And the shocks are fairly softly valved as well.

 

[Tuc4R]

I am running ADS C/O's and rear shocks. They are simply amazing. I ran Icon on my Tacoma, and there is no comparison, the ADS rides soooo much better. They use the same quality components that they use in there high dollar race shock.

 

[borfoo3]

King

 

[mgk1789]

+1 KING




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DesertFish]

Wondering what people think about these options compared to the stock suspension as far as a supple ride. I've read so many conflicting thoughts on Kings/Icons/Fox/etc, I'm in a similar position as OP, looking for as soft a ride as possible.

 

[jbjones85]

I have a set of kings going on in a couple of weeks so can update a bit more after that but ran ICON in the past and have a spacer lift right now so will be able to offer some comparisons ('15 w/KDSS)

 

[1996_Valencia_Owen]

Good tips so far.

I was sorta hoping somebody would someday make a KDSS set of sways. I feel like an aftermarket company could make some that are slightly less stiff... so while still less rolly than stock, allow more on-road suppleness.

 

[GChristo]

I was sorta hoping somebody would someday make a KDSS set of sways. I feel like an aftermarket company could make some that are slightly less stiff... so while still less rolly than stock, allow more on-road suppleness.

What makes KDSS feel stiff vs a non-KDSS vehicle isn't the inherent rigidity of the sway bars as you may be thinking. There's a hydraulic piston attached to the front and back sways each. When you go over 12mph or meet certain other driving criteria like steering wheel position, g-forces etc, your stabilizer ECU will send a 12V signal to the accumulator assembly. That signal energizes the accumulator's solenoids resulting in reduced rate of flow through the KDSS hydraulic lines. Reduced rate of flow through the lines will mean that piston attached to the sway bars will not want to be as compliant. I am not an engineer so excuse me if I use incorrect terminology or have a loose interpretation.

You can certainly make off-road handling more compliant or 'plush', but the compliance you will be trying to build in will be opposed in part by how KDSS functions. It's not impossible to improve your ride, just be aware of this.

 

[Jetboy]

What makes KDSS feel stiff vs a non-KDSS vehicle isn't the inherent rigidity of the sway bars as you may be thinking. There's a hydraulic piston attached to the front and back sways each. When you go over 12mph or meet certain other driving criteria like steering wheel position, g-forces etc, your stabilizer ECU will send a 12V signal to the accumulator assembly. That signal energizes the accumulator's solenoids resulting in reduced rate of flow through the KDSS hydraulic lines. Reduced rate of flow through the lines will mean that piston attached to the sway bars will not want to be as compliant. I am not an engineer so excuse me if I use incorrect terminology or have a loose interpretation.

You can certainly make off-road handling more compliant or 'plush', but the compliance you will be trying to build in will be opposed in part by how KDSS functions. It's not impossible to improve your ride, just be aware of this.

The KDSS sway bar is much stiffer than the non KDSS bar. It's a 1.68" front and 1.18 rear diameter sway bar. That doesn't entirely identify the actual spring rate - but for comparison the normal one is 1.18 front and 0.79 rear. As a comparison the front bar is larger than even the HD aftermarket sway bars for an F350. It's very stiff.

Generally shocks need to be balanced with springs. Stiffer springs = softer shock dampening. With KDSS I think most shocks are too firm on compression.

I do think that it would be interesting to have a shop make a softer sway bar set for KDSS vehicles. Should be do-able if there was enough interest.

 

[CoolMax]

The answer to this question seems to change every yr. :smashputer:
I've heard that Fox is pretty good, that Icons are valved best out of the box - I've seen a couple of #Stage 7 setups on Instagram, that Kings aren't ideal because they are tuned for high-speed, Baja-type driving - supposedly not KDSS's strong suit.
To add to the confusion - OME is alright, and Toytec/Radflo is pretty smooth.

 

[CoolMax]

I have a set of kings going on in a couple of weeks so can update a bit more after that but ran ICON in the past and have a spacer lift right now so will be able to offer some comparisons ('15 w/KDSS)

Eager to read this comparison.

 

[GChristo]

The KDSS sway bar is much stiffer than the non KDSS bar. It's a 1.68" front and 1.18 rear diameter sway bar.

Indeed, though regardless of swaybar thickness, the KDSS system is still engaged. Drive down the same rutted road with and without KDSS engaged on the same vehicle. It's not a nuanced effect, it's night and day. Not disagreeing with you here. Simply emphasizing this system is not trivial.

 

[Angelo]

Having owned both the Bilstein Pro and TRD OR with KDSS, I can say that the Bilstein TRD Pro system is super comfortable with regard to soaking up bumps. The KDSS handles and corners better, but the stock Tokico shocks don't compare at all to the TRD tuned Bilsteins. I'd recommend the TRD Bilsteins (4R, no experience with the FJ ones) to anyone looking for mild / no lift.

If the TRD Bilsteins offered a little more lift, I'd have them on my KDSS already. I haven't ridden in a 6112/5160 and I know that they're supposed to be a little stiffer, but I expect with a soft ~530lbs spring similar to the Eibachs on the Pro, it'd be very similar.

 

[skinny420]

Does anyone have any recommendations for the best spring/shock brand/part #s for the below?

-KDSS friendly
-1-3" lift max (my garage door is 6" above my roof at stock height now, and need to leave a little for bigger tires.
-As soft/buttery of a ride as possible.
-I don't pack the truck too heavily. Usually under 1,200 lbs combined people and cargo weight, so I don't need anything super firm.

Thanks!

I'm super pleased w/ Toytec Boss kit and TC UCAs (link in sig). IMHO, best (or darned good at least) bang for the buck if you're not hard core wheeling. I went w/ the HD rears b/c of my 130# box of crap I haul around w/ me.

I've driven 2000+ highway and 100s of around town miles since having it installed. Finally got off road this weekend at Fort Fisher. Have been many times b/f new suspension and was a great pleasure driving w/ new setup. For one, no more dragging skid plates on the sand; and B, although still "soft" the front was much less bouncy than before.

my $0.02

https://www.toyteclifts.com/ttboss-4r210-toytec-boss-suspension-system-for-10-4runner-and-gx460.html
coils: 650# front; heavy duty rear

 

[mrblah]

No matter what you do, a KDSS rig will never be buttery smooth, compared to a non-kdss rig.

People recommend kings because its the softest aftermarket shock vs other aftermarket shocks, but it will still be firmer than stock.

Don't expect miracles.


FYI, i run and recommend kings

 

[DesertFish]

No matter what you do, a KDSS rig will never be buttery smooth, compared to a non-kdss rig.

People recommend kings because its the softest aftermarket shock vs other aftermarket shocks, but it will still be firmer than stock.

Don't expect miracles.


FYI, i run and recommend kings

I don't understand this... you can go firmer, but not softer? Why not?

 

[mrblah]

I don't understand this... you can go firmer, but not softer? Why not?

If you are raising your vehicle, typically your ride is going to get firmer due to the shock valving and spring rates. Kdss just makes it a little more firmer due to less body roll in corners and more jarring when soaking up bumps.

Sure you can do custom valving and spring rates to whatever weight your vehicle is...but yeah, most people don't have the time or money to do that.

 

[EddieV4runnin]

No matter what you do, a KDSS rig will never be buttery smooth, compared to a non-kdss rig.

People recommend kings because its the softest aftermarket shock vs other aftermarket shocks, but it will still be firmer than stock.

Don't expect miracles.


FYI, i run and recommend kings

OK :moon:

 

[DesertFish]

If you are raising your vehicle, typically your ride is going to get firmer due to the shock valving and spring rates. Kdss just makes it a little more firmer due to less body roll in corners and more jarring when soaking up bumps.

Sure you can do custom valving and spring rates to whatever weight your vehicle is...but yeah, most people don't have the time or money to do that.

I can't remember if its the BP-51 or Icons, but I recall people mentioning specifically setting 4 (out of 20) being equivalent to stock, lower softer, higher firmer. While KDSS will always be firmer than non-KDSS when equiped/configured the same, wouldn't running on a lower setting offset the difference?