blacktrdpro
New member
As for the sunroof, if you're going to market a vehicle capable of catching air, it's wise to remove the twenty pound piece of glass above the drivers head.
Engineering Design Decision? For TRD Pro... No Sun roof, no KDSS.. But why?
- Thread starter Pete from mass
- Start date
Whiplash Willy
New member
I don't know enough about KDSS or Hydraulic Cylinders to feel comfortable swapping it out with one. Even if I did, I would still have to bleed the system, which requires a $500 tool, and the fluid is expensive as well. The stock cylinder is about $500 as well, so how much would you save by using a generic one?
jrandom
New member
This is veering way off-topic. Sorry yours is jacked up. All of the standard swaybar mounting locations are there, not all are nutted/threaded. I did not see any fab work that you would need to do. I have no idea of your mechanical aptitude to judge whether it would be "easy" for you or not. It would not be a complicated endeavor IMO to switch it to non-KDSS.
There was a member here, [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] might recall who, who just disconnected/disabled the rear half of the KDSS so he could install LT.
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1engineer
Moderator
It would be a complicated endeavor, especially for someone who knows little about hydraulics. You would have to find a cylinder that has a proper rod diameter, proper bore, right type of seals (viton), Rod ends, proper stroke, porting, etc. Pretty sure you can buy one much cheaper from Toyota than trying to find one aftermarket that would fit the application.
[MENTION=99702]jrandom[/MENTION] I am pretty sure it was [MENTION=74569]SOcalTRAIL[/MENTION].
The KDSS equipped spindle has the mounting location? If so this is an easy swap
wadle5
New member
I was thinking this. For what the truck is designed to do and for how the truck hopefully will be used..after several whoops and wallows at 65+mph I think it is safer to not have the possibility of the sunroof becoming an issue.
Jetboy
New member
After considering a bit more, $500 is probably not too bad. Or wait and find a junk yard donor. Or possibly drop off at a hydraulic shop for a rebuild.
The cylinder is about $50-100. There are a few issues to sort out though. Primarily you'll need to find the proper stroke, bore, and shaft so the fluid flows match up. Then you'd need to sort out the ends - they are non-standard on the KDSS so that's probably a bit of custom fabrication. It's nothing that can't be replicated, but it would take a bit of machining and welding. If that's not something you can do yourself it starts to get pricey.
Bleeding is the other issue. I dont know enough about it, but I'd guess that it can be done without the high pressure pump by a crafty backyard mechanic. My guess is that you can bleed with the cylinder extended a bit, then using a jack press it back into place and achieve the same system pressure, but I'd need to think about that and review the entire system a bit more.
If I ever build mine down the road, I intend to replace the fixed side mount with a high flex joint and then replace both cylinders with longer travel cylinders. The KDSS idea is significantly better than swaybar disconnects for a number of reasons. The most important is body stabilizing offroad. Especially in off camber situations. There are other ways of doing this, like hydraulic sway bar links, but the KDSS has a lot of advantages IMO.
Jetboy
New member
You think 20lbs on a 4,500lb SUV is going to be a noticeable difference?
BlackWorksInc
New member
No sunroof sounds like a positive to me.
Jeff614
New member
Interesting the consensus regarding the lack of KDSS and sunroof is price/option related. Honestly thought there was some other reason in the super long TRDPro thread. Never kept up with it since one isn't in my future.
If I were buying now though and could afford a TEP or TRDPro I'd have a hell of a time deciding. Admittedly love the look of the Pro and like its uniqueness but I'd want both KDSS and a sunroof for that price over minor suspension upgrades and cosmetics.
Probably would go with the TEP. Wish I could have when I bought mine. Ironically not for the KDSS but for the leather and sunroof. Both of which I sorely miss and are not easily added now.
Oh well, love my basic plain ol Trail edition .
- Jeff
If I were buying now though and could afford a TEP or TRDPro I'd have a hell of a time deciding. Admittedly love the look of the Pro and like its uniqueness but I'd want both KDSS and a sunroof for that price over minor suspension upgrades and cosmetics.
Probably would go with the TEP. Wish I could have when I bought mine. Ironically not for the KDSS but for the leather and sunroof. Both of which I sorely miss and are not easily added now.
Oh well, love my basic plain ol Trail edition .
- Jeff
1engineer
Moderator
If you think a TRD Pro is designed to catch air at 65+ mph you are sadly mistaken man. "Here, hold my beer and watch this" is a phrase that comes to mind...
Guess you missed my post a few above yours huh.
wadle5
New member
Not catch air, but if you haven't seen some dune running you see the constant beating the vehicles are put through just going over little "moguls" for lack of better term
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72y0A4FQ27Q
1engineer
Moderator
Please. Here is a short clip from GM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmQq63JJ-lM Toyota does the same thing and yes, some of these vehicles have sunroofs lol. This is proper testing.
I think breaking glass and leaking roofs will be a issue. The car has a sunroof the truck doesn't that is my reason. If it can break it will break.
KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid.
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wadle5
New member
So I guess buy a GM. Don't really see where you are going with this argument. But I agree the whole KISS method of keeping it simple
jrandom
New member
I fixed that for you
so all the fancy ATRAC, Crawl control, multi-terrain select, rear e-locker, power windows, automatic transmission, 32 ECU's, 3 miles of wiring, electric seats, power locks, ect. ect. etc. is all more likely to break before the sunroof.If you intend to stick with a KISS principle, it makes far more sense to do that type of driving in an application specific vehicle.
BTW that Taco did nowhere near 65 mph maybe 40 maybe. The point [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] was making is that the truck is designed to do what it was designed to do by an engineer running tests in virtual and real controlled test environments, not necessarily by bolting shit on and driving through some whoops and calling it good. Toyota does the same type of testing, I don't believe he was saying buy a GM. It was used in context.
I fixed that for you
If you intend to stick with a KISS principle, it makes far more sense to do that type of driving in an application specific vehicle.
I agree with the designated trail rig, however some of us don't have room and it's nice to be able to just take your tuck on a secret detour on the way home from work.
Yes nice as it maybe I don't like power seats, windows, electronic 4x4, the fluff stuff.
The lockers and ATRAC are necessary for some stuff but will break and you should learn how to drive without them, and fix them.
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1engineer
Moderator
What vehicle and year made do you have?
Eagle62
Member
how is kdss a pain with a lift? ...and do you really consider what comes with the TRDP a lift? KDSS is a proven technology with no history of major breakdowns. the reason they chose not to include it in the TDP is most likely to keep the price at a reasonable level.
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