forum help drastic lean to the right !

[1engineer]

So every 4runner that has the KDSS and has a lean to on side do to a aftermarket lift needs to be take. to the dealer for calibration????

No. 4Runners naturally lean a bit, even ones without KDSS or a lift. Same with Jeeps, Nissans, Fords, etc. Pretty much every vehicle with a body on frame construction and independent suspension. What? You don't think other vehicles lean? They do but you don't notice it because it is not yours. Guess what...they don't notice your lean either, that is until you "adjusted" your own KDSS. Some of the vehicles I listed above won't lean much but there will always be differences even if it's just a millimeter. Do you think you can put several hundred pounds of weight on one side and it not compress the suspension a bit?
Now, you could fix it with a spacer (that is after you get your KDSS adjusted by a dealer) but there will still be a slight difference because you always won't have a full tank of gas lol. Then you get in and there is another weight change. Good luck man. My lean is even variable! Sometimes its level, sometimes its probably 1/2" off. Just depends. If you want a perfectly level vehicle get a unibody CUV with struts and that will give you the closest to level in every condition.

 

[1engineer]

You don't need to go to the dealer to have your KDSS fixed. As long as you didn't open the valves too far, you're fine. How do you know if you opened it too far? The bolt shoots out and spits fluid from your KDSS system everywhere. You took the right steps and all you need to do is adjust your coil overs and get an alignment.

By the way, the use of a spacer on one side is the fix toyota is using for the Prados that have the same problem, all be it more of an exaggerated lean. In a perfect world the dealer would drain and refill and pressurize the KDSS system, but dealers will not do this unless there is greater than 3/4inch of lean. Some toyota dealers apparently aren't even able to do this and send you down the road to the lexus dealer.

Wait...he said it was a bit un level to start, he then cracked the KDSS shuttles, rocked the vehicle to distribute the pressure equally, made the lean worse, and you are saying to fix that lean just adjust the coil overs? Really? His original lean was 1/2", well within spec. He made it substantially worse "fixing" it with KDSS calibration.

OP, here is what you should do to fix it CORRECTLY:
1. Take it to a dealer to get the KDSS calibration correct back to spec.
2. If it still leans and you don't like it get a little spacer to fix it.

Don't just jack up the suspension on one side because that is like fixing a hole in the wall by hanging a picture over it. Looks good but it just is not right.

 

[BTLAW]

Obviously 1engineer is very passionate about this subject. Oscarr, I've given you my opinion, your call on which route you would like to take.

 

[oscarr]

Thanks guys for the quick replies. I just got back from Van Nuys Toyota. They do not know $hit on how to re calibrate the system. Not even the tech guy. They want to plug it in to the diagnostic machine first $149 to plug it in. I know i did not screw up the system because no fluid came out and I only took them out about 5mm. Radflos instruction says not to extend them out more than 10-12mm. I am lost on what do to. I do not think the dealer will be much help as they are clueless on what to do. It's 1 inch on the right side to be exact. Some more feedback would be much appreciated.

 

[bimrunner]

So every 4runner that has the KDSS system and has a lean to one side due to a aftermarket lift has to be taken the the dealer for the re calibrations of the system ?????

No. Only when you change the factory presets so that its calibration is no longer in spec (with presumably no way to make sure you get it calibrated correctly). I was saying, I personally wouldn't mess with it and if I did mess with it, I wouldn't be surprised if I had to take it back to the dealer to be properly calibrated. If it was only leaning due to the lift install, I'd say adjust the lift until it is within a reasonable place. I don't have KDSS and I don't pretend to understand it. All I know is that:

1. [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] is more often right than not in these things.
2. I wouldn't mess with systems that are complex and require proper calibration to operate in the proper manner (same reason I don't plan to mess with the valving or gas pressure on my Icon shocks... I'll let them do that).

Not jumping on the band-wagon to beat you up, but saying to be careful with that stuff. It is expensive unless you plan to rip it out anyway.

 

[oscarr]

I just got off the phone with Radflo. They suggested to pop out the fuse so the system can re set and try to recalibrate it using the same method.what you guys think ?

 

[1engineer]

Thanks guys for the quick replies. I just got back from Van Nuys Toyota. They do not know $hit on how to re calibrate the system. Not even the tech guy. They want to plug it in to the diagnostic machine first $149 to plug it in. I know i did not screw up the system because no fluid came out and I only took them out about 5mm. Radflos instruction says not to extend them out more than 10-12mm. I am lost on what do to. I do not think the dealer will be much help as they are clueless on what to do. It's 1 inch on the right side to be exact. Some more feedback would be much appreciated.

Then back out the shuttle cartridges again, rock the vehicle again, tighten it back up and see where you are. 1" is out of spec and maybe a Lexus dealer would be better to go to because they have much more experience with KDSS as most GX's have KDSS. If you are hell bent on doing it yourself then try the calibration again and if still screwed up do as [MENTION=77153]BTLAW[/MENTION] suggests and fix it with suspension adjustments.

 

[oscarr]

Then back out the shuttle cartridges again, rock the vehicle again, tighten it back up and see where you are. 1" is out of spec and maybe a Lexus dealer would be better to go to because they have much more experience with KDSS as most GX's have KDSS. If you are hell bent on doing it yourself then try the calibration again and if still screwed up do as [MENTION=77153]BTLAW[/MENTION] suggests and fix it with suspension adjustments.

I will try it 1 more time. will see what happens. I am not really enthusiastic about popping out the KDSS fuse though.

 

[USMCRUNNER]

op2:

 

[oscarr]

lean fixed. 2 10mm OME spacers did the trick. 35 bucks from toytec !