Okusputokus
New member
LCA rubbber at the sway bar was replaced. The KDSS rubber onto the cylinder and static arm(pass side) is original. Some normal play there but definitely not clunking.
here it is-
NEVERMIND THE BUGGERED BOOT- It's mostly fixed now.
KDSS Cylinder Clunk 2014 4Runner Trail on Vimeo
at :57 it gets up close. My theory is that the inner piston is banging against the cylinder wall on the quick front/back bumps. 1:33 is closer, 2:05 and 2:18 are really good too for if you look closely you can see the lower part, especially just below where the lower boot clamp is, doesn't entirely look like its angle of deflection compliments the upper tube/housing/cylinder. At 3:05 is the static side. Nothing going on there. You can see some play in the sway bushings but there's not metal on metal or clunking there. Those are in acceptable condition at this time. Bushings at the LCAs are new.
NEW Front ARM BP51s last week(warrantied)
NEW OEM steering rack last week (incl inner and outer TRE)
LCA OEM replaced a month ago
UCA Nitro installed about 2 months ago.
So far seeing used replacements at around 300ish. Waiting from dealer on cost to recharge the system.
HAS ANYONE RECHARGED THE SYSTEM ON THEIR OWN???? I think someone earlier in this thread did. I'll look into that.
here it is-
NEVERMIND THE BUGGERED BOOT- It's mostly fixed now.
KDSS Cylinder Clunk 2014 4Runner Trail on Vimeo
at :57 it gets up close. My theory is that the inner piston is banging against the cylinder wall on the quick front/back bumps. 1:33 is closer, 2:05 and 2:18 are really good too for if you look closely you can see the lower part, especially just below where the lower boot clamp is, doesn't entirely look like its angle of deflection compliments the upper tube/housing/cylinder. At 3:05 is the static side. Nothing going on there. You can see some play in the sway bushings but there's not metal on metal or clunking there. Those are in acceptable condition at this time. Bushings at the LCAs are new.
NEW Front ARM BP51s last week(warrantied)
NEW OEM steering rack last week (incl inner and outer TRE)
LCA OEM replaced a month ago
UCA Nitro installed about 2 months ago.
So far seeing used replacements at around 300ish. Waiting from dealer on cost to recharge the system.
HAS ANYONE RECHARGED THE SYSTEM ON THEIR OWN???? I think someone earlier in this thread did. I'll look into that.
I would remove the sway bar completely and ride\test without it… as that should help to identified if sway bar or KDSS cylinder is the source.
This is a good troubleshooting idea, but how would you remove the sway bar given the cylinder that's connected? Is there a trick to that? Asking for my own benefit for future troubleshooting.
When I removed the sway bar the clunks are GONE. I've been reading more into some old threads and I'm gathering that when the fluid is low or in the case of mine where it's been lifted and beat on then the clunking in the front (probably rear too) begins.
Next week having the dealer take a look and recharge the system.
Also I ordered new sway bar bushings (not the end link ones, those are new) but I'm 99% sure it's not those causing the clunks.
Hopefully my front KDSS cylinder isn't jacked.
So I scheduled my recharge for next Thursday and I had told the service advisor that my rig was lifted. He called me back and said that after talking with his techs a bit more they say that lifted vehicles tend to somehow suck air into the system which eventually clauses clunking and when they try to recharge it it may or may not work and could cause some type of lien. I asked him if it's the typical lean which I could live with but he didn't have an answer to if it was more severe than that.
Guess we'll see if it works or not. If it diminishes the clunking I currently have I'll be happy and at least know exactly what's going on. If it gets worse I'll probably just remove the KDSS system or just the sway bars and tie up the hydraulic cylinders
Any updates if that fixed the problem.
I ended up building my own hydraulic tool based on the Toyota tool. Recharged it per Toyota instruction. Clunk still there after recharge. Removed front sway bar...clunk gone.
I have a thread about it somewhere.
So based on that diagnostic definitely just replace the bushings before you do anything else. They basically just disconnected the sway bar, that's not sufficient to say it's a KDSS cylinder.
In fact one of the people here who had a knock in the front had loose bolts on one of the sway bar mounts that allowed it to move a little and knock. I would check those and replace bushings and not throw expensive parts at it unless they can better explain how they decided it's a bad cylinder.
1st time here. Just found out my front hydraulic ram is leaking and the Toyota dealership wants @$5,000 to replace. Crazy eh! I am contemplating getting regular sway bars and upgrade the shocks. Is this good idea and will KDSS dash light remain on? I would appreciate any advice on this.
Thank-you!
Don’t let them do. If you need help. Reach out to me.
You can totally do it your self. But for sure the kdss front shock is retailed at $2k. I can get it to you at whole sale but it’s still $1500.
You would need a $100 hyrdrostatic test pump to re bleed the system once new shock is installed. I have the whole write up.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hey Dom!
$100 test pump?!? Where do you get those?
Just swapped a used piston in, taking my chances, yes. Old piston had loose upper bolt. Procedure is really straightfoward, only pain, IMO, is the bleeder screws for the front piston, they are a pain to get to!