KDSS more comfortable?

[tyler2019]

The only weakness is 13+ mph while going offroad where KDSS is in on-road mode, and washboards can make the ride harsher. But I think the theory there is you should be aired down enough offroad to make that prob go away.

Can someone confirm this bit is true - I haven't read anywhere else that speed causes the system to remain stiff regardless of the terrain. Presumably this would be why some are commenting that KDSS causes a rougher ride on washboard?

This video, although it's a LC, is still applicable to the 4Runner, as the system works the same. As you can see during the slalom part, the KDSS mitigates body roll much better than a standard sway bar. Therefor it's not working like a 'standard sway bar'.

YouTube

The video Hydguy posted seems to suggest that it will also work to smooth things out in a high speed uneven scenario.

I didn't have the option of KDSS in the TRD Off Road I am getting later this month (they all come with it in Canada) but I probably would have went with it anyways. Just curious.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hydguy]

Disclaimer: This is a seat of the pants recollection from April 2019 when I test drove a 2019 TRD Off Road Premium without KDSS, one with KDSS, and then finished off with a TRD Pro all in the same day. I recall the KDSS cornered flatter and didn't seem to dive as bad under heavy braking at the expense of a slightly harsher ride than the non KDSS equipped one. It also felt more solid. Again, my impressions from driver and passenger seat. To me, the most comfortable ride was the TRD Pro, especially over bumps, in a straight line. This, is of course, at the expense of more body roll and brake dive than the others. The TRD Pro was the Weebles of the bunch. However, once my wife heard she could get Army Green on a TRD Pro, any of hopes of good handling went out the window haha

I firmly believe that KDSS kept me from a rollover last year, because it firms up the suspension at higher speeds.
I was driving from Fort Wayne to Warsaw IN and a truck ahead of me blew a tire and I couldn't see the carcass in the road because of a car ahead of me who swerved to avoid it, and I did the same. Because of the higher center of gravity, I felt, and saw the the body roll when I swerved to avoid the carcass. Because the KDSS minimizes body roll and nose dive, I believe it kept the 4Runner from rolling.
Scientific? No. But real world experience. I turned the wheel hard to the right, and could see the whole nose dive down to the right, and when I turned back left, I got a lot of hard feedback in the steering wheel, leading me to believe that I had unloaded the suspension on the driver side. I further believe that if I had not had the KDSS, the body would have continued to roll, and at a minimum, I would have ended up on on the passenger side, but because I was going about 70, it probably would have been a rollover.

I find it amusing that Big Cuss has to belittle a system that he has very little knowledge about, and people who disagree with him.

 

[Hydguy]

Kinnoobic Dynoobic Suspennoob Sysnoobnoobnoob-ee-doob.

Ie,

KDSS uber alles

Or people who actually attempt to learn.

But you do you, princess.

It's obvious your opinion is the only thing that matters.

I've had 4Runners with and without it. In my experience, it's worth the extra money, and why I went back to having a 4Runner with it.

 

[mrblah]

Sorry I didn't have anything really educational to add to this thread other than this awesome emoji.


reggers:

 

[jhguth]

Can someone confirm this bit is true - I haven't read anywhere else that speed causes the system to remain stiff regardless of the terrain. Presumably this would be why some are commenting that KDSS causes a rougher ride on washboard?

yes, it will ride harsher on mid-speed gravel roads

when i do long stretches on washboarded gravel roads i just drop my tire pressure 2-5psi and it's fine

 

[tyler2019]

Thanks guys after a resurrected this thread I had found another one with some real good additional info.

After hearing your story Hydguy definitely glad I am getting the system. Certainly would be nice to have that more floaty eat up all the bumps feel at mid speed but the safety aspect is probably worth it.

 

[ant the ninja]

Hi all, new here!

A few months back my wife and I test drove an ORP with KDSS as thats all they had at the time, however at the time I didn't know anything about KDSS and the dealer never mentioned it. It rode pretty good and my wife liked it. I just purchased my wife (as a surprise) a 2020 SR5 Premium that does not have KDSS and after reading a few different threads on here, I feel like I really messed up.

I dont pick it up until Friday but all this talk about KDSS has got me freaked out that the its going to ride horrible and that I should back out and get something with KDSS. She will not off road it at all and her commute is 5 miles a day if that on normal roads.

Am I really missing out without having KDSS? My brothers wife had a 2017 Limited that I drove a bunch of times and I dont remember the ride being awful, unless that also has something similar to KDSS in it?

 

[Jetboy]

Hi all, new here!

A few months back my wife and I test drove an ORP with KDSS as thats all they had at the time, however at the time I didn't know anything about KDSS and the dealer never mentioned it. It rode pretty good and my wife liked it. I just purchased my wife (as a surprise) a 2020 SR5 Premium that does not have KDSS and after reading a few different threads on here, I feel like I really messed up.

I dont pick it up until Friday but all this talk about KDSS has got me freaked out that the its going to ride horrible and that I should back out and get something with KDSS. She will not off road it at all and her commute is 5 miles a day if that on normal roads.

Am I really missing out without having KDSS? My brothers wife had a 2017 Limited that I drove a bunch of times and I dont remember the ride being awful, unless that also has something similar to KDSS in it?

I think you should go test drive them. The Limited has something different called XREAS - so it's going to ride differently from KDSS and from the SR5 model. They all have different attributes. The best advice is to go to a dealer and just take a drive in all of them and see what you like best. It's a pretty significant price bump from your SR5 to a Trail with KDSS, so make sure you get what you want. Only you can really decide if you like it and if it's worth the extra $5k or so you'll spend to get it vs what you're planning to buy. ALso just FYI - KDSS does not come in any 4Runner that also has 3rd row, so if you want a 3rd row - it's not an option other than a custom setup or buying a GX460.

 

[jhguth]

Hi all, new here!

A few months back my wife and I test drove an ORP with KDSS as thats all they had at the time, however at the time I didn't know anything about KDSS and the dealer never mentioned it. It rode pretty good and my wife liked it. I just purchased my wife (as a surprise) a 2020 SR5 Premium that does not have KDSS and after reading a few different threads on here, I feel like I really messed up.

I dont pick it up until Friday but all this talk about KDSS has got me freaked out that the its going to ride horrible and that I should back out and get something with KDSS. She will not off road it at all and her commute is 5 miles a day if that on normal roads.

Am I really missing out without having KDSS? My brothers wife had a 2017 Limited that I drove a bunch of times and I dont remember the ride being awful, unless that also has something similar to KDSS in it?

the limited has XREAS, it's kind of similar in some ways but it's a different system that works in a different way. KDSS has cylinders on the front and rear sway bars, XREAS uses hydraulics between the actual shocks themselves and does it at all 4 corners.

if you are concerned go test drive one without KDSS and see what you think before you take delivery. some people don't mind it and think it's fine (i personally got carsick and thought it was awful on bumpy country roads)

 

[tacoyota]

You should test drive different models. KDSS on the road is stiff with thicker sway bars. You will feel it rock when pulling into a parking lot. SR5 is softer and will not jerk you around but you will experience more body roll in turns. If I had to do it again, I would go without KDSS and save $1500. While I do like surprising/passing people on turns, I think for a daily driver a softer ride is nicer.

Hi all, new here!

A few months back my wife and I test drove an ORP with KDSS as thats all they had at the time, however at the time I didn't know anything about KDSS and the dealer never mentioned it. It rode pretty good and my wife liked it. I just purchased my wife (as a surprise) a 2020 SR5 Premium that does not have KDSS and after reading a few different threads on here, I feel like I really messed up.

I dont pick it up until Friday but all this talk about KDSS has got me freaked out that the its going to ride horrible and that I should back out and get something with KDSS. She will not off road it at all and her commute is 5 miles a day if that on normal roads.

Am I really missing out without having KDSS? My brothers wife had a 2017 Limited that I drove a bunch of times and I dont remember the ride being awful, unless that also has something similar to KDSS in it?

 

[brtnstrns]

Hi all, new here!

A few months back my wife and I test drove an ORP with KDSS as thats all they had at the time, however at the time I didn't know anything about KDSS and the dealer never mentioned it. It rode pretty good and my wife liked it. I just purchased my wife (as a surprise) a 2020 SR5 Premium that does not have KDSS and after reading a few different threads on here, I feel like I really messed up.

I dont pick it up until Friday but all this talk about KDSS has got me freaked out that the its going to ride horrible and that I should back out and get something with KDSS. She will not off road it at all and her commute is 5 miles a day if that on normal roads.

Am I really missing out without having KDSS? My brothers wife had a 2017 Limited that I drove a bunch of times and I dont remember the ride being awful, unless that also has something similar to KDSS in it?

If it makes you feel any better, the first 4Runner I bought was before I knew anything about KDSS and it was a Trail without it. I never thought the ride was bad or anything in the three years I owned it.

The biggest thing that will stand out in a test drive is that the body roll and nosedive are greatly reduced with KDSS. It's much more confidence-inspiring in turns.

I made sure to purchase a TRDOR with KDSS this time around and I'm glad I did. But I doubt you'll think the SR5 rides terrible or anything. With some upgraded shocks/struts, you can also reduce the nosedive and body roll as well for not much money. So keep that idea in your back pocket if you're not comfortable dishing out the extra few thousand dollars for the KDSS.

 

[Jonny_04]

Hi all, new here!

A few months back my wife and I test drove an ORP with KDSS as thats all they had at the time, however at the time I didn't know anything about KDSS and the dealer never mentioned it. It rode pretty good and my wife liked it. I just purchased my wife (as a surprise) a 2020 SR5 Premium that does not have KDSS and after reading a few different threads on here, I feel like I really messed up.

I dont pick it up until Friday but all this talk about KDSS has got me freaked out that the its going to ride horrible and that I should back out and get something with KDSS. She will not off road it at all and her commute is 5 miles a day if that on normal roads.

Am I really missing out without having KDSS? My brothers wife had a 2017 Limited that I drove a bunch of times and I dont remember the ride being awful, unless that also has something similar to KDSS in it?

Happy wife, happy life; go with KDSS

 

[zoomzoom]

KDSS on my ORP let's me take the corners like a sports car! :car: