KDSS on road behavior

[Aurora85]

I've been researching going with KDSS on a TE order vs skipping it since I live in the gulf coast region where they are hard to find. If it makes normal driving much better or composed vs not having it I would definitely go out of my way to find it. I've driven a non KDSS TE and it felt fine on the road but I didn't have KDSS to compare .

Any thoughts opinions? Thanks for any info.

 

[sandcrawler]

I've been researching going with KDSS on a TE order vs skipping it since I live in the gulf coast region where they are hard to find. If it makes normal driving much better or composed vs not having it I would definitely go out of my way to find it. I've driven a non KDSS TE and it felt fine on the road but I didn't have KDSS to compare .

Any thoughts opinions? Thanks for any info.

KDSS is absolutely better on-road; makes cornering extremely flat and stable, well beyond what you'd reasonably expect from this vehicle.

whether it's worth it or not is subjective and entirely up to you.

 

[scott78945]

I searched for my TE w/ KDSS and had to travel to another state to get it. With that being said, I do like its on road capability. As previously noted, cornering is very nice and much more stable. There is a reason they have them on the Lexus brand....however, I did like my X-reas a little better for comfort but you can't beat the cornering stablity on the KDSS.

 

[jpachard]

KDSS is great on the road, especially if you plan on putting anything on the roof of your 4Runner. I have a rack and roof top tent and with the higher CG the KDSS really helps out with that aspect.

Cheers, James

 

[Danimal]

I agree with all of the previous comments. My first 5th gen experience was renting an SR5 for a week in Wyoming. I liked the way the 5th gen handled, but one on-road test drive in a Trail with KDSS was all it took for me. I couldn't believe how flat it cornered, and thought it handled rough pavement better.

It makes the vehicle feel lighter and more nimble, in my opinion. I love it in town, and was very impressed with the flex while navigating low speed ruts & wash outs. Much better flex than the SR5 I rented, my 3rd gen 4Runner, 2011 Tacoma and even better than my 80 series with a solid front axle (stock for stock).

Dan

 

[borfoo3]

If better shocks and springs are in your future, then you can save the KDSS money for that.. gets you 70% there handling wise IMHO

That being said, it does what it does well. I would buy mine again since I'm mostly daily driving it like a fat lumpy sports car.

 

[carlomagne]

Or if you do aftermarket suspension w/ KDSS, it handles even better. I switch between the 4runner and a wrx with suspension and it makes it pretty easy to drive both with the same driving style (minus slowing down for dips/railroad tracks).

 

[wfo9]

you need to balance out the pros and cons of KDSS.

Pros:
- it drives better in corners on the road
- it does pretty good offroad in stock form

Cons:
- It complicates working on the suspension tremendously.
- It limits performance off-road (it is not compatible with any type of long travel suspension)
- It is extremely expensive to service and finding anyone who knows anything about it is extremely difficult, Most dealers don't have the tools and you will have even more problems in the gulf states region.

It really comes down to the individual. Personally, I would never buy one with it, but I can see why others dig it.

 

[philsey]

- It is extremely expensive to service and finding anyone who knows anything about it is extremely difficult, Most dealers don't have the tools and you will have even more problems in the gulf states region.
.

I never join these conversations because I've never even driven KDSS, but ^this^ makes tons of sense. So you go out of state to buy KDSS, bring it in to your dealer for something KDSS-related, and they'll either eff it up or refuse to work on it.

 

[e60ral]

KDSS is a pretty simple system, what part of it do you think the dealership or another shop will be harder to work on?

unless you are immediately considering a long travel suspension or disconnecting your sway bar, there is no reason to not get KDSS if it is in your budget

@Aurora85 , what you are going to see in this thread is a bunch of people who do not have KDSS saying not to get it and a bunch of us who actually have KDSS saying that it's great. I think there is some after-the-fact justifying by people who did not get KDSS, it's great if you don't have immediate plans for a sway bar disconnect or long travel setup (and I'm assuming that since you are considering KDSS you don't)

 

[sandcrawler]

KDSS is a pretty simple system, what part of it do you think the dealership or another shop will be harder to work on?

unless you are immediately considering a long travel suspension or disconnecting your sway bar, there is no reason to not get KDSS if it is in your budget

if the system is opened and needs to be re-charged/pressurized.

 

[JSparky]

I never join these conversations because I've never even driven KDSS, but ^this^ makes tons of sense. So you go out of state to buy KDSS, bring it in to your dealer for something KDSS-related, and they'll either eff it up or refuse to work on it.

You could always have it serviced at Lexus, both the gx and lx have kdss standard.

 

[Peyto]

You could always have it serviced at Lexus, both the gx and lx have kdss standard.

Easier said than done. Based on prior threads on this topic, apparently most Lexus dealers won't work on a Toyota.

 

[Izzys]

I didn't even know we had an option to get it or not. I thought It came standard on the trail!! LOL!!

 

[wfo9]

KDSS is a pretty simple system, what part of it do you think the dealership or another shop will be harder to work on?

unless you are immediately considering a long travel suspension or disconnecting your sway bar, there is no reason to not get KDSS if it is in your budget

@Aurora85 , what you are going to see in this thread is a bunch of people who do not have KDSS saying not to get it and a bunch of us who actually have KDSS saying that it's great. I think there is some after-the-fact justifying by people who did not get KDSS, it's great if you don't have immediate plans for a sway bar disconnect or long travel setup (and I'm assuming that since you are considering KDSS you don't)

You are 100% wrong. Read my post, I did not say to not get it. I said to consider the pros and cons. It's good for "some" people. If you plan to keep the truck for a short time (100k or so) or don't plan to do any hard core modifications... It is fine.

The system is complex as hell compared to a simple swaybar system that 99.99999 % of all vehicles in the world have. Not only that, but the front portion is a very compromised design for packaging reasons. Again, I'm not saying it is bad, just know your options.... and is the juice worth the squeeze. Money has nothing to do with it...

I have helped two people locally with theirs that could not get rid of the dreaded KDSS lean after a lift. Many trips to dealers and many calls... We finally found a tech that had the tools.. but even he said the lean often could never be resolved. We finally resorted to spacers. It's not a system that you want if you plan to modify the truck. The guys I know really wish they had understood what it was before they got it, but they are stuck now. There is a good reason it is not on the TRD pro models...

The main problem with KDSS is once you have it.. you are stuck with it pretty much forever. There is simply no way to put stock swaybars on... since the axle, frame, front LCAs.. are unique to it. It might also be a good system if you are super handy and can work on it yourself... or fabricate a better version of it, but those folks are rare in the t4r world.

IMHO, the avg owner in the gulf states region should avoid it. But again, test drive.. consider the pros and cons and make an informed decision. This forum has led many people to buy the wrong truck for their plans.

And just to be clear to the original poster... You will not be able to order one with it... You will need to go out of state or buy used. The dealers in the gulf state regions cannot order KDSS as an option, since the exclusive distributor in that region will not support it.

Again, not saying KDSS is bad. It is better in some ways, but worse in others... It comes down to the individual and how the truck will be used by them....

 

[Friggin Idiot]

And just to be clear to the original poster... You will not be able to order one with it... You will need to go out of state or buy used. The dealers in the gulf state regions cannot order KDSS as an option, since the exclusive distributor in that region will not support it.

He's right. I lived in Oklahoma and was dead set on KDSS. I plan on no lift, no need tun run 285's, and am keeping the stock suspension. If this is your plan, and you want KDSS, then don't skimp. Your local Gulf Coast Toyota can't order them with KDSS no matter what the tell you. I bought mine out of a dealer in Montana (Ressler Toyota of Bozeman) and had it shipped down. It was faster and cheaper than going with the local Gulf Coast guys.

 

[Aurora85]

thanks for the great opinions.

i'm an airline pilot, so I was planning to fly out to another state and pick one up when it came down to the purchase. I don't plan to modify the truck outside of tires and TRD rims. With that said, now I'm second guessing just based on the serviceability of the system down the road if I have issues down here in the southeast. I may give my local Toyota dealership a call and see what their service department says about being able to even service the system if an issue arose.

I really would love to purchase the truck with KDSS and it sounds like it gives a great ride on-road. Now I need to go drive an Non-KDSS version again and see if I notice any bad road manners that I couldn't live with.

 

[wfo9]

thanks for the great opinions.

i'm an airline pilot, so I was planning to fly out to another state and pick one up when it came down to the purchase. I don't plan to modify the truck outside of tires and TRD rims. With that said, now I'm second guessing just based on the serviceability of the system down the road if I have issues down here in the southeast. I may give my local Toyota dealership a call and see what their service department says about being able to even service the system if an issue arose.

I really would love to purchase the truck with KDSS and it sounds like it gives a great ride on-road. Now I need to go drive an Non-KDSS version again and see if I notice any bad road manners that I couldn't live with.

The system seems to be pretty reliable up to about 5 years 100k mi if you keep it stock. Sort of unknown beyond that. Even with a lift most folks don't have a problem besides the lean. There have been people with problems though and even in the regions who sell it... getting it serviced is extremely difficult and expensive. We have seen posts where the dealers wanted 3k + to fix when all it really needed was a bleed. The dealers just don't know how to diagnose it. It's just such a unicorn to most dealers and they don't want to invest in the special equipment. Rare systems on vehicles always raises long term TCO significantly. This is just the facts of economics.

There have been several people with noises and clunks from it within the first few months, but they were either flukes or they all sold the trucks because they stopped posting about it on here. The front KDSS sway bar bushings wear out pretty fast.. (it is very obvious why if you just look at the design) but those are simple to replace.

I suggest getting under the truck and taking a good look at the sytem. It also limits ground clearance up front a bit (not really a valid concern since the loss is parallel with the wheels, but some people have gotten very bent out of shape when they realized they were not getting the advertised ground clearance with KDSS)

Your mostly educated now... you can make an informed decision for your needs.

 

[JSparky]

Easier said than done. Based on prior threads on this topic, apparently most Lexus dealers won't work on a Toyota.

Lame. The lexus dealer near me offered to service mine but I know what you mean, every dealer is different. Wouldn't hurt to ask I suppose.

 

[Dasuchin]

And just to be clear to the original poster... You will not be able to order one with it... You will need to go out of state or buy used. The dealers in the gulf state regions cannot order KDSS as an option, since the exclusive distributor in that region will not support it.

You sure that's true? I didn't actually order mine, but the dealer I got mine through (in Texas) had my TEP with KDSS just on the lot.