KDSS Pros vs Cons - worth the $?

[Sarethx]

Here is a question I have on this topic.

Will an Icon Stage 1 give me the same or similar benefits as the KDSS in terms of on-road body roll and handling? Price is about the same as the $1750 for the KDSS.

I test drove a KDSS TE followed by a regular SR5 they had on the lot. The SR5 was horrible when direct compared. Felt like a boat going into corners. I cut the test drive short as it was out of the question at that point. But if the SR5 can be improved with an aftermarket kit that does similar performance, I would rather go that route myself. I spend more time on the road then off road. Would like occasional off road down the line, but need that extra comfort when taking turns and driving interstate.

 

[Intruder]

Every vehicle leans, some more than others. My SR5 leans. A friend's Jeep does. My wife's CR-V does. Some of these guys blow it all out of proportion. Pick any vehicle that has a gas tank on one side and fill it completely up, get out and measure it. Better yet get a fatty and put them in the passenger seat then measure. It will lean.

I find my TE with KDSS leans a little bit on the driver's side.

DSC_0093.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

 

[USMCRUNNER]

Every vehicle leans, some more than others. My SR5 leans. A friend's Jeep does. My wife's CR-V does. Some of these guys blow it all out of proportion. Pick any vehicle that has a gas tank on one side and fill it completely up, get out and measure it. Better yet get a fatty and put them in the passenger seat then measure. It will lean.

Very true. My lean just gets to me because its more of a dip than a lean. Front passenger side is always lower than the driver side by a 1/2 inch at times. Rear has no lean at all. It's almost like I put a small lift on and forgot to do the passenger side front haha. It doesn't affect the performance by any means but it just bugs me.

 

[Vwright14]

I haven't noticed any lean or dip in mine although i have some sort of small lift on mine which i still haven't figured out what kind. even though it's a small lift it does handle very well on road!

 

[marshal]

Can you expand on what you hate about it?

Genuinely curious, I have KDSS but have never driven one without so don't really know conclusively whether I even care that I have it...just happened to be on the vehicle that we were able to make a deal on at the time.

its overrated, factory sway bars would be plenty, and I'm a total bad ass. it doesn't allow enough articulation and its just one more thing to go wrong. it wasn't a deal breaker for me, and honestly i was bit curious about it myself when i was shopping about. but now that I've gotten to use it well past its capabilities i know that its really only useful for a mostly stock vehicle. plus it will be useless when the F350 axles go under this thing in a few years.

Can't wait to see this! You going with the FJ kit and seeing if it bolts up?

will be doing custom width universals front and rear with coil overs front and rear when the SAS happens.

 

[2014 Warthog]

Here is a question I have on this topic.

Will an Icon Stage 1 give me the same or similar benefits as the KDSS in terms of on-road body roll and handling? Price is about the same as the $1750 for the KDSS.

I test drove a KDSS TE followed by a regular SR5 they had on the lot. The SR5 was horrible when direct compared. Felt like a boat going into corners. I cut the test drive short as it was out of the question at that point. But if the SR5 can be improved with an aftermarket kit that does similar performance, I would rather go that route myself. I spend more time on the road then off road. Would like occasional off road down the line, but need that extra comfort when taking turns and driving interstate.

It helps some but not completely. I've got icons all around and body roll and nose dive were severely lessened, but proably not to the level of kdss at full stiffness.

After adding some heavy hardware (plate bumpers, skid plates, winch, rack, sliders) some of that lean and nosedive have come back a bit.

I think I would lean to not getting it if you plan on upgrading the suspension, and maybe get if not. The one thing that did worry me when I was deciding was the reports of the repair cost at 30-60k for a blown cylinder. Like $2400 or something if I remember? (Can search for it here on the forums)

TL-DR: No. Icons will help some but not to the full extent of KDSS, KDSS wins. But Icons help to some extent and KDSS could be costly down the road to maintain.

So :shrug:

Sorry

 

[High_Country]

As about with every other option, the guys that have it like it and will point out the benefits. The guys that chose not to get it (or weren't aware of it) will point out why you don't need it and shouldn't get it. I have it (personal opinion coming) and I love it. The on-road driving is awesome - flat and sporty. It's very sure-footed.

If you are not planning on a radical build (SAS, one ton axles, 6 inches of lift, etc) and are only considering maybe up to a two or two and a half inch lift, I'd get it. Given that you're rig will likely spend 98% of it's time on pavement, you will enjoy it every day.

A few things not recently mentioned in this thread:
KDSS equipped rigs will theoretically have a higher resale value (don't hate - I said 'theoretically' - not enough stats out there to set precedence)
Even if you go with an aftermarket setup to mimic the benefits of KDSS, that system too will require maintenance or replacement at some point. The KDSS is at least covered by warranty.
KDSS does appear to lower ground clearance/approach clearance a bit up front (the system hangs a bit lower). Take a look at the skid plate offerings and compare pics between KDSS and non-KDSS front skids.

Good luck!

 

[Thai]

I lol'd or did you friggin' miss that part too haha!

I don't know...i had to think hard in that thread...and when i do that, i am not a happy camper!

As Patrick would say (on SpongeBob): "Those words make my head sad...."

 

[Thai]

its overrated, factory sway bars would be plenty, and I'm a total bad ass. it doesn't allow enough articulation and its just one more thing to go wrong. it wasn't a deal breaker for me, and honestly i was bit curious about it myself when i was shopping about. but now that I've gotten to use it well past its capabilities i know that its really only useful for a mostly stock vehicle. plus it will be useless when the F350 axles go under this thing in a few years.



will be doing custom width universals front and rear with coil overs front and rear when the SAS happens.

Don't get me wrong...i love 4runners and think the world of them...but making a 4runner with SAS front with F350 axles...i don't know...you may have bought the wrong vehicle if you want to do all that....

 

[Mooney]

Don't get me wrong...i love 4runners and think the world of them...but making a 4runner with SAS front with F350 axles...i don't know...you may have bought the wrong vehicle if you want to do all that....

Obviously your not a "total bad ass."

 

[Vwright14]

Lol to each his own. ...some love a body style platform but the underpinnings don't meet thier needs over time.

 

[marshal]

Don't get me wrong...i love 4runners and think the world of them...but making a 4runner with SAS front with F350 axles...i don't know...you may have bought the wrong vehicle if you want to do all that....

I don't feel I did, it fits the bill perfectly. Much better than my Jeeps ever did. I'm sure [MENTION=89562]bimrunner[/MENTION] feels the same way, hell- he'll probably beat me to the SAS. Mine is just going to be bigger

 

[T.Rock]

Every vehicle leans, some more than others. My SR5 leans. A friend's Jeep does. My wife's CR-V does. Some of these guys blow it all out of proportion. Pick any vehicle that has a gas tank on one side and fill it completely up, get out and measure it. Better yet get a fatty and put them in the passenger seat then measure. It will lean.

Unless you have a vehicle with an air suspension (like mine) and then it won't lean regardless if the vehicle is more "loaded" on one side or the other. On the other hand, the vehicle constantly monitors the ride height sensors to achieve that level stance.

 

[1engineer]

Unless you have a vehicle with an air suspension (like mine) and then it won't lean regardless if the vehicle is more "loaded" on one side or the other. On the other hand, the vehicle constantly monitors the ride height sensors to achieve that level stance.

What's a matter? Jeep forum kicked you out again???

 

[T.Rock]

What's a matter? Jeep forum kicked you out again???

What's the matter? Don't like when someone contradicts you?

 

[1engineer]

What's the matter? Don't like when someone contradicts you?

No, people do it all the time. I don't give much credence to trolls though.

 

[T.Rock]

No, people do it all the time. I don't give much credence to trolls though.

Me neither.

 

[1engineer]

Me neither.

Yeah? And what year and make 4Runner do you have again? Oh, my bad. You got a new heep right?
Come to think of it they would probably welcome me to the Heep board cause maybe I could help them figure out their problems. Never mind that their biggest problem - quality - can't be fixed unless they A) Raise their price point or B) Keep their price point, improve quality and get rid of all those trinkets called "innovations" that keep breaking and dropping quality! Building something with reliability and durability costs money. Building something with the latest tech and shiny bits cost money. We know which way both Toyota and Jeep went.
Now, take your heep and ride it back to the heep forum. Maybe it will make it, maybe it won't fanboy.

 

[Vwright14]

Can't we all just get along......

 

[jrhaze]

Yeah? And what year and make 4Runner do you have again? Oh, my bad. You got a new heep right?
Come to think of it they would probably welcome me to the Heep board cause maybe I could help them figure out their problems. Never mind that their biggest problem - quality - can't be fixed unless they A) Raise their price point or B) Keep their price point, improve quality and get rid of all those trinkets called "innovations" that keep breaking and dropping quality! Building something with reliability and durability costs money. Building something with the latest tech and shiny bits cost money. We know which way both Toyota and Jeep went.
Now, take your heep and ride it back to the heep forum. Maybe it will make it, maybe it won't fanboy.

Yes you're the smartest person in all the land, and the jeep forum would welcome you with open arms because they're all morons and should bow to your superior intelligence.

I don't like you, and due to your arrogance and attitude you're an embarrassment to this board in my (admittedly worthless) opinion.