KDSS Pump Leak - Low Mileage

[JB1]

I was washing my 4runner and noticed the front hydraulic pump boot had fluid around the bottom of it (like most other pictures people post). I was surprised because I have a 2021 with just under 21k miles.

Drove it around for a bit and did hear little clunking and 4runner did appear to lean more. Just took it in to the dealership and they confirmed it's leaking. 2-3 day job but didn't fuss about warranty work. Whole system is being replaced.

Now, it is still all stock and I was just about to lift it but I'm thankful I waited! No real offroading other than going to the snow.

So, just make sure you check around while your trucks still under warranty. Anyone else experience failure for such a new vehicle? Wondering if mine is just the exception here.

 

[Furagwa]

My 2018 TRD OR had a rear hydraulic ram leak around 40k, so it was out of warranty. I am still looking into removing KDSS completely so have not proceeded with replacing the leaking ram.

 

[chrisridebike8]

My 2018 TRD OR had a rear hydraulic ram leak around 40k, so it was out of warranty. I am still looking into removing KDSS completely so have not proceeded with replacing the leaking ram.

what solutions have you come up with? I feel like for the front, you could tap the holes in the frame and mount the non-KDSS sway bar up there. for the rear, it seems like you would have to weld on mounts on the axle and the frame or maybe try to use a universal one like a currie antirock

 

[JB1]

My 2018 TRD OR had a rear hydraulic ram leak around 40k, so it was out of warranty. I am still looking into removing KDSS completely so have not proceeded with replacing the leaking ram.

Dang, right outside the warranty period! Yeah, certainly not cost effective if you have to pay for it.

 

[JB1]

Hi,
Can you post a picture of the leak so others, such as myself, know what to look for on our 4 Runners?

Thank you.

I never took a picture but just grabbed this from the internet. My undercarriage still looks brand new and just the bottom of my boot looked a little wet. Not a lot of fluid was coming out. My boot even looked pretty new. But I think you get the idea. Any fluid is no good.

 

[Forgetful]

Reason #3 I bought one without kdss...

Sorry OP, glad it's under warranty, strange it'd fail so soon and it's pretty clean (rust and corrosionwise)

 

[Furagwa]

I have been puzzled by the large number of suggestions to install the "normal" sway bars. What I have been looking at is retaining the existing KDSS sway bars and replacing the hydraulic rams with a fixed drop link. These longer links would be constructed by buying the existing front and rear links, cutting them in half and adding something in between to make them the same length as the hydraulic ram. I know I'd be losing the extra travel provided by the hydraulic ram, but since I'm not planning any rock crawls I'm okay with that. This seems better to me than hacking in the "normal" sway bars and ending up with more sway than the existing KDSS sway bars. My problem is finding a machine shop willing to fabricate such a small job. If anyone has concrete knowledge of why this idea wouldn't work I'd appreciate hearing about it.

 

[Jeremy556]

If you don't care about losing your fillings on bumpy roads, you should be able to buy the passenger side links and attaching on the driver side with a bit of help from a fabricator/welder.

 

[Furagwa]

Yes, buying the opposite (passenger side) links is what I thought I said. They should fit on both ends. As for the harshness of the ride, I would be pretty surprised if having two rigid drop links would negate all the effect of the shocks although I can imagine it would be stiffer than the "normal" sway bars. I guess I will find out...

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Reason #3 I bought one without kdss...

Sorry OP, glad it's under warranty, strange it'd fail so soon and it's pretty clean (rust and corrosionwise)

Took us 6 months of waiting to finally get an ORP in the color my wife wanted and without the moon-roof and KDSS.