KDSS Question

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Kanger328

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I’m on the search of a ‘23 ORP in Lunar Rock. I’ve been debating the KDSS option. I like that it gives more articulation in slower off road situations (I remember how annoying it was to disconnect the sway bars when I used to off road my 3rd Gen).

I understand that on road, the KDSS allows better handling/flatter cornering. My specific question is how would it do on dirt roads at higher speeds? For example, if I’m on the Dalton Hwy in Alaska, which is a dirt road for hundreds of miles at speeds of 40-50 mph, wouldn’t the KDSS make the ride more bumpy as it “limits” travel?

I plan to do more dirt road type off roading instead of the more “hardcore” trails.
 
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Kanger328 said:
I’m on the search of a ‘23 ORP in Lunar Rock. I’ve been debating the KDSS option. I like that it gives more articulation in slower off road situations (I remember how annoying it was to disconnect the sway bars when I used to off road my 3rd Gen).

I understand that on road, the KDSS allows better handling/flatter cornering. My specific question is how would it do on dirt roads at higher speeds? For example, if I’m on the Dalton Hwy in Alaska, which is a dirt road for hundreds of miles at speeds of 40-50 mph, wouldn’t the KDSS make the ride more bumpy as it “limits” travel?

I plan to do more dirt road type off roading instead of the more “hardcore” trails.
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great on road handling, stiff off road handling. Disconnect at 4lo is great, but problem was it only disconnects in 4lo from the factory.

Game changer is the Dr.KDSS disconnect and associated bracketry. Allows you to bypass kdss whenever you want and/or brackets allow proper geometry to be retained.

Aftermarket skidplate options and suspension upgrades (different manufactures mount rezi's differently) can be confusing.

If you have no plans on going long travel, and if you do your research on armor upgrades then its a great option.

I heart my kdss system.
 
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I did the Dalton highway at 80 mph in my ‘95 K2500 Suburban w/ 6.5 diesel. The big rig trucks were doing the same.

Stay away from KDSS. It’s an expensive fix or delete to stock down the road.
 
Kanger328 said:
My specific question is how would it do on dirt roads at higher speeds? For example, if I’m on the Dalton Hwy in Alaska, which is a dirt road for hundreds of miles at speeds of 40-50 mph, wouldn’t the KDSS make the ride more bumpy as it “limits” travel?

I plan to do more dirt road type off roading instead of the more “hardcore” trails.
Click to expand...
Poorly. The fat, stiff swaybars are great for controlling body roll, but awful for absorbing bumps at speed. I have removed my front KDSS swaybar for this reason.
 
Kanger328 said:
I’m on the search of a ‘23 ORP in Lunar Rock. I’ve been debating the KDSS option. I like that it gives more articulation in slower off road situations (I remember how annoying it was to disconnect the sway bars when I used to off road my 3rd Gen).

I understand that on road, the KDSS allows better handling/flatter cornering. My specific question is how would it do on dirt roads at higher speeds? For example, if I’m on the Dalton Hwy in Alaska, which is a dirt road for hundreds of miles at speeds of 40-50 mph, wouldn’t the KDSS make the ride more bumpy as it “limits” travel?

I plan to do more dirt road type off roading instead of the more “hardcore” trails.
Click to expand...

KDSS does not lock the SB cylinders just due to speed. It takes a lateral G or steering input threshold to be reached. Until that it acts like it has no SB's. This is per a guy who instrumented and tested the KDSS. Apparently the 11 or 12 MPH rule isn't the entire story.
 
premise said:
KDSS does not lock the SB cylinders just due to speed. It takes a lateral G or steering input threshold to be reached. Until that it acts like it has no SB's. This is per a guy who instrumented and tested the KDSS. Apparently the 11 or 12 MPH rule isn't the entire story.
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Can you reference this information? I'd be interested to learn more about that.
 
With the Dr. KDSS switch and upgrades I see no reason to not have KDSS except for the "more to break" reason. Yes, it's costly to fix, but it's a very reliable system. I'm personally not concerned with it and will cross that bridge if I ever need to (fingers crossed). The road manners make it 100% worth it in my opinion.

Disconnecting it via the KDSS switch makes a world of difference on washboards. There is no denying is is pretty stiff while connected offroad at speed, but I don't find it horrible either. I just notice the difference because I can turn it on and off instantly.
 
its great on the highway. its great off road WITH DRKDSS switch and upgraded brackets. 10/10 would recommend. we kept up with stock gen2 raptors in baja. sway bar was not the limiting factor.

if youre going fast on dirt roads you will get to the point where you want the sway bar turned back on anyways. the switch from drkdss allows this.
 
Jeremy556 said:
Not true. There is a vast difference in ride quality driving straight on a washboard road with KDSS and without.
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Agreed. That's what I was trying to say. The "no SB" mode helps w/ ride harshness. And KDSS is in this mode, regardless of speed, unless lateral G or steering rate input thresholds are met. So uneven roads (especially left vs right), benefit a lot from not having a really thick SW active. I also believe the accumulators help ride harshness on washboard roads where the road variation is front to back vs left to right.
 
comtn4x4 said:
Can you provide the information for the guy who instrumented and tested the KDSS LC system. I'd like to see the source and how it's relevant to the 4Runner KDSS system.
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I've looked but can't find it. Between the 4Runner and GX sites, there's a lot of KDSS talk. Nonetheless the one link I attached previously shows the graph of conditions whereby KDSS is in "fixed SW mode."
 
Kanger328 said:
I’m on the search of a ‘23 ORP in Lunar Rock. I’ve been debating the KDSS option. I like that it gives more articulation in slower off road situations (I remember how annoying it was to disconnect the sway bars when I used to off road my 3rd Gen).

I understand that on road, the KDSS allows better handling/flatter cornering. My specific question is how would it do on dirt roads at higher speeds? For example, if I’m on the Dalton Hwy in Alaska, which is a dirt road for hundreds of miles at speeds of 40-50 mph, wouldn’t the KDSS make the ride more bumpy as it “limits” travel?

I plan to do more dirt road type off roading instead of the more “hardcore” trails.
Click to expand...

Get a Dr.KDSS switch. Basically works as a full sway bar disconnect, front and rear. Takes about a half hour to install. Push the button and the KDSS light will appear on the dash telling you the system is disengaged. I use mine all the time off-road and on. Takes the bite out of highspeed washboard roads or even just pot0hole filled paved roads and rail road crossings.
 
Based on the Forrest Service roads here in Idaho, I find the air pressure in my tires make a bigger difference in comfort than anything. Second up is the ability of my shock to stay cool with the workload and not fade.

Granted, the majority of the dirt roads around here limit your ability to speed without sliding off around a graveled bend in the road. I would suspect your speed and the ambient temp would keep most shocks cool. I've got mid 90 and at most 30 mph to deal with.

With the KDSS bars, when I start sliding at least I am flat :wink2:
 
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