KDSS Removal

[Gouranga]

guys im freaking out right now ..... i just bought a 2021 Venture (kdss)
but im also in market for a 3'' lift and slap 295/70/17s on

is the KDSS going to be an issue for my purposes ?

im doing 60% highway 40%beaten paths
i got the kdss obv for the highway reasons but will kdss be an issue with my 3in plan+ bigger tires?

and is it actually not reliable did i goof by paying extra for a venture ?

 

[TheWraith]

guys im freaking out right now ..... i just bought a 2021 Venture (kdss)
but im also in market for a 3'' lift and slap 295/70/17s on

is the KDSS going to be an issue for my purposes ?

im doing 60% highway 40%beaten paths
i got the kdss obv for the highway reasons but will kdss be an issue with my 3in plan+ bigger tires?

and is it actually not reliable did i goof by paying extra for a venture ?

Alot people have kdss that has 3" lift using kdss spacers. They make it work... And there's people like me that just have head aches. Ever since I lifted had nothing but love and hate with this. And now it's just I'm just done.

Tired of the constant gangster lean and the constant re-zeroing the kdss system.

 

[LandCruiser]

guys im freaking out right now ..... i just bought a 2021 Venture (kdss)
but im also in market for a 3'' lift and slap 295/70/17s on

is the KDSS going to be an issue for my purposes ?

im doing 60% highway 40%beaten paths
i got the kdss obv for the highway reasons but will kdss be an issue with my 3in plan+ bigger tires?

and is it actually not reliable did i goof by paying extra for a venture ?

I have had two 3 inch lifts and KDSS, and it has not been an issue for the eight years I’ve had it.

 

[progress4m]

Just as another data point for 4runner with KDSS: I only did 2.1” lift on the front and 1.5” in the rear, lift was done 3 years ago- no issues at all! And I would not change a thing... expect I should have done that lift as soon as I got the truck... LOL

 

[2112 R]

2.5 in front and 3 in back and no issues with KDSS
Used Black Gate Customs rear kdss spacers to help with the rear section, but it wasn't totally required.

I do have a friend though who has had a nightmare with his KDSS and I really feel for him. I think the system has been replaced 2 times totally out of pocket for him since he has an aftermarket suspension the dealership didn't want to touch it.

 

[Gouranga]

I have had two 3 inch lifts and KDSS, and it has not been an issue for the eight years I’ve had it.

can you please inbox me your setup so i can copy it ?

 

[Gouranga]

Alot people have kdss that has 3" lift using kdss spacers. They make it work... And there's people like me that just have head aches. Ever since I lifted had nothing but love and hate with this. And now it's just I'm just done.

Tired of the constant gangster lean and the constant re-zeroing the kdss system.

can you inbox me your setup so i can avoid it lol

jk but whats this about re-zeroing the kdss ? im not aware can you please expxlain sir ?

 

[Gouranga]

2.5 in front and 3 in back and no issues with KDSS
Used Black Gate Customs rear kdss spacers to help with the rear section, but it wasn't totally required.

I do have a friend though who has had a nightmare with his KDSS and I really feel for him. I think the system has been replaced 2 times totally out of pocket for him since he has an aftermarket suspension the dealership didn't want to touch it.

ok so why is he having issues and your not ? what did you guys do different please tell me so i can avoid the isssues

 

[2112 R]

ok so why is he having issues and your not ? what did you guys do different please tell me so i can avoid the isssues

We have no idea. His set up is different than mine and I wasn't there for his install so can't comment on how it was done.

What I will say is I watched a TON of videos on how to install suspensions with KDSS and followed them all exactly.
Check out Snail Trail 4x4 and Timmy The Tool Man on youtube to start.
Then search for for other install videos and see where they hit challenging spots with the KDSS.
Seems the most common tip is to support the KDSS piston during install and try not to ever let it fully extend when not fully connected.

While not super scientific and no data to really back this up other than me trolling these forums and reading a lot, is that the KDSS issues and failures seem to be rare.... yet when they do happen they are expensive to fix and a real PITA.
If you want any kind of guarantee you'd probably be best to look at a local off road shop that will give you a parts/labor and specific KDSS guarantee (if even possible) when they install a suspension.

 

[TheWraith]

ok so why is he having issues and your not ? what did you guys do different please tell me so i can avoid the isssues

I guess the 2014's had issues with kdss leans and etc


But my setup originally was ICON Stage 7 with just 3" of lift. Slowly grew to 3.5" in the front and 3" rear w/ 1" Bodylift and then I went to 4.5" front and 3" rear. Then put on kdss spacers front and rear after upgrading to 700lb ICON front springs. And then I took the 1" Body Lift off because of my rear bumper and put on Dobinson 701v 600lb constant weight springs in the rear.

So I'm still ICON stage 7 with extended travel shocks in the front w/700lb springs and cvcc aka valve adjustment and dobinson 701v springs w/ kdss spacers for the rear without kdss front bar. 4.5" front and 3" rear

 

[TheWraith]

re-zeroing the kdss ? im not aware can you please expxlain sir ?

It's a zero calibration

Where you open the shutter valves on the kdss lines and balance out your vehicle.

The procedure is very similar to this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtURdW66WM4&feature=youtu.be

 

[Big_Tundra]

Guys what about KDSS and rear air suspension? I've been trying to figure out what to do with the KDSS and although there are lift kits all over the place I don't understand why no one recommends or makes a lift kit for *any* Toyota on chassis with KDSS _and_ rear air suspension Been all over the internet looking for answers. I'm stumped and can't see the logic for this, what's the big deal, what am I missing?

Thanks.

 

[llDemonll]

If you're not lifting past 3" KDSS won't affect anything.

It's a sway bar, not some complicated dynamic suspension setup that gets adjusted based on speed, steering input, what you ate for breakfast, and the temperature.

 

[Kamalani Mahie]

3" of lift or less and KDSS will be fine. I haven't had any issues with mine so far. 2015 trail w/just over 80k miles.

 

[Kamalani Mahie]

2.5 in front and 3 in back and no issues with KDSS
Used Black Gate Customs rear kdss spacers to help with the rear section, but it wasn't totally required.

I do have a friend though who has had a nightmare with his KDSS and I really feel for him. I think the system has been replaced 2 times totally out of pocket for him since he has an aftermarket suspension the dealership didn't want to touch it.

Damn why not just remove it instead of fully replacing a second time. Didn't want to be like a drunk pig going around a corner?

 

[2112 R]

Damn why not just remove it instead of fully replacing a second time. Didn't want to be like a drunk pig going around a corner?

Not sure about the specifics, but I do know there were lots of pressure on the dealership to fix it since the rig is only a few years old.
I'd be pissed too if a core vehicle system failed just because of a lift and tires.
Curious to see/know if the system fails is that the same as removing it?
If the piston is not pressurized would there be any short/long term disadvantages?

It is funny how the KDSS is perceived as a love/hate with many folks on the forums and larger Toyota community.

 

[Kamalani Mahie]

Not sure about the specifics, but I do know there were lots of pressure on the dealership to fix it since the rig is only a few years old.
I'd be pissed too if a core vehicle system failed just because of a lift and tires.
Curious to see/know if the system fails is that the same as removing it?
If the piston is not pressurized would there be any short/long term disadvantages?

It is funny how the KDSS is perceived as a love/hate with many folks on the forums and larger Toyota community.

Ya I completely agree; I'd be pissed too.

Hmmm I wonder. It almost seems like it would be the same as removing it. You'd just have a swaybar hanging out there that doesn't do anything for you.

I love the KDSS for on-road and off-road it doesn't affect me too much because I'm sticking to 3" of lift and haven't gone the LT route haha. I haven't had any qualms with it yet and hopefully it stays that way for a long long time haha

 

[MountainBiker]

I removed my front KDSS bar last year and wish I had done it a lot sooner. Ride is infinitely better, other than tight turns on pavement, obviously. I may swap the rear to a curry at some point and rip out all of the KDSS hardware.

Did you do anything else besides remove the front bar? This looks promising to me, as I'm not liking KDSS in my 2017 at all, way too harsh of a ride.

 

[Jeremy556]

Did you do anything else besides remove the front bar? This looks promising to me, as I'm not liking KDSS in my 2017 at all, way too harsh of a ride.

Nope. I just removed the bar and let the front KDSS piston hang.

You can also try it out even easier - just remove the bracket on each LCA, swing the bar forward and use a ratchet strap or something to the tow hook to keep it out of the way.

 

[MountainBiker]

Nope. I just removed the bar and let the front KDSS piston hang.

You can also try it out even easier - just remove the bracket on each LCA, swing the bar forward and use a ratchet strap or something to the tow hook to keep it out of the way.

Thanks! I'm going to try this within about 2 weeks! If I can't get an improved (softer) ride off-pavement, I will have to sell this thing that I've only owned for a few months! I'll report my results in this thread.