KDSS ride more firm vs. non-KDSS

[dtbingle]

For those of you who have drove both non-KDSS vs. KDSS systems, how would you describe the on-road ride difference aside from the body roll difference?

Vehicle inventory is so limited, I've haven't been able to drive new vehicles with and without KDSS back-to-back. Eventually stumbled across a used one with KDSS to test drive with ~40k miles.

My thoughts:
The 2018 ORP w/ KDSS was more firm and you felt more of the small bumps in the road, especially around 25mph going down neighborhood streets. However, there's no question that it greatly reduces body roll and feels very planted while cornering. On the other hand, the SR5 package I drove felt very soft/plush over similar roads, but had a lot more vehicle sway / body roll.

Is this normal for KDSS vs. Non-KDSS? Or was this increased firmness felt on the KDSS setup due to worn shocks @ 40k miles?

 

[honda250xtitan]

For those of you who have drove both non-KDSS vs. KDSS systems, how would you describe the on-road ride difference aside from the body roll difference?

Vehicle inventory is so limited, I've haven't been able to drive new vehicles with and without KDSS back-to-back. Eventually stumbled across a used one with KDSS to test drive with ~40k miles.

My thoughts:
The 2018 ORP w/ KDSS was more firm and you felt more of the small bumps in the road, especially around 25mph going down neighborhood streets. However, there's no question that it greatly reduces body roll and feels very planted while cornering. On the other hand, the SR5 package I drove felt very soft/plush over similar roads, but had a lot more vehicle sway / body roll.

Is this normal for KDSS vs. Non-KDSS? Or was this increased firmness felt on the KDSS setup due to worn shocks @ 40k miles?

shocks on both are the same and both suck brand new, theyre mushy and useless once youre off road and they heat up. the difference you feel is typical of the KDSS setup. it shines on the highway IMO.

back in 2016 I drove kdss and non kdss back to back and felt the same.

 

[Pedro367]

It wouldn't be worn shocks at 40k unless somebody severely abused it. Your thoughts and feelings seem very typical for KDSS vs. Non-KDSS. KDSS has a much bigger swaybar, so some hits may seem a little harder. However, as he said the cornering/body roll and highway feel is really where KDSS makes the biggest difference. I have KDSS and love it.

 

[fkheath]

shocks on both are the same and both suck brand new, theyre mushy and useless once youre off road and they heat up. the difference you feel is typical of the KDSS setup. it shines on the highway IMO.

back in 2016 I drove kdss and non kdss back to back and felt the same.

I beg to disagree that the SR5 is "mushy and useless once you're off road". I do some fairly extreme off road (western Colorado) every summer and find the 4Runner's "plush" ride much preferable to the harsh ride of my old Jeep Wrangler.

 

[02SE]

For those of you who have drove both non-KDSS vs. KDSS systems, how would you describe the on-road ride difference aside from the body roll difference?

Vehicle inventory is so limited, I've haven't been able to drive new vehicles with and without KDSS back-to-back. Eventually stumbled across a used one with KDSS to test drive with ~40k miles.

My thoughts:
The 2018 ORP w/ KDSS was more firm and you felt more of the small bumps in the road, especially around 25mph going down neighborhood streets. However, there's no question that it greatly reduces body roll and feels very planted while cornering. On the other hand, the SR5 package I drove felt very soft/plush over similar roads, but had a lot more vehicle sway / body roll.

Is this normal for KDSS vs. Non-KDSS? Or was this increased firmness felt on the KDSS setup due to worn shocks @ 40k miles?

The chassis motion is more controlled on-road with KDSS. Plus the better axle articulation on trails, made it desirable to me.

Tires also have a big effect on the feel of the 4Runner. Load range, construction, and the PSI they're at, all effect the ride.

To accurately compare the ride of KDSS vs non-KDSS, both 4Runners would need to be running the same tires, at the same inflation.

 

[downshift]

The chassis motion is more controlled on-road with KDSS. Plus the better axle articulation on trails, made it desirable to me.

Tires also have a big effect on the feel of the 4Runner. Load range, construction, and the PSI they're at, all effect the ride.

To accurately compare the ride of KDSS vs non-KDSS, both 4Runners would need to be running the same tires, at the same inflation.

Agree re tires and inflation. One could be way underinflated and the other way overinflated. There could easily be a 20PSI difference, if one were underinflated to 25 and the other overinflated to 45. Could even be more than that.

 

[mrblah]

I beg to disagree that the SR5 is "mushy and useless once you're off road". I do some fairly extreme off road (western Colorado) every summer and find the 4Runner's "plush" ride much preferable to the harsh ride of my old Jeep Wrangler.

i think you misread his statement.

He's stating that the OEM shocks are the same on kDSS vs non-kdss models, and they all suck donkey balls. He's not saying your trim level sucks donkey balls.

 

[Forgetful]

I don't get the desire to firm up the ride on these cars with KDSS. They're 5000lb offroad suvs, not corvettes.

Mine drove great on the highway at 75mph on mountain roads. Did it drive like my 2 door sports car? No, it'd be unreasonable to expect that.

Also I thought the stock shocks were fine for general SUV use while I had them.

 

[tpetsch]

I don't get the desire to firm up the ride on these cars with KDSS. They're 5000lb offroad suvs, not corvettes.

Mine drove great on the highway at 75mph on mountain roads. Did it drive like my 2 door sports car? No, it'd be unreasonable to expect that.

Also I thought the stock shocks were fine for general SUV use while I had them.

Simply stated my 2016 KDSS equipped vehicle provides a feeling of confidence resulting in an overall safer highway commute than my 2012 non-KDSS ever did.

 

[mrblah]

KDSS has allowed me to drive to new levels of idiocracy when it comes to on-ramps and off-ramps. I mean this as a compliment.

 

[DigitalVex]

Yeah, I'd say KDSS is great for everything EXCEPT any time you are going between 12 MPH and 25 MPH on a crappy surface (city streets, dirt, etc.). Then, the stiffness from the larger-diameter anti-sway bars is really noticeable. Heck, I'll often make sure I slow down to 8 mph when making a turn up a ramp just so I get better flex

 

[dtbingle]

As more background info, I am coming from a 18 JKU wrangler and the 4runner will be kept stock and my on-road only / daily driver.

I was trying to sort out if feeling more bumps with KDSS was that particular used vehicle (partially worn shocks, probably overinflated tires) or a "side effect" of KDSS.

It seems from the comments, that you do feel some bumps more with KDSS and its larger sway bar.

I'm leaning towards a non-KDSS SR5 for a more plush ride at the expense of more body roll. On michigan roads, you are constantly hitting bumps (both small and large) and thinking body roll will irritate me less than constantly feeling bumps more "harshly".

 

[lewdog998]

KDSS is to a 4runner

as

Viagra is to me.

 

[honda250xtitan]

i think you misread his statement.

He's stating that the OEM shocks are the same on kDSS vs non-kdss models, and they all suck donkey balls. He's not saying your trim level sucks donkey balls.

no his trim does suck.:cheer2: lol should i put it in green font so we know its sarcasm or naw

 

[honda250xtitan]

I beg to disagree that the SR5 is "mushy and useless once you're off road". I do some fairly extreme off road (western Colorado) every summer and find the 4Runner's "plush" ride much preferable to the harsh ride of my old Jeep Wrangler.

apples to oranges right there





but yea i get some people dont mind the plush ride found with twin tube shocks. ride quality is very subjective

 

[BearcatSVC]

2021 ORP here and KDSS was a must for me after driving them back-to-back.

While I like to do some light trails, and be off the pavement here and there, the steady body on the highway made it a necessary option. It is a little stiffer from 12-25 or so but the trade off was worth it to me and look… you can’t have everything.

 

[borfoo3]

You will really appreciate the KDSS road manners as the truck gets modded and gains height/ weight. Stock would do better of course.

I started dailying the T4R again last week so still driving it faster than I should, yet body roll is still impressively well controlled for a modified/ bloated SUV.

 

[BorotHex]

KDSS is absolutely better, unless you cant stand suspension noise and problems. I cannot, so I went non-KDSS. Drove them back to back and just noticed it on the highway a little bit. I did hear the KDSS clunking on a nasty curb that I chose to prove everything was good before I bought. My non-KDSS now makes noises with 10k miles. I think these trucks are just clunky and make noise.

 

[xtacles]

We've had two 4Runners without KDSS and two with (including our current '21). I would always choose to have KDSS personally. I've never experienced any issues, noises or performance degradation with it and the handling improvement is absolutely worth it in my opinion. Keep the KDSS skid plate clean and you should be golden!

 

[dtbingle]

Are there any of you out there with previous KDSS experience, that now has a non-KDSS vehicle and then replaced the stock suspension?

In other words, how you describe the ride with non-KDSS/aftermarket suspension vs. KDSS/stock suspension?