KDSS Sway Bar Prevents Oil Change?

[prplegophr]

So here's a strange situation. Brought my truck to Toyota Dealer today to get the 10k service. They're unable to change the oil filter without removing the sway bar because it's in the way.

They're telling me it's an aftermarket sway bar, which I confirmed with the selling dealer is not the case. Our guess is they just haven't seen a KDSS sway bar before. However, the current dealer swears it's not the sway bar that comes with the KDSS system from the factory.

I do have a 3" OME lift on the front. Even though I did not replace the sway bar as part of that lift, would the lift cause the sway bar by the oil filter to shift position enough to block it?

Here are some photos. Any input would be great!

 

[Mick1]

Huh? Talk about unintended consequences....

Were those photos taken with the wheels offf the ground? Any difference with the wheels on ground?

Can you provide some more shots of the bar ends for context to confirm it is stock?

I have kdss too and had the dealer do the last free oil change a couple weeks ago. I have icon lift and they had no problems. Ill have to look to see how close mine is.

 

[prplegophr]

That was wheels off the ground. There's a toyota part number on the thing, so I assume that means it's stock!

I'll get under there as soon as I get home and grab some more photos. There's a tropical depression hitting us right now, so I gotta wait until I get under the cover of my garage...

In the meantime, the shop that did the install called the dealer and got the extra charge for removing/replacing the sway bar removed from my bill. Convinced them that it was the stock sway bar.

 

[GrantK]

Was the sway bar moved during the lift? If so that is probably the problem. ICON lifts don't require KDSS sway bars to be moved.

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

I had the same problem when I was running the extended travel Fox Coil Overs on my truck. I figured it was due to the extra travel pushing the sway bar out where it shouldn't be???

Solution - Have them lower the truck down on the lift and put enough weight on the tires until the sway bar moves back to where it should be. I sat there and watched my dealer do it, it took maybe an inch of compression to get the sway bar where it needed to be.

That absolutely amazes me that they wouldn't think to see if it was possible to do the oil change with the truck on the ground, amazes me more that they were arguing with you about the KDSS Sway bar not being the stock one.... Dealerships are a pain!!!:moon:

 

[Hardrunner]

I would be concerned that the swaybar could hit that plastic housing...it wouldnt take much to crack it. The sway bar looks dangerously close, especially because it moves.

 

[36bound]

Not trying to rub salt in a wound, but I learned from modding out my Wrangler, that when you start changing the suspension you are asking for unexpected "surprises". No big deal. Anything can be fixed. It's just that in my experience modding can lead to a chain reaction of unanticipated future "mods".

My TE will remain stock. For now.

 

[Antman]

That absolutely amazes me that they wouldn't think to see if it was possible to do the oil change with the truck on the ground, amazes me more that they were arguing with you about the KDSS Sway bar not being the stock one.... Dealerships are a pain!!!:moon:

What amazes me is that after all that you would still trust them to even change the oil:wtf:

 

[Mick1]

From what I recall the filter housing is not plastic it is metal. The concern about the sway bar hitting it might be valid. I can't tell if it looks like it would be an interference "fit" from the photo.

I'm not surprised that a dealer or shop wouldn't want / think to put the car on the ground to do an oil change. Why the heck would they / should they be creative for just an oil change.

I think it is interesting that this happened. I wonder if it was from the great amount of lift the OME springs gave. I went with Icon because I could adjust the lift and it provided less lift. I'll have to see how close my sway bar is next time I have the front off the ground.

For reference, how much lift did the OME give you?

I also wonder if others have had or do have this issue, but have not discovered it yet due to the extended drain interval.

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

What amazes me is that after all that you would still trust them to even change the oil:wtf:

The free oil change under toyota Care 12,000 miles ago was the first and last they did to my rig. I've always changed my own oil, figured a free service was a free service.

 

[Antman]

From what I recall the filter housing is not plastic it is metal.

The housing is plastic FWIW...

 

[1engineer]

The housing is plastic FWIW...

Geez man, when are you going to get this right? It's "engineered polymer" not plastic.

 

[bkone]

I had the same problem when I was running the extended travel Fox Coil Overs on my truck. I figured it was due to the extra travel pushing the sway bar out where it shouldn't be???

Solution - Have them lower the truck down on the lift and put enough weight on the tires until the sway bar moves back to where it should be. I sat there and watched my dealer do it, it took maybe an inch of compression to get the sway bar where it needed to be.

That absolutely amazes me that they wouldn't think to see if it was possible to do the oil change with the truck on the ground, amazes me more that they were arguing with you about the KDSS Sway bar not being the stock one.... Dealerships are a pain!!!:moon:

I was at a dealership this morning for the 10k service and the same happened to me. They thought that the KDSSS was an aftermarket install. I'm so glad I found this thread and asked them to lower the truck to the ground, after which they were able to change the oil filter. Thanks!!