KDSS worth it?

I was sold when I rode in my buddy's land cruiser, so when it was time to buy a 4runner, I made sure I got a truck with KDSS.

KDSS has a very planted feeling when cornering, but it can be a little stiff when compared to traditional suspensions. NOthing you can't adjust too.

As someone mentioned, I like XREAS a lot for a street truck, but KDSS is a very good compromise for on and off pavement.
 
MaddoxPics said:
Pretty much was forced to buy it as nothing in CA appears to be sold without it. Test drove an SR5 Premium without it and thought it felt great (granted I've been driving a CR-V so I guess that should be the case?).

Looking forward to the KDSS, though from what I've been told by some, once I do a lift it's practically useless? Not sure if true, but being that won't happen immediately I'm sure I'll get some use out of the KDSS.
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I don't believe that is true at all regarding KDSS being "worthless" after a lift. It will still function just the same (maybe a touch less travel?) I haven't done my lift yet but I know many many others have and have been quite satisfied.

Maybe some of those guys will chime in.
 
SATSTRAIL said:
I don't believe that is true at all regarding KDSS being "worthless" after a lift. It will still function just the same (maybe a touch less travel?) I haven't done my lift yet but I know many many others have and have been quite satisfied.

Maybe some of those guys will chime in.
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That's what I thought, but I was told most of the stuff is removed or practically disabled? Obviously I'm going off of what I've been told as being true. Hopefully someone can clarify. I always search, but either don't understand or don't find what I'm exactly looking for.
 
Backup said:
Prospective 4Runner buyer here. I currently have a WRX and whenever I hit a pothole, it feels and sounds like my car is going to break in half. I'm over that feeling. I know that KDSS limits the body sway so that the truck feels tighter but does this come with a giant THUD whenever I hit a pothole? I've test driven an SR5 and it feels like I'm riding on a cloud but there are no dealers with TRD Off-Roads available for a test drive.
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I am confident that you won't have this issue with a KDSS equipped TRD, if you didn't with the SR5. I find that KDSS does an excellent job at masking those violent impacts. As an example, I can still HEAR the rumble strips on the freeway when I drive on them. The feeling of them, however, is nearly non-existent.


MaddoxPics said:
That's what I thought, but I was told most of the stuff is removed or practically disabled? Obviously I'm going off of what I've been told as being true. Hopefully someone can clarify. I always search, but either don't understand or don't find what I'm exactly looking for.
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I don't drive a 4Runner, but I have a GX470 with KDSS and have lifted it.

Removed anything to lift? Nope.

Disabled after lifting? Hardly.

With my older 4Runner I ran both front and rear sway bars after lifting, with extended links to get back to factory geometry. I thought it handled really well, but my wife hated it, and wouldn't drive it on the freeway.

With KDSS it still drives, more or less, like it did stock. Of course it's a bit more top heavy, but it handles really, really well. Once I lower it down a touch (I got 3" up front and 4" in the rear... wanted 2" all around) I think it will be even better.

I don't know what Patrick's username is on here, but here's his trail with KDSS "limiting his travel."

DSC_0317 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
DSC_0318 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
DSC_0319 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
DSC_0322 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
DSC_0325 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
DSC_0327 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
 
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I hated KDSS so bad with the stiff ride that I traded it back in on a non KDSS TE. Crawling off road is great, but once you go over 12mph (swaybar travel locked) on a washboard dirt road it rides like a wood wheeled wagon. It also translates all highway imperfections much more than the standard suspension.

If you want your truck to drive like a sports car with a tight suspension it's certainly the way to go.

If you like floating over railroad crossings and washboard gravel roads the standard suspension is better.
 
coming from a tacoma and a 98 4runner, i think this 14 TE with KDSS is REALLY nice. I had Icon suspension on both and the 4runner is much more comfortable on and off road.

im going to look into a high speed disable though. i think someone was mentioning removing the connector from the kdss unit itself under the truck opens the solenoids. Id be interested in the working difference.

I didnt quite believe in the traction control modes on the TE at first either (and i wonder if it works like the newest tacoma digging itself out of the sand) but after a few small experiments its not bad! only a little irritating they want 4Lo for them.
 
Most of what has been said is true. I drive a '14 TEP w/ KDSS and 5100s, plus small lift... so my setup is about as "tight" of a ride as you can get in our trucks. Is it "too tight"? Maybe. Did I know that going into my setup? Yep. Have I taken it off road? Yep. Did it limit anything I encountered? Not even close. But I didn't attempt anything ridiculous... it's still my DD, so I'm not stupid enough to destroy my means of transportation.

Am I considering a change of some sort to soften things back up? Maybe. But only if I decide to go 285s and full 3-2 lift. For a daily on-road driver, it basically does handle like a sports car... which is probably too stiff for most Runner owners. I get that. But for me, it was a pre-meditated compromise for accomplishing a mild lift and killing the nose dive which was driving me insane.


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A.Wilson013 said:
Disabled after lifting? Hardly.
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Can you go on this a little more? Were there any small issues? And perhaps it's different with the 4Runners (doubtful). Just trying to figure out why I would have been told this. I guess perhaps a certain lift could be doing something, but you all are definitely more of the experts than I.

Of course I know they said it's more of a pain to do a lift with KDSS. Again not sure if true, so maybe they were just trying to steer me away to save them a headache?

Also thanks for sharing his pics.
 
transplant said:
im going to look into a high speed disable though. i think someone was mentioning removing the connector from the kdss unit itself under the truck opens the solenoids. Id be interested in the working difference.
Click to expand...

If you manage to do it, let us know how exactly you went about it. Also would be interested to hear more feedback about off vs on while off the road.
 
Backup said:
Prospective 4Runner buyer here. I currently have a WRX and whenever I hit a pothole, it feels and sounds like my car is going to break in half. I'm over that feeling. I know that KDSS limits the body sway so that the truck feels tighter but does this come with a giant THUD whenever I hit a pothole? I've test driven an SR5 and it feels like I'm riding on a cloud but there are no dealers with TRD Off-Roads available for a test drive.
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yeah, you will feel it because you will get more transfer through the sway bar. better tires help a lot though
 
transplant said:
coming from a tacoma and a 98 4runner, i think this 14 TE with KDSS is REALLY nice. I had Icon suspension on both and the 4runner is much more comfortable on and off road.

im going to look into a high speed disable though. i think someone was mentioning removing the connector from the kdss unit itself under the truck opens the solenoids. Id be interested in the working difference.
Click to expand...
here's that thread... guy never followed up: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/220221-only-kdss-w-lift-need-apply-3.html#post2372920
 
I own a 15 TEP W/ KDSS and have a 5100 lift on mine. I have also installed several different lifts and kits for different members, so I have a fair bit of experience with the system.

When I did the test drive. I checked both the SR5 and TAP. I came from a 4gen limited with the XREAS. The stability I felt from the TEP was great. I also drove both over a some beat up gravel/ asphalt chunks to get a feel. I am off road in the ballpark of 15-20 times a year (day trips up to a week long) plus some very mild dirt roads for camping. I love how stable the the KDSS feels at all times. And have been able to side by side compare with a black SR5 with out KDSS and the same lift. There is absolutely a difference, with KDSS having the ability to keep contact longer.

There is no doubt that the KDSS complicates any suspension work. It adds between 1 to 3 hours of labor (depending on experience).

This is pic of a more mild trip I had, and can say I had zero issues.
90dda54e0c95e2172b49d217f37b414a.jpg


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i'd be worried that the KDSS may not like cycling that fast if the road is rough and you are at speed for an extended time
 
e60ral said:
i'd be worried that the KDSS may not like cycling that fast if the road is rough and you are at speed for an extended time
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I've ran some desert washboard roads and have had no issues... I'm also meticulous with inspecting my rig after every run.

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mwray8909 said:
I've ran some desert washboard roads and have had no issues... I'm also meticulous with inspecting my rig after every run.

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I'm talking about with it unplugged, when it's active nothing is moving at speed.

Did you disconnect yours?

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e60ral said:
I'm talking about with it unplugged, when it's active nothing is moving at speed.

Did you disconnect yours?

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Ah no I have not. I really have seen no reason to.

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e60ral said:
i'd be worried that the KDSS may not like cycling that fast if the road is rough and you are at speed for an extended time
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perhaps im not as worried about it as i should be. ive always been able to throw a ton of abuse at toyotas and they just keep on hammering away.

that being said, i dont really plan to disable it often or for extended high speed travel. more like... a softer ride on the truck trails around my house or the occasional desert run.

ill sort out a switch and a few tests and get back to you all. seems like itll be pretty easy to do.
 
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