Rock sliders affect handling? TEP with KDSS

P

PCMSF

New member
Hi, I recently bought and installed RCI sliders (without tread plate) and am very happy with the quality of their product.

Having said that, I am surprised at how much the addition of sliders appears to have changed the on-road behavior of my KDSS-equipped TEP. Feels a decent bit more splashy/wobbly, especially over bumps.

Curious if anyone else experienced changes in handling when adding sliders?

Of course adding weight to any vehicle will affect lots of things. But it's really not that much extra weight over the stock running boards and they are mounted low and tight to the frame so definitely wasn't expecting this much of a difference.
 
Register to hide this ad
Not unless you screwed up the KDSS circuit. Surety at bit of weight makes a difference but not enough that would be detected by any human other than a Pro rally or F1 driver.
 
2016 TEP with KDSS, steel bumper, winch, sliders

I have a TEP as well. Drove it stock on and Offroad for a couple months before adding an Icon 3" lift, SSO steel bumper with winch (150 lbs), sliders (102 lbs) and rear tire carrier (200 lbs). Yes, the weight gain is noticeable but the Icon coupled with KDSS handles it extremely well. I'm very impressed with the handling and ride quality. It feels so much more nimble than a non KDSS SR5.

Are you experiencing any vehicle lean to one side or the other? How much do your sliders weigh? I just can't see sliders causing that noticable of a problem on a Trail model. They don't weigh that much. Do they interfere with the KDSS central valve unit on the drivers side middle? Did you install them or someone else? Often that area requires the KDSS protector shield to come off while installing sliders. The KDSS lines run along the Frame where sliders will attach. Look carefully at the system control unit and lines and make sure that they are'nt bent, leaking or damaged in any way. The system is very touchy. You may need to reset the system if in fact that is the problem. I have a factory service manual that details the process. You may want to have the dealership or a reputable Toyota service shop do it as resetting KDSS is very involved.

I have nothing but praise, however, my response may be different if I didn't have the lift. Stock springs are simply not meant for much added weight. Toyota has a history of aiming for softer road handling versus really heavy duty use on the 4Runner suspension as opposed to something like the Tundra or Land Cruiser.

I've read quite a bit about other people having issues with KDSS leaning and other issues however I have not had those same issues. I've had a little bit of lean based on the lift kit but nothing detrimental to the performance of the system.
 
Thanks for all the replies.

Are you experiencing any vehicle lean to one side or the other? How much do your sliders weigh?
Click to expand...

Checked it out and there's no lean. Sliders weigh ~90 lbs. No leaks or bends in the KDSS lines that I could spot.

I have to take it in for scheduled service soon. Could ask the dealer to take a look at the system but kind of nervous they'll point to the sliders if something does end up being wrong with it.

vQiEjkAl.jpg

Ow8bJePl.jpg
 
Other than lowering the center of gravity a tiny bit, nothing has changed. After a mod, people have a tendency to be looking for differences even when there should be none (K&N anyone?). It is very likely that any change is entirely in your mind. When was the last time you had someone in the back seat and thought "holy crap, the Runner drives totally different now". Adding sliders is close to the same thing.
 
Since slidders are easy to remove and installed your best bet is to remove the slidders and see if the issue goes away. If the issue persists head to the dealership without the slidders installed. Frankly you might be a very perceptive driver and you could be feeling the actual impact of the added weight.
 
Last edited:
I noticed no handling difference when switching from the running boards to sliders. No KDSS in mine though.
 
FrontRange4Runner said:
It is very likely that any change is entirely in your mind.
Click to expand...
Or the change is real but more minor than anything. I was definitely nervous to mess with the KDSS lines and might have been paying more attention after the mod than usual. We both drive the 4Runner and independently noticed a difference in handling although her impression of the change was more subtle than mine.

Sleeter said:
Frankly you might be a very perceptive driver and you could be feeling the actual impact of the added weight.
Click to expand...
The roads are pretty horrible in the Bay Area and most of my driving is relatively slow speeds over hills and bumpy roads so it's possible I'm feeling the worst effects of adding weight.

I'm going to have the vehicle serviced and then report back. Would be good to get everything zeroed and then go from there.

Thanks!
 
PCMSF said:
Or the change is real but more minor than anything. I was definitely nervous to mess with the KDSS lines and might have been paying more attention after the mod than usual. We both drive the 4Runner and independently noticed a difference in handling although her impression of the change was more subtle than mine.


The roads are pretty horrible in the Bay Area and most of my driving is relatively slow speeds over hills and bumpy roads so it's possible I'm feeling the worst effects of adding weight.

I'm going to have the vehicle serviced and then report back. Would be good to get everything zeroed and then go from there.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Can you tell the difference when you have a passenger? They usually weigh more than sliders. Both are sprung weight so the only difference is CG and I don't know ANYONE that can feel the difference of 50 lb moved up a few feet on a 4600 lb vehicle.
 
I run the 4x4 Labs sliders, pretty much the heaviest and beefiest sliders that are made for the 5th gens on stock suspension (for now) with KDSS. I haven't noticed anything that I would consider abnormal in terms of handing or performance versus before the installation. You will notice extra weight the same as you would adding an extra person in the back seat. Just my experience. If you damaged the KDSS system, I would imagine that your KDSS light would be on, or you would notice fluid leaking from somewhere. Best of luck.
 
I felt like I noticed some slight differences after mounting my Metal Tech sliders maybe a year and a half ago. They are 150 lbs according to the UPS shipping information. The truck felt a bit more sluggish to me, and maybe some of the handling changes the OP noted. Of course I got used to these changes in a few days.

But I am willing to believe that most if not all of this was in my mind. I pay close attention to how my truck feels and certainly notice differences when my cargo area is loaded down, but I agree that 150 lbs added to 5000 lb truck seems like it shouldn't be noticeable. I don't think I can notice when a passenger is in the 4Runner (though now I will probably pay attention and think I that I can...hahah), though this difference was extremely apparent in my much smaller Subaru Loyal when I owned it.

I did certainly notice that the addition of the sliders make the truck look lower to the ground since they hide the frame and reduce clearance at the rockers. I am willing to believe that this fact combined with my assumption that anything I add (AT tires, roof rack, sliders) will have some negative impact has caused me to pay more attention after adding these things and maybe notice things that are slight or not really there.

I don't know...just wanted to add another data point. Seems like I could have been making it up but I have no plans to remove my sliders so will likely never know. Fact is that even if there is a slight and noticeable impact the benefits they provide negate this for me.
 
Last edited:
PCMSF said:
Hi, I recently bought and installed RCI sliders (without tread plate) and am very happy with the quality of their product.

Having said that, I am surprised at how much the addition of sliders appears to have changed the on-road behavior of my KDSS-equipped TEP. Feels a decent bit more splashy/wobbly, especially over bumps.

Curious if anyone else experienced changes in handling when adding sliders?

Of course adding weight to any vehicle will affect lots of things. But it's really not that much extra weight over the stock running boards and they are mounted low and tight to the frame so definitely wasn't expecting this much of a difference.
Click to expand...

I'm not a licensed counselor, so maybe I'm leaving my lane a bit, but sounds to me like some sort of compensation. If you can't feel 100lbs of load in the back, or 150 lbs in the passenger seat, I don't see how you could feel the difference between the running boards and sliders, each more or less in the same position.

Unless your butt dyno extremely sensitive, it sounds to me like you're expecting some perceived change and importing it to your senses. Aka, it's all in your head.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
What 33" tires do you recommend? Also what about tire load range?
Replies
8
Views
5K
JohnMc
J
Ripper238
New Goodyear Duratrac RT review
Replies
1
Views
7K
RichN
R
PJSnow
Lasfit Switchback Rock Lights Kit (and general Rock Light Overview)
Replies
14
Views
10K
PJSnow
PJSnow
W
Thoughts on Getting a 5th Gen 4R vs. a GX460
2
Replies
25
Views
48K
gomiami
gomiami
B
FS: 2018 4Runner Off Road Premium w/ KDSS, TRD/Upgrades!, $45K, Knoxville, TN
Replies
2
Views
2K
bjs0131
B

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 1,798 (members: 1, guests: 1,797)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,312
Messages
3,554,083
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top