TE KDSS w/ OME... Lean to the Right??

[prplegophr]

Ok, I've searched, then did the KDSS recal three times, and now I've got the thing parked on an incline with the passenger side higher (last ditch hail-mary) until I figure out what to do. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Specifics:
2012 TE w/ KDSS.

OME stock load springs in the front (about 3" of lift) and TT super flex in the rear. I am actually not completely sure if the OME trim-packer was installed on the driver's side as I didn't do the lift install myself. But I assume it was because the truck started leaning about an inch to the passenger side within a few hundred miles.

I did the KDSS recalibration using a bubble level. Drove some more. Leaned again within a few miles. Did the recal again. Drove some more, same thing.

Today, with 3k miles since the lift, I figured the suspension has probably settled, so I did the recal again. Was very precise with the bubble level and torque wrench settings. Still leaning.

The crazy thing is, every time I recalibrate it, I leave the bubble level on the hood. And after I button everything up, I can actually stand there and watch the bubble slowly move as the lean to the right comes back.

Again, the truck is leaning to the passenger side.... which seems odd considering everything else I've read usually involves a lean to the driver's side.

Any suggestions?

 

[limamike]

How much lean? Got pics?

 

[prplegophr]

1 inch down to the right. No pics because it's now dark, but I can get some tomorrow. But really, pretty much envision a 4Runner leaning an inch down to the passenger side and you'll have it!

 

[Mick1]

Sounds like you have already seen these pages for information, but I'll link them in case you have not:


http://www.ironman4x4.com/pdfs/suspension_fitting_instructions/landcruiser_kdss_instructions.pdf

http://stores.overlandwarehouse.com/images/2010-KDSS-calibration.pdf

 

[prplegophr]

Thanks Mick.

I did see the Overland Warehouse one and that's the one I followed three times.

I did not see the ironman one previously, which specifically states to raise the vehicle off the ground. Think that procedure will be the ticket? I'm not sure the shop loosened the valves prior to installing the suspension components... hopefully it's not too late to do it after the fact!

 

[Mick1]

Not sure, but I would think trying it won't hurt. Other than the pain of reinstalling the sway bar, my install went ok w/o ****-ing with the kdss. I think you can adjust it at this point and it does not matter what happened during the install.

I WOULD mark the shudder control valves with a paint pen prior to moving them so I was sure I did not loosen them too much and spill fluid / introduce air into the kdss system.

 

[prplegophr]

Ok, I'll get it on the vehicle lift tomorrow and update you on results!

 

[pawzitiv]

If it helps any, my 2010 TE w/KDSS leans to the right as well. My front passenger side is about 1/2" lower than the front driver's side.

You and I seem to have very "special" 4Runners. How elite!

When I was doing my KDSS recalibration, I found that the changes would affect diagonally opposite corners of the truck; if I bounced like an ape on the driver front end of my rock slider, the driver front would go down but the passenger rear would come up.

Having the vehicle on a lift with all 4 wheels drooped is certainly worth a shot. Oh, and don't back out the KDSS shutter valve plugs too far .. that's a $1050 mistake I won't ever forget.

 

[prplegophr]

I read about backing the threads out too far.... But since you have personal experience, Woukd you mind telling me how you knew you backed yours out too far?

 

[jca21]

If it helps any, my 2010 TE w/KDSS leans to the right as well. My front passenger side is about 1/2" lower than the front driver's side.

You and I seem to have very "special" 4Runners. How elite!

When I was doing my KDSS recalibration, I found that the changes would affect diagonally opposite corners of the truck; if I bounced like an ape on the driver front end of my rock slider, the driver front would go down but the passenger rear would come up.

Having the vehicle on a lift with all 4 wheels drooped is certainly worth a shot. Oh, and don't back out the KDSS shutter valve plugs too far .. that's a $1050 mistake I won't ever forget.

ouch.

 

[pawzitiv]

I read about backing the threads out too far.... But since you have personal experience, Woukd you mind telling me how you knew you backed yours out too far?

I my case it was really self-evident. The forward plug's threads suddenly disengaged and oil was peeing out at a furious rate! I had mistakenly measured how far I backed it out from the BOTTOM of the plug's head. WRONG!

 

[453030]

I'm curious, why did you open the KDSS valve or try to recalibrate in the first place? Did the light come on after the install, or was it just to correct your perceived lean? I installed my lift myself and was advised by OW not to mess with that at all unless the light came on after installation. I did have the whole truck on blocks and level so maybe that kept me out of trouble.

 

[pawzitiv]

After my Toyota dealer installed my OW 2.5 suspension, I found my truck was HIGHER on the driver's side so I phoned Andries at OW. It was he who suggested I do my own KDSS recalibration. He did caution me about how far to open the KDSS shutter valve ports; my expensive mistake was my own fault.

 

[prplegophr]

Ok, got the truck up on a lift today. Loosened the shutter valve ports. Waited. Lowered the truck back to the ground and raised it again a couple times to see if that would bounce the system into alignment. Then lowered it back to the ground, closed the valves and..... the thing is still leaning to the right. About a half inch now, so less, but definitely still leaning. You can actually see the rear axle hanging at an angle in the photo attached, despite all wheels drooping freely.

Any suggestions?

Measurements as follows:
On the lift, measurement from center of wheel to fender trim:
Front Right: 28.25"
Front Left: 28.25"
Rear Right: 29.25"
Rear Left: 30.5"

On the ground, from ground to fender trim:
Front Right: 39.25"
Front Left: 39.75"
Rear Right: 39.25"
Rear Left: 39.75"

 

[prplegophr]

Sorry... I don't know why the photo uploaded upside down. It's right side up on my computer. But I swear I didn't accidentally lift the truck by its roof

 

[TOPDECK]

Sorry... I don't know why the photo uploaded upside down. It's right side up on my computer. But I swear I didn't accidentally lift the truck by its roof

This might sound dumb, but when you had all the parts out for the lift, did you make sure that they were the same size? Like the springs...

And, no parts got turned backwards, or upside down?

 

[UtahSooner]

I my case it was really self-evident. The forward plug's threads suddenly disengaged and oil was peeing out at a furious rate! I had mistakenly measured how far I backed it out from the BOTTOM of the plug's head. WRONG!

Glad I'm not the only one that suffered this fate (though I'm sorry you made the same mistake I did...).

I've got about the same 1/2" of passenger side lean as well -- that was after my Toytec Ultimate lift install. Same lean before the KDSS fluid spill (when I was attempting to correct the lean) and after it was fixed at the Lexus dealer. I haven't tried the system cal with the wheels off the ground first but that may be worth a try. I definitely did not open the shutter valves when I did the install and given all the cussing and swearing I did while trying to reconnect the sway bar, there was certainly a lot of force being applied to the front KDSS piston at the time...

Very curious if you have any luck doing the "wheel's up" version of the procedure

453030 - the KDSS calibration is called out in the manual as the procedure to correct a body lean. Before I installed my lift I was under a 1/4" difference between driver/passenger sides (lean has always been to the passenger side on my rig). This slight difference wasn't noticeable at all. After the lift though, the ~1/2" height difference is noticeable and bugs me (eventhough the manual says that a ~0.75" height difference between sides is within spec). Basically, the calibration is supposed to connect both sides of the hydraulic circuit and level the vehicle (which, as the OP noted, it does for a little while before the truck starts to lean again on its own). When the shutter valves are closed, I'd expect that that 2 sides of the circuit are isolated and everything should stay where it is. Also, I've never had the light come on, even after I spilled all the fluid on the floor -- I fully expected to see the light at that point so it was a little weird that it didn't come on considering one side of the circuit had little to no pressure...

 

[prplegophr]

This might sound dumb, but when you had all the parts out for the lift, did you make sure that they were the same size? Like the springs...

And, no parts got turned backwards, or upside down?

Well, that's a fair question at this point and one I will ask the install shop today.

But can anyone tell me..... when you raise your truck on a floor lift, does your rear axle hang evenly or is this cockeyed angle normal?

 

[STLDAVE]

When the rear axle is hanging, as when the vehicle is on the lift, it's hanging by the rear shocks. The KDSS should have no impact on the angle of the axle at that point. If there is an angle it would be because of a difference in the shocks (or shock mounts, or rubber bushings for the shocks, etc.).

For what its worth, I looked at you picture (right side up though) and it looks like the driver side front wheel is lower too, so it might be the camera angle? OR maybe the lift isn't level.

If the trim packer IS installed, that's probably your problem.

 

[453030]

453030 - the KDSS calibration is called out in the manual as the procedure to correct a body lean.

I remember reading that, and was just wondering if it was opened during the install or what. I guess I was fortunate to have the whole truck on blocks when I did mine and have everything droop.

Always dug this picture...

Mine sits and rides very level, but if it were 1/4" or 1/2" off I would not worry about it.