Time to beat the KDSS-Horse

A

AustinYo6

New member
Alright, first off I'm sorry this is going to seem repetitive- I've used the search function and read all the pertinent forums, but they don't seem to solve my issue.

I have a 2014 TE w/KDSS that the dealer WILL NOT lift... I left and read up on these forums about all these individuals with lifted KDSS systems, etc. but the dealer doesn't buy it/support it- things like "Your sway bars can detach themselves, it makes the system unhappy, you will have to disconnect the system to do the lift and that's not okay, etc.". So I called the next largest dealer in my area and they say the same thing. Is there some magic touch I'm missing? Why is a dealer so set on not lifting KDSS but all these people say it's been done with no issues? The disconnect between parties is very unsettling. The thought of going to a suspension shop and then facing the potential loss of warranty also doesn't sound that fun...

At this point I'm debating selling/trade in while my vehicle is 6 months old and minimizing my financial loss so I can get an SR5 for the sake of actually being able to personalize my vehicle.
 
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So do it yourself, or go some place other than the dealer. Your dealer obviously doesn't know shit about KDSS.

120K miles on my lifted KDSS
 
AustinYo6 said:
Alright, first off I'm sorry this is going to seem repetitive- I've used the search function and read all the pertinent forums, but they don't seem to solve my issue.

I have a 2014 TE w/KDSS that the dealer WILL NOT lift... I left and read up on these forums about all these individuals with lifted KDSS systems, etc. but the dealer doesn't buy it/support it- things like "Your sway bars can detach themselves, it makes the system unhappy, you will have to disconnect the system to do the lift and that's not okay, etc.". So I called the next largest dealer in my area and they say the same thing. Is there some magic touch I'm missing? Why is a dealer so set on not lifting KDSS but all these people say it's been done with no issues? The disconnect between parties is very unsettling. The thought of going to a suspension shop and then facing the potential loss of warranty also doesn't sound that fun...

At this point I'm debating selling/trade in while my vehicle is 6 months old and minimizing my financial loss so I can get an SR5 for the sake of actually being able to personalize my vehicle.
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Yep. Dealers don't want to do any custom work. I'm guessing you'd have the same problem with the SR5 unless you were going to put on the TRD suspension.
 
AustinYo6 said:
Alright, first off I'm sorry this is going to seem repetitive- I've used the search function and read all the pertinent forums, but they don't seem to solve my issue.

I have a 2014 TE w/KDSS that the dealer WILL NOT lift... I left and read up on these forums about all these individuals with lifted KDSS systems, etc. but the dealer doesn't buy it/support it- things like "Your sway bars can detach themselves, it makes the system unhappy, you will have to disconnect the system to do the lift and that's not okay, etc.". So I called the next largest dealer in my area and they say the same thing. Is there some magic touch I'm missing? Why is a dealer so set on not lifting KDSS but all these people say it's been done with no issues? The disconnect between parties is very unsettling. The thought of going to a suspension shop and then facing the potential loss of warranty also doesn't sound that fun...

At this point I'm debating selling/trade in while my vehicle is 6 months old and minimizing my financial loss so I can get an SR5 for the sake of actually being able to personalize my vehicle.
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You're in the PNW, call around and find a shop that will

a) work on Toyotas
b) knows how to lift a KDSS truck--it's not hard but some shops act like it's summoning Thunderchicken and won't touch them

If you were closer to CO, I could rattle off like 10 shops and even a few dealers who wouldn't give two shits about lifting your T4R.
 
In your guys' experience how does custom work fit into warranty? Am I giving the dealership a free pass out of warrantying any of my drive train by doing 3rd party mods? And how would you judge a suspension shops ability to do adequate work on a system that seems to be over the heads of a lot of places?

The dealership I'm referring to WAS willing to lift the vehicle until they saw the KDSS. they priced me $950 for 3x2 level installed
 
AustinYo6 said:
In your guys' experience how does custom work fit into warranty? Am I giving the dealership a free pass out of warrantying any of my drive train by doing 3rd party mods? And how would you judge a suspension shops ability to do adequate work on a system that seems to be over the heads of a lot of places?

The dealership I'm referring to WAS willing to lift the vehicle until they saw the KDSS. they priced me $950 for 3x2 level installed
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Most Toyota dealers will warranty with no issue.

If you run across one that does have a problem, go someplace else.
 
The warranty on your KDSS is pretty much over with a lift. That is just the facts. It should be fine though.

People who are worried about warranty on things should not modify them. You can understand why the MFG would not be responsible to warranty something you changed. Now, they should still warranty the rest of the vehicle and drive train...
 
wfo9 said:
The warranty on you KDSS is pretty much over with a lift. That is just the facts. It should be fine though.

People who are worried about warranty on things should not modify them. You can understand why the MFG would not be responsible to warranty something you changed. Now, they should still warranty the rest of the vehicle and drive train...
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Are you sure?

I've had warranty issues resolved on lifted Toyotas before (FJ Cruiser, Tacoma).

If the KDSS craps out, a lift probably didn't do it... or are they approaching it from the "you went off road and dun busted something" angle?
 
Anyone know a dealer in the PNW who is comfortable/capable of lifting the KDSS before I make 50 phone calls? Someone please take my money... haha.
 
LandCruiser said:
Are you sure?

I've had warranty issues resolved on lifted Toyotas before (FJ Cruiser, Tacoma).

If the KDSS craps out, a lift probably didn't do it... or are they approaching it from the "you went off road and dun busted something" angle?
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KDSS was not designed for a lift, so I would think Toyota would not warranty a problem with it on a lifted vehicle. The results from dealers and Toyota is pretty inconsistent, so I can't say for sure.

If you go into to a dealer with a broken CV axle and a lift, do you expect them to warranty it?

I'm not saying they should not warranty it, but I am saying a lift is a great excuse for them to deny a warranty claim on the KDSS system. Remember, warranty is just like an insurance policy. They don't have to pay all claims and they start looking for excuses very quickly when it is something expensive and rare like KDSS. Chances are you will have no problems with it anyway.
 
wfo9 said:
KDSS was not designed for a lift, so I would think Toyota would not warranty a problem with it on a lifted vehicle. The results from dealers and Toyota is pretty inconsistent, so I can't say for sure.

If you go into to a dealer with a broken CV axle and a lift, do you expect them to warranty it?

I'm not saying they should not warranty it, but I am saying a lift is a great excuse for them to deny a warranty claim on the KDSS system. Remember, warranty is just like an insurance policy. They don't have to pay all claims and start looking for excuses very quickly when it is something expensive and rare like KDSS.
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I consider CV axles wear and tear, and I don't think most dealers won't warranty them.

KDSS is more of a shady grey area, at least to me and it'd depend what would break...
 
AustinYo6 said:
Anyone know a dealer in the PNW who is comfortable/capable of lifting the KDSS before I make 50 phone calls? Someone please take my money... haha.
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Where in Oregon are you located? I ended up putting my own lift in on mine it's not too hard to do. I also installed a differential drop on mine alsoso it would be easier on my cv's and it was pretty inexpensive.
 
I dont think any of the dealers in oregon do kdss lifts. Most lifts ive seen were on sr5 using 3" prolift spacer lift. There are a couple of shops that can do it or maybe theres several members here that may be able to help u do it.
 
wfo9 said:
KDSS was not designed for a lift, so I would think Toyota would not warranty a problem with it on a lifted vehicle. The results from dealers and Toyota is pretty inconsistent, so I can't say for sure.
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Didn't the original (proto type) TRD Pro have KDSS and a higher lift than the production pro?
 
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What lift are you considering? I had the blistein 5100's (front set at 1.75) and 1 inch rear spacer installed on my TE with KDSS at the Toyota dealer without any problems. They essentially just looked up their price for routine replacement of shocks on all for corners and charged me that. They don's do "lifts" at my dealership either, but they didn't have any issues with doing this work.
 
I just smh at owners that want to modify a vehicle and still expect the mfgr to warranty the area that was modified.

Your dealer is just doing CYA, thass all. I don't blame them a bit. After all, where does it stop?

Sure, it's your vehicle and you can do whatever you want to it. But it's Toyota's warranty, on the OEM vehicle, and once you change that YOU have changed the rules - not Toyota.
 
I wish Ihad seen this sooner, as I might be able to lend some information. I live in the PNW (Portland, OR to be exact). I purchased my vehicle from Broadway Toyota. Before I purchased my vehicle, I called around and asked for someone to lift it from the dealership. Now when I talked to them all I did was mention I wanted to purchase a Trail with lift. Wilsonville Toyota said they would do it and Mccords in Vancouver would. There are two shops that will lift your 4Runner. As long as you stay under 5" you will be covered via warranty. The name of the two shops that will lift it are Superior Offroad and 4 Wheel Parts.

If you are wanting to get rid of your Trail and then do a SR5 or Limited to avoid the 'KDSS' issue, I would look at trading for a used one to avoid more going backwards on financed amount. Just my 2 cents.
 
Kotrin said:
I wish Ihad seen this sooner, as I might be able to lend some information. I live in the PNW (Portland, OR to be exact). I purchased my vehicle from Broadway Toyota. Before I purchased my vehicle, I called around and asked for someone to lift it from the dealership. Now when I talked to them all I did was mention I wanted to purchase a Trail with lift. Wilsonville Toyota said they would do it and Mccords in Vancouver would. There are two shops that will lift your 4Runner. As long as you stay under 5" you will be covered via warranty. The name of the two shops that will lift it are Superior Offroad and 4 Wheel Parts.

If you are wanting to get rid of your Trail and then do a SR5 or Limited to avoid the 'KDSS' issue, I would look at trading for a used one to avoid more going backwards on financed amount. Just my 2 cents.
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I'm in the Portland area too.

Yeah Broadway Toyota and Capitol are the two shops who have said they wouldn't/'couldn't' do it. I planned to start calling around- I'll hit up Wilsonville and Mccords. Thanks!
 
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