4Runner KDSS

[flatlander071]

Just bought a 2020 4Runner with KDSS and I haven’t been off-road enough to figure it out or determine it was worth the cost. Most of my travel is overland and I plan it stick to moderate trails. Any thoughts? What about lifting? Any issues?

 

[jeepers29]

I was told that lifting them eliminates the benefits of the kiss system. I have no idea if this is correct. A salesman told me that. I never got past that first visit to the lot.

 

[LostInThought]

I'm anything BUT a suspension expert, but I have a 4Runner with KDSS. I have no intention of turning it into a rock-crawler and I expect a 2-3" lift will be the most I'll need or want (more lift impacts CV axle reliability and requires additional mods - reliability was a key reason I went for the 4Runner). I had a chance to test drive 4Runners both with and without KDSS on a little patch of dirt road and arroyo near the dealership when I bought mine ~2years ago, and to me, the KDSS 4Runner seemed much more stable/capable on rough/uneven terrain. I bought the KDSS version, but you already knew that.

KDSS pros:

• On-road, KDSS behaves like a vehicle with sway-bars: sway-bar engagement on-road allows very stable cornering and emergency maneuvers - critical for a daily driver,
• Off-road, KDSS behaves like a vehicle without sway-bars: sway-bar disengagement, when negotiating very uneven terrain off-road, permits additional suspension flex, helping to keep wheels on the ground. This works particularly well with Toyota's other off-road bells and whistles (rear locker, ATRAC, CrawlControl).

KDSS cons:

• KDSS doesn't allow as much flex as a suspension with the sway-bars removed,
• KDSS limits the amount of lift that can be achieved with suspension mods (estimates vary between 2-3" depending on who you ask). You'd have to ask an expert about how far you can go down the long-travel route with KDSS. I vaguely recall that folks like TAV remove the KDSS for their most extreme suspension mods.

For me, KDSS is a win and it handles great on-road and off-road. Two years later, I'm still happy with it and my current intent is to keep it as I modify the vehicle. My nephew has an older 4Runner and he removed the earlier X-REAS system - I think his feels fine with sway-bars on the road, but I haven't driven his off-road. My $0.02 worth of unsolicited suggestions:

• daily-driver + off-road, no rock-crawling: KDSS rocks if you have the option.
• rock-crawler: pass on the KDSS, buy an old SR5 and lift it. regear it and drop the front diff. for extreme lifts, carry spare CV axles.

Okay, start yelling at me.

 

[flatlander071]

BCNP4runner: thanks for the insight. My 4Runner handles great on the road and I'm pleased with how it handled on the moderate Colorado trail I was on. For my purposes, the stock set-up should work fine with a few mod's; ARB diff breather and A/T tires. Maybe a intake air upgrade to augment the (marginally effective, mostly annoying) TRD cat-back exhaust. HA!