Ditching the KDSS who wants to help me?

[Volunteer]

Good feedback @Taco2Cruiser that is what I would have thought adjusting the front spring rate and modifying a standard swaybar if it was needed would work fine for my needs when the KDSS retires.

 

[TeCKis300]

I'd just be cautious of taking action before it was needed, to each their own. From my experience KDSS helps on off camber situations by keeping tires contacted to the ground by allowing more droop which assists in stabilizing the truck. That's like droop with hydraulic force backing it. Even if you figure out a way to fashion the alternative sway bar to be a quick disconnect you're going to loose out on that stability aspect and the stability aspect is nice with such a heavy and tall rig - tall because if you need room for larger tires, which is most of the limit we bitch about with KDSS, then you probably are lifting it a good amount, raising the CG. What the school of though on that?

I know this is an old post. But in regards to KDSS actively pushing down on the drooping wheel with hydraulic inputs - I don't believe this is true. KDSS only has the ability to create roll stiffness. And to relax any roll resistance. It does not impart additional articulation. Best it can do is simulate almost no roll bar at all.

 

[Willy beamin]

I respect your opinion. In my real world testing on trails that were off camber, it was there for me.
We may travel different roads / trails and only have experience to fall back on for knowledge.

 

[bloc]

Would someone with an LX measure the diameter of their sway bars? I’m curious how they compare to those on a KDSS equipped cruiser.

 

[linuxgod]

I know this is an old post. But in regards to KDSS actively pushing down on the drooping wheel with hydraulic inputs - I don't believe this is true. KDSS only has the ability to create roll stiffness. And to relax any roll resistance. It does not impart additional articulation. Best it can do is simulate almost no roll bar at all.

I'm not sure what you'd call it but if you've ever turned the KDSS screws while an LC is on a lift (at least 2 wheels off the ground) you'll notice that when you hit a certain point the wheels in the air will drop several inches.

 

[bloc]

I'm not sure what you'd call it but if you've ever turned the KDSS screws while an LC is on a lift (at least 2 wheels off the ground) you'll notice that when you hit a certain point the wheels in the air will drop several inches.

Which suggests KDSS is preventing those tires contacting the ground with as much force?

 

[TeCKis300]

Would someone with an LX measure the diameter of their sway bars? I’m curious how they compare to those on a KDSS equipped cruiser.

Actually, the LX doesn't have a front sway bar at all. It's all handled within the guts of the AHC system which itself is a electro-hydro-pneumatic variant of KDSS. Because the front axle implements two spring rates, it uses internal active mechanisms including the stiffer spring rate, cross linking, and increased damping to resist roll. In the rear, it does have a sway bar. That's mounted differently than the LC. Diameter below. No clue if it's a solid or hollow bar but it's probably a relatively tender bar as it's always engaged.

I'm not sure what you'd call it but if you've ever turned the KDSS screws while an LC is on a lift (at least 2 wheels off the ground) you'll notice that when you hit a certain point the wheels in the air will drop several inches.

That is just disengaging the sway bar manually. In Toyota literature, it consistently talks about KDSS disengaging the sway bar in varying ways and degrees, to almost full cancelling out of the sway bar function, such that the wheels can move independently. Perhaps plausible, but the literature does not suggest any additional articulation imparting function.

 

[bloc]

Actually, the LX doesn't have a front sway bar at all.

Are you sure about that? Curt implies the front bar bolts up to a LC and there is definitely a bar, brackets, and end links in the EPC.. for a 2009LX anyway. I didn’t check other years.

 

[TeCKis300]

Are you sure about that? Curt implies the front bar bolts up to a LC and there is definitely a bar, brackets, and end links in the EPC.. for a 2009LX anyway. I didn’t check other years.

I stand corrected. Peaked underneath and it's a pretty big bar staring right back at me. Measured 34mm.

 

[bloc]

I stand corrected. Peaked underneath and it's a pretty big bar staring right back at me. Measured 34mm.

Ah.. thanks for the numbers. I’ll get the ones off a cruiser when I get back to my calipers.

 

[linuxgod]

Which suggests KDSS is preventing those tires contacting the ground with as much force?

Toyota claims it adds as much as 4" of additional articulation off-road while reducing body lean while on the highway.

Toyota's Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) | Driving the Nation

David Lee, Product Education Administrator, Toyota Motor Corp., outlines Toyota’s new off-roading Landcruiser technologies.

www.drivingthenation.com

Note that the 200-series KDSS is mechanical while the 150-series is (was) electronically actuated

 

[indycole]

You'll be able to ask the guy narrating the video all about KDSS in exactly one week.

 

[M1911]

You'll be able to ask the guy narrating the video all about KDSS in exactly one week.

Could you post a summary of what he says for those of us unable to make it this year?

 

[bemerritt]

Anything ever become of this? I keep looking at my KDSS and wondering why not just rip it out. Its being demoted out of a daily and purely into an offroad/camp vehicle. And with people starting to go 37's, it seems like KDSS removals will possibly become popular.

 

[LC200TX]

Agreed! We want an update!

 

[prasta]

Under the truck this weekend, and man... I'm dreading the day those KDSS lines fail... Located in VT, and even with periodic FluidFilm application, I'm seeing quite a bit of cancer developing on the lines.

And yea, what they said above! Update us please!

 

[BrandonMLR]

Hey, if you're looking to get rid of the system I would be willing to get it off your hands pronto

 

[CharlieS]

Under the truck this weekend, and man... I'm dreading the day those KDSS lines fail... Located in VT, and even with periodic FluidFilm application, I'm seeing quite a bit of cancer developing on the lines.

And yea, what they said above! Update us please!

Let me know if you decide to do the swap, I'm not far away and would be glad to help turn wrenches, or hang out and talk cruisers.

 

[montegofd3s]

Reviving to see if anyone actually moved on this? I am weighing options on ditching a currently inoperable KDSS.

 

[empty80]

I've been in this research space heavily lately. AFAIK, KDSS-equipped axles are different than the AHC and mechanical stabilizer bar axles. Everything looks the same with the exception of the mounting bracket on the left-hand side of the truck. This still from @VooDoo2's video shows the bracket and axle mount.

This bracket does feature on the U.S. AHC-equipped axles from the photos I have seen on this forum. This implies axle swaps or fabrication to delete KDSS.

If you look at the photos of the mechanical 300-series and Tundra rear stabilizer bar, they are front mount bars similar to the KDSS bar. The shape and mounting positions look favorable, but it will take some dimensions or comparisons if/when they are available.