KDSS lean with stock suspension

[200seareez]

I need some help. I just purchased my first Land Cruiser this week and after getting it home noticed the sway bar wasn’t connected. At first I assumed the first owner just wanted more off-road articulation as the truck had quite a bit of off road mods to it. After fussing with it for a while I just took it to a dealer to have them reattach the sway bar. Now the truck has a nasty lean on the passenger side.

I went underneath to see if opening the KDSS valves would help and much to my horror the valve body is rusted to hell. I did all I could to get it unstuck and eventually rounded out one of the hex heads. At this point I am not sure what my next step is. I’m not even sure if it is the KDSS causing the issue or if it’s something else with the suspension or frame. I have the very unique opportunity to return the truck to the place I bought it but I only have 3 more days to make my decision.

This truck is clean as all hell with probably a good $15k in upgrades. I’m more sure if it’s worth the headache of trying to fix this issue or just return it and start my search all over again. My next step is to try and find a body or off-road shop that might be able to weld a bed onto the valves to see if they can break them loose or maybe an aftermarket suspension that replaces the KDSS. Any and all input is appreciated.

 

[RET2]

I need some help. I just purchased my first Land Cruiser this week and after getting it home noticed the sway bar wasn’t connected. At first I assumed the first owner just wanted more off-road articulation as the truck had quite a bit of off road mods to it. After fussing with it for a while I just took it to a dealer to have them reattach the sway bar. Now the truck has a nasty lean on the passenger side.

I went underneath to see if opening the KDSS valves would help and much to my horror the valve body is rusted to hell. I did all I could to get it unstuck and eventually rounded out one of the hex heads. At this point I am not sure what my next step is. I’m not even sure if it is the KDSS causing the issue or if it’s something else with the suspension or frame. I have the very unique opportunity to return the truck to the place I bought it but I only have 3 more days to make my decision.

This truck is clean as all hell with probably a good $15k in upgrades. I’m more sure if it’s worth the headache of trying to fix this issue or just return it and start my search all over again. My next step is to try and find a body or off-road shop that might be able to weld a bed onto the valves to see if they can break them loose or maybe an aftermarket suspension that replaces the KDSS. Any and all input is appreciated. View attachment 2926026

View attachment 2926027

Try some spirited driving on a curvy road and park it overnight.

 

[JohnJB]

Punt it.

You will not regret it. You will regret chasing someone else’s problem.

 

[mcgaskins]

I have the very unique opportunity to return the truck to the place I bought it but I only have 3 more days to make my decision.


View attachment 2926027

I would absolutely, unequivocally return the truck to the dealer, and I would do it as fast as possible.

 

[gaijin]

Return the truck - too many unknowns. Disconnected suspension parts, horrible rust, what's next?

Return it and start anew.

HTH

 

[bloc]

Disconnected swaybar is a HUGE safety issue in an emergency maneuver. That absolutely never should have passed a safety inspection, however many points they say are on the list.

If the truck doesn’t lean with the bar disconnected it isn’t anything else. When these systems get severely corroded a significant lean is a nasty side effect.

Ditch this truck, you don’t want to deal with all this rust, and with the safety argument you have a good case for them giving you your money back.

 

[lx200inAR]

I certainly get the sentiment of dumping something with unknowns.., but maybe option B is take it to get the full inspection it probably should have already gotten and see if you can work with dealer to find a common ground on necessary repairs.

 

[bloc]

I certainly get the sentiment of dumping something with unknowns.., but maybe option B is take it to get the full inspection it probably should have already gotten and see if you can work with dealer to find a common ground on necessary repairs.

Normally I’d agree but the kdss issues are just the start of all their woes from rust.

 

[lx200inAR]

Normally I’d agree but the kdss issues are just the start of all their woes from rust.

That picture does look pretty aggressive. The way people talk about rusty KDSS around here, I wondered if it affected the rest of the truck as much. I’m sure a good inspection would uncover that. But I agree, if someone kept a very clean and upgraded 200 and then sold it because they had trashed KDSS with more things on the horizon, then maybe they saw the writing on the wall...

 

[bloc]

But I agree, if someone kept a very clean and upgraded 200 and then sold it because they had trashed KDSS with more things on the horizon, then maybe they saw the writing on the wall...

My thoughts exactly. Looking past the valve the small area we can see of body is quite clean, but I’m betting the axles suspension and frame are pretty bad on top of the kdss disintegration.

Whether it was the previous owner or the dealer that disconnected the sway bar.. someone was covering up major future issues. Even fixing the KDSS would be a very expensive job..

Just move on.

 

[Tex68w]

Yikes!

 

[Sandroad]

I’ve seen and read enough to say return it. The rust damage is not just the valve body. It would cost $$$ to replace the system and there is no aftermarket setup that replaces the KDSS. More pics of the underbody would likely be decisive about corrosion. Where did the truck live? As a relevant aside, I generally don’t buy the clean=good argument. Anyone with the right tools and cleaners and time can make most any vehicle clean and used car dealers have mastered the art.

 

[200seareez]

My thoughts exactly. Looking past the valve the small area we can see of body is quite clean, but I’m betting the axles suspension and frame are pretty bad on top of the kdss disintegration.

Whether it was the previous owner or the dealer that disconnected the sway bar.. someone was covering up major future issues. Even fixing the KDSS would be a very expensive job.

That’s where I become conflicted. The rest of the truck is as close to spotless as it can be. Any other rust is surface at its worst and almost non existent. I can’t find any other issue on top of the fact that this thing has a whole set of upgrades. Full body skids, sliders, dual battery, roof rack with a full solar array. All of the kit on the inside to live off grid for weeks at a time if needed. ARB boxes in the back and I got a pretty good deal on it. I was hoping someone would know of a good lift or suspension kit that simply removes the KDSS. However I’m also clearly emotionally invested in this thing so im not thinking clearly either

 

[bloc]

That’s where I become conflicted. The rest of the truck is as close to spotless as it can be. Any other rust is surface at its worst and almost non existent. I can’t find any other issue on top of the fact that this thing has a whole set of upgrades. Full body skids, sliders, dual battery, roof rack with a full solar array. All of the kit on the inside to live off grid for weeks at a time if needed. ARB boxes in the back and I got a pretty good deal on it. I was hoping someone would know of a good lift or suspension kit that simply removes the KDSS. However I’m also clearly emotionally invested in this thing so im not thinking clearly either

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Get back to us about “surface at worst” when you start to install the suspension.

KDSS removal has been discussed recently, also due to a corrosion-related lean. Front LX bar install is easy. Rear requires adding a bracket to the axle housing but seems easy for any decent fabricator. Adding one bracket assumes you still have threads left in some welded inserts.. I wouldn’t assume that. But the fabricator can address that too.

I’m glad this thing speaks to you but it still stinks of someone ditching a project for good reason.

Personally I’ll never understand people that live in places without rust volunteering to deal with it on vehicles they plan to own for a long time. The difference in headaches over the life of the vehicle is just too pronounced.

 

[CharlieS]

That zip tied mess of an electrical system would be enough to make me send it back. lol

If you can send it back, I would. That valve block corrosion and disconnected swaybar spell trouble to me.

I haven't read of any great solutions to replacing KDSS, even if you put in traditional anti-sway bars, it looks like a custom fab job to find the right bar and then weld a custom bracket onto the rear axle. You could do it, but I think you'd be better off starting with a good 200 and adding accessories to it.

 

[BVE]

Go get your money back.

 

[linuxgod]

As the dealer what the cost is to replace the entire KDSS system (KDSS accumulator, all the lines, etc). That's your likely solution. Is it worth that? Is the seller willing to eat the cost of the repair to not take it back?

As @bloc notes if there's no lean with the sway bar disconnected then it's nothing else. Which would be good because if there's a lean with the sway bar disconnected I would be concerned about frame damage or other suspension problems.

The underside shot is pretty dark. In general if there's rust on other bolts I'd just return it because every suspension job is going to be a nightmare. It's likely given the KDSS rust that your LCA cam bolts are frozen, for instance, which means your next alignment will be $1000 to replace the arms ($600 in parts) plus to cut out the old cam bolts which won't move.

 

[Bendcruiser]

Don't be fooled by the window dressing, it's lipstick on a pig. You will find something better. Return it.

 

[Sandroad]

OMG! Unprotected wires running over sharp metal edges, zip ties that will work loose, questionable DC wire size to the inverter, a rats nest of wire bunched behind the metal frame, and 16 (sixteen) AC outlets. I would hate to take a deep dive into this, but I’d start with making certain the fusing is adequate in size and location.

The undercarriage photo is dark and grainy, but there are some possible indications it’s paint or undercoating covered rust?

 

[bloc]

Also if you do go to standard sways, you won’t articulate as well as a stock vehicle, or corner as flat.