kdss why wouldn't I want it?

[rommelrommel]

I found one without the sport package that had KDSS, seems to have been a stand alone option but pretty rare. Not even the Lexus salesmen knew anything about it when I was making my calls. Wish I would have held out to find an 07+

 

[IanB]

I found one without the sport package that had KDSS, seems to have been a stand alone option but pretty rare. Not even the Lexus salesmen knew anything about it when I was making my calls. Wish I would have held out to find an 07+

I believe in '04 you could get KDSS without the sport package, is that what year yours is?

 

[RCsGX]

In 2004 there was no Sport package yet, that did not start until 2005.

http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/2004/2004GXspecs.pdf

http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/2005/2005GXspecs.pdf

 

[RCsGX]

If it has brown wood it doesn't have KDSS.

That's not true. KDSS was offered as a stand alone option and you could special order it without the Sports package. The only way to know 100% if you have KDSS is to look at the front & rear sway bars.

 

[mp_cude]

The only way to know 100% if you have KDSS is to look at the front & rear sway bars.

.....assuming the hydraulics on the driver side frame doesn't give it away...haha

 

[RCsGX]

.....assuming the hydraulics on the driver side frame doesn't give it away...haha

That was my point.

You can't go by the dark wood grain since you can order KDSS w/o the Sports package and you can't go by the KDSS light on the dash because it could burn out. The only way to know 100% if the GX you're looking at has KDSS is if you see this on the front and rear sway bars:

 

[ckkone]

So glad I have KDSS it's worth searching and waiting to get a GX equipped with it.

 

[shang0]

Here is what KDSS looks like from the rear:

This on my wife's 2006 GX470 Sport. This thing handles amazingly well on the road. It is hard to believe it is a tall heavy BOF SUV when you toss it into the corners.

A couple of downsides of KDSS.

1. The hydrolic fluid does need to be replaced at some point. The dealer I use has a machine specifically to check and change the fluid in the KDSS. Once there gets a certain amount of moisture in it, it needs to be replaced. At 81k miles, it hasn't needed it yet.

2. If something does break, I hear it is very expensive to fix. Mine appears it may have a leak, which is troubling.

 

[kashmir]

Great pics, useful!

I wish I would have looked for one with KDSS when I got mine. Next time. But you're the first one I've seen to discuss the problems with it.

I'm curious how problematic it will be compared to AHC - seems like it ages much better....

 

[BonnerBB]

You'll only eat crow on 2005 and above, right? I just stumbled upon a 2004, low mileage, lexus service history, in the LA area that I had decided to buy from 3 hours away. Went to close the deal and it had KDSS! You can imagine my excitement, because it wasn't listed in the ad; they didn't know what they had.

But to be on topic, I have normal wood trim, but it's 2004, per sport package.

How are you determining it has KDSS?

 

[lathamb]

Looking today and none of the trucks in the US advertised on autotrader as having the sport package actually had it. To have fun I emailed all of them and let them know their errors. I don't see how they are all mistaking Black wood trim for brown? Seems pretty basic if you're in the car business.

 

[Matador98]

How are you determining it has KDSS?

My front and rear looks like the pictures shown a few posts above these, and I have the KDSS light at startup. And I have the cylinder and hydraulic system shown in the KDSS system .pdf a few posts up.

 

[subspd]

So is it worth getting? I ask because I have heard it is another thing to break and that some aftermarket parts won’t fire trucks with it. (Not sure what parts?)

Also why not just do a quick disconnect for the front sway bar and ditch the rear?

 

[JLee]

So is it worth getting? I ask because I have heard it is another thing to break and that some aftermarket parts won’t fire trucks with it. (Not sure what parts?)

Also why not just do a quick disconnect for the front sway bar and ditch the rear?

It depends on your goals and your preferences.

There are no aftermarket lower control arms for KDSS trucks. I think someone is working on (fancy versions of) them, but for now it's dealer only.

You could disconnect the regular sway, but the KDSS sway bar is huge. The normal sway can't control body roll as well.

I love KDSS. I've owned two GX470's and won't buy one without it. Other opinions vary.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

@Matador98 post the pictures of the brown wood and the kdss pictures on your rig, so I can see @BonnerBB eat crow and post his pictures eating crow

 

[subspd]

I guess for me usage will be that it’s a true trip truck. I will use it for long distance trips including trips off road and to Central America from the north east.

To me is seems like from what I have read people hate the Mac system more than wishing they had KDSS.

It depends on your goals and your preferences.

There are no aftermarket lower control arms for KDSS trucks. I think someone is working on (fancy versions of) them, but for now it's dealer only.

You could disconnect the regular sway, but the KDSS sway bar is huge. The normal sway can't control body roll as well.

I love KDSS. I've owned two GX470's and won't buy one without it. Other opinions vary.

 

[Arailt]

My GX doesn't have KDSS and it handles really well on road. I can't imagine how well it would handle with KDSS.

That said, I'm in the "it's just one more, expensive thing to break" camp, especially if you plan to wheel often.

Side note, when you say Central America, do you mean Kansas or Costa Rica?

 

[subspd]

My GX doesn't have KDSS and it handles really well on road. I can't imagine how well it would handle with KDSS.

That said, I'm in the "it's just one more, expensive thing to break" camp, especially if you plan to wheel often.

Side note, when you say Central America, do you mean Kansas or Costa Rica?

Costa Rica, Belize, etc

 

[GXO]

If you don't go long travel KDSS is superior to non-KDSS.

 

[jangleheimer]

Anyone here with a GX470 that has KDSS looking to sell?