real time help KDSS how do I compress cylinder

[2fpower]

I posted this in the 150 section; however, radio silence, so I thought I would post it here.

I had a huge rust issue, so I pulled the rear sway bar out, blasted and painted it, but went to reinstall, and the kdss cylinder is now in the down position, and I am not sure what I need to do to get it compressed so I can reinstall the bar.

I unplugged the battery the entire time, never started the car, so I hoped that it would not do anything, clearly gravity and the fact there was no load on it was enough to expand it.

Can I just put a clamp on the kdss and compress it slowly, or jack it up?

here is the rusty mess.

here is the painted part, and you can see on the right side that the passenger side is about 4" higher.

 

[half k cruiser]

Is there not a fluid reservoir on the truck for that system ? If so I would investigate opening it so as to relieve the pressure and allow you to manipulate the cylinder.

 

[GXO]

There are valves you can loosen on the frame in the middle to allow for adjustment of the KDSS.

 

[2fpower]

There are valves you can loosen on the frame in the middle to allow for adjustment of the KDSS.

Any guidance of what valve, where? I followed the hoses to the box under the car about under the driver.

 

[GXO]

I don't have a KDSS rig so no pics. @JLee!!!

 

[2fpower]

This thread says that I should be able to push it back up....

And it basically says don't mess with the KDSS unless you want to shell out $$$$$ for dealer work.

KDSS Fluid Drain and Fill with Lift Install? - Page 2 - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

The ARB instructions for 200 series attached talk about opening the valve.

learning more... here is article on kdss lean.

Fixing a KDSS lean - Balancing KDSS

another one:


There is no reason to strap the KDSS bar.. As it is quite easy to push the cylinder back in place with a floor jack... The system is in open mode at rest.

I've never tired using the balancing/bleeder screws, but that might make things even easier.

Overall, there are many methods that work. I'm not sure what the best one is. but it is important to know what can go wrong and often does... and that is the bolts stripping that hold the front KDSS bar to the front LCA. The trucks that I have worked on all had those bolts stripped before I even touched it (which made things frustrating to say the least). So key is to make sure there is as little tension as possible (even when removing them). A vice grip clamped on before removal is a good move IMHO. Going back on is always a bit of a struggle, so make sure you have extra hands and straps to help get things back into position. Just don't get in a rush. As long as you don't strip out those bolts, you won't screw it up (the threads are fine and weak).


video on kdss, shows on the front just jacking the bar up in place. sounds like what to do.

 

[JLee]

Ahh sorry fellas, didn't see this until now. Hit me up on FB and I'll be much faster.

On the 470 there are shutter valves (pull the skid plate that's covering them, about the middle of the driver's side frame rail). Open them about 1.5 turns and the KDSS system will go all floppy. Do yo thang and then put the truck back on the ground, level, and tighten the valves again.