Please post pics when you've got the Dobbies installed.
Swing and a miss - KDSS valves
- Thread starter ElJayBird
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- Thread starter
- #22
I will for sure - I’ve got a few trips coming up so it likely won’t be until late Sept.
Glad to hear that they broke free for you.
People do seem to like the mountains.
The Lost Coast is not-to-be-missed but much better suited to solo-to-small groups. Personally, I'd love to do an Eastern Sierra / Death Valley event one of these days but not in the summer months.
Edited to add that it looks like we both posted in the wrong thread? Sorry!
1. Asked my local Toyota Dealership to loosen the valves when it was in for the seatbelt recall. They said the valves were "frozen" WTF? No solution!
2. Sprayed the valves for 2 weeks with PB Blaster - no luck
3. Had my mechanic take a crack at it. He used a small torch, "Matco Tools" hex bit. Managed to break the inside valve loose and broke the hex bit off inside on the outer valve. He was able to remove the broken bit but didn't want to break a second bit. Told me to keep spraying it with penetrating oil.
4. Mechanic tried it again after I sprayed I sprayed it for 4 days in a row. He bent this hex bit tool and said he didn't want to break or strip anything valve screw and gave up the fight.
5. I have decided to drop it off to another mechanic that I haven't used in awhile and let him take a crack at it.
It sucks because I purchased my suspension system prior to attempting to release the KDSS valves and now i am stuck with over $2,000 in parts I can't use. I amhoping...praying, that this shop can install the coil springs, shocks, struts and UPC's with only one valve opened 3 turns. Anyone actually replace a suspension successfully without the KDSS valves opened? Just wondering what one valve oped does if anything?
2. Sprayed the valves for 2 weeks with PB Blaster - no luck
3. Had my mechanic take a crack at it. He used a small torch, "Matco Tools" hex bit. Managed to break the inside valve loose and broke the hex bit off inside on the outer valve. He was able to remove the broken bit but didn't want to break a second bit. Told me to keep spraying it with penetrating oil.
4. Mechanic tried it again after I sprayed I sprayed it for 4 days in a row. He bent this hex bit tool and said he didn't want to break or strip anything valve screw and gave up the fight.
5. I have decided to drop it off to another mechanic that I haven't used in awhile and let him take a crack at it.
It sucks because I purchased my suspension system prior to attempting to release the KDSS valves and now i am stuck with over $2,000 in parts I can't use. I am
It can be done. Do a bit of searching this forum. It can be done. It’s just trickier. I’ve not personally done it...but search...or wait for others to chime in.
If they can't get the second screw loose I am hopeful that I will be the guy that is successful in getting this damn suspension installed with without the KDSS valves adjusted. I will be reporting on my results asap.
Who did you buy your suspension from?
RET2
SILVER Star
Patience grasshopper, it sometimes takes a while but as others have chimed in the Blaster oil works just takes time. There is another fine product Aero Kroil ?
Be patient. Keep hitting with penetrating oil. Tap the center of the hex screw with a tap. Tap the edges of the hex screw with a tap. Use pick around edges of hex screw to remove rust and open up the space around the hex screw head.
I hit mine with penetrating oil for a week, twice daily. Used pick each night. Used tap each night.
I was able to break mine free this evening.
A few on here installed w/o opening KDSS. I was curious about means and methods to install lift w/o opening the valves. I started a thread the other day but nothing definitive has been posted yet.
I hit mine with penetrating oil for a week, twice daily. Used pick each night. Used tap each night.
I was able to break mine free this evening.
A few on here installed w/o opening KDSS. I was curious about means and methods to install lift w/o opening the valves. I started a thread the other day but nothing definitive has been posted yet.
Here are the tools I used. What’s not pictured...patience.
Also make sure the hex bit is fully seated in the head.
Also make sure the hex bit is fully seated in the head.
As said, have patience. Keep hitting them with PB Blaster / Aero Kroil and eventually they’ll break free.
Those tools should be a kit that Toyota supplies in a compartment for the KDSS valves! Lol
I will continue to oil, tap, pick and scrape. I personally appreciate all of posts you guys are making. If Toyota only knew or cared about the BS some of us are going through over two little A$$ screws! I am still scratching my head from the lack of effort the dealership service center put into my request to rectify the situation. I simply asked them to level my KDSS system. Report came back “ bolts are frozen”...period.
I have posted before about the female service writer telling me to just wait for the system to fail and then replace it! WTF? She insisted that my truck has an air suspension and wouldn’t listen to reason. The lack of knowledge about their own vehicles is mind blowing.
Oh...I purchased the Ironman Foam Cell Pro Performance kit and SPC Performance adjustable Upper Control Arms. I even contemplated painting my coil springs black instead of the lime green they came in however I figured what’s the point since I may be returning the kit!
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How about toyota updating the screws on later model trucks, but still leaving the lower face of the valve unpainted so it corrodes into dust around the improved screws.
Toyota has always been a company that does a lot of things very, very well.. which makes the usual one or two dumb oversights on every vehicle design seem like glaring mistakes. At least with these it's a short list of things we have to worry about.
Toyota has always been a company that does a lot of things very, very well.. which makes the usual one or two dumb oversights on every vehicle design seem like glaring mistakes. At least with these it's a short list of things we have to worry about.
PB Blaster and patience seems to be the mantra around here. It worked for me.
Day 4 of penetrating oil for me. I installed new rear springs Friday night. Both KDSS seized, so just went ahead and did the spring install without opening them. The install went fine, but i now have about 7/8" of a lean to the passenger side. Trying patience, just spraying and trying carefully daily. Just ordered 2 different snap-on options.
RET2
SILVER Star
I'd advise caution using the longer items as you may encounter twisting/ torque issues. AeroKroil is your friend with a good dose of patience as well as a little"spirited" driving on a twisty road.
what was your tool of choice? I thought i needed long to drop down below the exhaust and the cylinders. i tried with short regular allen thus far, and it just hits the exhaust