Fixing KDSS lean after lift query..

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

I'm not sure if this has been raised before,

I had King standard height springs (KTFS-101 & KTRS-102) and Bilstein shockers fitted to the VX yesterday, the car sat level at the front as standard, now with the new springs it has the much talked about KDSS lean.


Looking at the original springs, they are colour coded differently, one red and brown the other red and yellow.
The red and yellow coded spring is about 11 mm longer than the other one.

My measurements are, not exact I'm sure but, Red Yellow 348 mm, Red Brown 337 mm.

I will get a photo posted in the next couple of days.

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

I'm not sure if this has been raised before,

I had King standard height springs (KTFS-101 & KTRS-102) and Bilstein shockers fitted to the VX yesterday, the car sat level at the front as standard, now with the new springs it has the much talked about KDSS lean.


Looking at the original springs, they are colour coded differently, one red and brown the other red and yellow.
The red and yellow coded spring is about 11 mm longer than the other one.

My measurements are, not exact I'm sure but, Red Yellow 348 mm, Red Brown 337 mm.

I will get a photo posted in the next couple of days.

I will check my standard springs but that is very interesting.....

My bilstein raised 8mm up one groove has the front now at 810mm and 810mm and the rear at 855mm and 850mm so very happy.

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

Edited due to photo stuff up,

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Original font springs from a VX with KDSS,
Showing colour coding,

http://www.pradopoint.com/attachment...5&d=1319707467

Height difference,

http://www.pradopoint.com/attachment...6&d=1319707524

http://www.pradopoint.com/attachment...7&d=1319707573

And again,

http://www.pradopoint.com/attachment...8&d=1319707625

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

I've made hard work of this post, hopefully it's come out alright now.

Car is booked in to have circlip on right front Bilstein raised one notch, 8mm I think, to hopefully level it out.

I will advise the result tomorrow night.

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

Bloody good spot mate. 8mm on mine has rectified about 20mm of lean and the car drives much nicer. I felt it was very soft turning left but firm turning right with the lean and the car just felt unsettled. 8mm lift and 100% all good.

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

Kakadaz,

Mine drove the same, soft into left corners and ok into rights.

The fitters lifted the right hand spring seat height, I asked them to go one notch (8mm) but it looks like they've gone two (16mm) I can see the bottom groove under the aluminium spring seat.

Either way the car is level again, left to right is within a couple of mm's.

Car looks and feels good, only problem left is the steering is a bit vague and pulls a bit to the right, hopefully just a wheel alignment.

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Kakadaz,

Mine drove the same, soft into left corners and ok into rights.

The fitters lifted the right hand spring seat height, I asked them to go one notch (8mm) but it looks like they've gone two (16mm) I can see the bottom groove under the aluminium spring seat.

Either way the car is level again, left to right is within a couple of mm's.

Car looks and feels good, only problem left is the steering is a bit vague and pulls a bit to the right, hopefully just a wheel alignment.

It will be alignment mine was re done when they moved the clip and its 100% spot on. If they went 2 clips on yours that would be around 40mm difference so I would say prob just one groove up it is normally set on the middle clip so one up is at max. I checked my factory front springs and sure enough one spring is about 12mm taller...

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BNEGXL,
That's a pretty major discovery and has solved the mysterious KDSS lean. If you have some vernier calipers, it would be good to measure the diameter of the coil too to see if there is any difference. By changing the length of the spring, and compressing it down to the same distance, the longer spring will have a higher preload. This side might be the one that seems harder when cornering.

Was there a difference in terms of hardness when cornering with the factory suspension?

Seeing as strut spacers are technically illegal, it appears that Bilsteins are the only way to go for KDSS suspension upgrades due to the spring seat grooves. Unless there are others on the market doing similar???

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

Kakadaz,
You're right, alignment done properly and the car drives as good as new, but with better suspension!
I'm not sure if they lifted the spring seat one groove or two, because I can see the lowest groove I think it's two.
I think you have had yours raised to the middle groove?
If so, can you see the lower groove under the aluminium spring seat?

I notice that RogerthatV2 has a 15mm spacer and he's happy.
Big difference between 8mm and 15mm, but it appears both work.
I think the spacer ARB supply with their suspension kit is 10mm? Can someone confirm please?

AMTS,
I got the verniers out yesterday, both coils are 17mm diameter.
Regarding preload, with the car sitting level on level ground the shock absorbers are sitting at the same length, the right hand side spring is compressed more than the left, so it is a preload issue not a shock length issue.
Factory suspension is well balanced when cornering and now so is modified version, it definitely was softer on the right (turning left) without the preload.

What I find disappointing is that with all the various suspension suppliers and installers the only ones that seem to have done their homework on the KDSS Prado is ARB, they appear to recognise the issue as they supply a spacer.

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

I wonder though if ARB actually know the springs are different length or just use the spacer as a bandaid. If spring manufacturers knew the factory springs were un even they would manufacture theirs with a left and right with 10-12mm difference. Glad yours is all good after the alignment though mines so much nicer with the lean gone and alignment right.

[KJA Member Find all posts View Profile Close KJA]

Kakadaz,
Can you indicate who has done your suspension upgrade as I would like to have them look at mine.

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WA suspensions in ozzy park installed the shocks and front springs I adjusted the rear self level sensors to raise the rear. What is up with yours ? I know more about the lifting and lean issues with the KDSS than WA Susp they just did the spanner work.

[KJA Member Find all posts View Profile Close KJA]

Kakadaz,
Mine has the lean but is also raised 50 mm at the front and about 75mm at the back. I want to bring back down to 50mm so that I can get it registered in WA. Whats the chance of catching up with you some time to get you have a look and providing me with some advice?
Ken

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Kakadaz,
Mine has the lean but is also raised 50 mm at the front and about 75mm at the back. I want to bring back down to 50mm so that I can get it registered in WA. Whats the chance of catching up with you some time to get you have a look and providing me with some advice?
Ken

just lower it on the height button when you go for Rego...I'm happy to have a look mate I'm in Joondalup.