2001 Toyota 4Runner - Fore! - Four Wheeler Network
The Placerville, California, residents have crossed the nearby Rubicon Trail countless times in their Toyota Land Cruiser and Toyota pickup. The Schroeders are Toyota people, and these vehicles were very capable, but they lacked creature comforts. Jerry bought a bone-stock 4Runner and took it directly to Stoffregen Motorsports, where owner Matt Stoffregen brought Jerry’s vision to life. Stoffregen added a solid front axle, dual transfer cases, and a coilover front suspension with enough space to clear 35-inch tires without being overly tall. This is not a trivial issue on late-model Toyotas, since the front framerails are essentially flat to package the stock independent front suspension. Adding a live axle and steering components under the framerails so there is enough space for adequate uptravel without an overly tall ride height has become Stoffregen Motorsports’ calling card. As a result, nearly all of the “off-the-shelf” parts used on the 4Runner were tweaked to ensure proper steering and suspension geometry with adequate clearances and a low ride height. “Most people are not willing to cut up their oil pan in order to lower the ride height of their off-road vehicle,” Stoffregen concedes. “But Jerry gave me free reign, so I looked at each component from the shock tower height to the steering box location to determine how to stuff 35s under the 4Runner without it being overly tall. Source: www.fourwheeler.com
