What tool to use to trim fenderwells?

[Gadgetguy]

Ive been kicking around the idea of a body lift but still seeking other ideas. 97 4runner, OME heavy heavy lift, BFG AT 2, Spidertrax 1.25" spacers. The front tires hit the firewall/fender bad when wheeling hard. Stock split 3 spoke wheels, the tires rubbed the UCA's on hard turns sitting flat on the ground.

Cutting the fenders is going to be my first bet. If I need a bodylift I want the lowest one possible. How to cut them and make them look clean, what tool? Sawzalls tend to make fenders rattle and go insane in my experience. Also how to finish off the cut? bed liner seems like a good choice. My truck isn't beautiful but it is decent lol. A good walk through would be sweet but in my searches people usually breeze over the fender cut part and make on to the expensive part.

 

[grannyzpanniez]

I just used a disc angle grinder and went to ham on the pinch weld and fender flare area. I don't have pictures but it should be pretty straight forward if you just go to town on the suckers[emoji48]

 

[grannyzpanniez]

you can't really tell but the front flare is angled in and cut a couple inches up and the back part is hammered and grinded so I could fit the tires easily

 

[derpiful]

Grinder with a flap disk and cutting wheel, along with a big hammer. Really the 3 things you need to solve most rubbing issues! Where exactly is it hitting? I assume near the pinchweld?

Also, are you talking about cutting the fender itself? Here's what I just did, similar to that?

 

[Gadgetguy]

Grinder with a flap disk and cutting wheel, along with a big hammer. Really the 3 things you need to solve most rubbing issues! Where exactly is it hitting? I assume near the pinchweld?

Also, are you talking about cutting the fender itself? Here's what I just did, similar to that?

It hits the fender. Will probably hit the pinchweld too after trmming but thats when I let it get that far. The tires hit the UCA's sitting flat on the ground so I had to do spacers. It handles better as well with the wider stance. I don't want a BL if I can help it. Thanks for the tips so far. I can see careful work with the cutoff wheel working and a sanding disk after. Will probably bed line it afterwards to fight off rust/

 

[Gadgetguy]

I imagine the rear will need some welding. I'm going to do bumpstop spacers first to see what happens. The rear bumper will have to go as that's whats been cutting up the tires. The rear flexes like insanity for what it is. The fronts will be easy after some looking into it. I'll definitely be getting a body saw. Thanks for the help!

 

[Kippjr23]

Id honestly take it somewhere, im weird about cutting though.

 

[Doc2012]

[MENTION=128897]Gadgetguy[/MENTION]


Clearance for 35-inch Tires on a Tacoma at ANY Lift Height | Trails Less Traveled

They did this to a 4Runner as well. Here ya go.

4Runner on 35's... | Trails Less Traveled


I took 3/4" off all around with a 4.5" grinder and cutoff wheels, welded 3/16" rod to the entire back side to keep the panels together.

Need to do the fire wall mod.

 

[JeepKiller]

Its all dependent on if you wanna do it the man way or the slightly less man way. BFH FOR THE WIN!

 

[Doc2012]

BFH FOR THE WIN!

Beat that pinchweld too much, and you're going to have to weld it anyway, or you'll have wet floors.

Minus well do what I posted in the link.

 

[snivilous]

If you actually go wheeling pull the coilover so you can fully cycle the suspension and steering to make sure you clear. I used a pneumatic cutter with a 3" blade since it was easier to maneuver around, I also pulled the fender when working on the rest of the wheel well so you have more space.

 

[meekie4]

I used painting tape to create a line to follow while cutting. It's what my friend and I did over the weekend to cut my fenders

View image: image

 

[D Farms]

heres what I did, you will find that the inner fender is what is going to rub more than the outer fender.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/173997-d-farms-build-thread-goldilocks-2.html#post2035340

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/173997-d-farms-build-thread-goldilocks-2.html#post2036642

with a stock size tire and 3" lift haha.

 

[Gadgetguy]

Yes I do wheel the truck and that is how I found out how bad they rub the fender. I know I will need to do the pinch weld as well. The tires do hit the outer fender pretty hard when flexing on the trail which I realize is due to the wheel spacers. I didn't have much of a choice at the time but to use the spacers because my tires hit the ucas pretty bad.

Thanks for the tips guys... now to find the time to do this in my "spare time", what ever that is.