Quick Rear Suspension mod for 4runners
 

Toyota designed the rear bumpstop inside the rear coils to be approx 1 inch or less above the rear axle. This was to reduce the body roll by allowing the bumpstop to rest on the rear axle in rapid tight turns, as a result the 96-01 4Runners suffer from axle bump as there is little room for the axle housing to move upwards even on slightly bumpy roads. I have noticed that by removing the first notch of the bumpstop, the ride quality is improved, as the axle housing is free to move upwards. (similar it installing a taller coil)I have done this mod to several 4Runners and the owners love the ride.
To do this mod you have to jack up one side of the rear axle housing, or reverse up a ramp on one side to stretch the opposite coil. Take a long jagged blade knife or hacksaw blade, insert between the coils to the first (bottom) lower notch of the bumpstop and saw through it. Remove the piece by sliding it between the coils. repeat for the other side and go test drive..you will notice improvement immidiately. I even had to do this mod to a 4Runner with Downey coils.The shock will not bottom out before the bumpstop and there is a backup bumpstop located next to the coils on the frame.

This mod has been floating around here for a while. I used it with my Downey coils back in '02.

is this safe? i have been pondering this for a while as i seem to bottom out very easily. I just recently took it in for the recall and he put in the new sstyle stopper.(but not the new springs since its a 2wd) BUT, he left on the old stly also! i plan to remove them and hope that will improve it some and if i still want more, i might try what u are saying


QUESTION!: do yalls runners have both the old style (outside the springs) AND the new one(inside the springs) or just the inside one? thanks

For a while I was running the Sonoran Steel bumpstops outside the coils and the cut down isolator cone inside the coils. Basically the cut-down cone inside the coil was just acting as a spacer for a bit of additional lift.