My 87 runner is due for a paint and the local Vo-Tech is spraying it for me (teachers get free labor!). I need front fenders and would like to go with the 3" flared glass fenders from glassworks unimited. What kind of tire can I fit with the new fenders? The truck has NO lift. Any ideas? Can I fit 33's or 35's? Thank you.
Randy

 

Flares will only help you fit (legally) wider wheels and/or tires, not taller. With no lift, a 32x11.50 is about the biggest tire you'll be able to fit:

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...it.shtml#FAQ10

What the flares do is provide coverage for the tires, which is required in many states. The main rubbing point with tires is the back of the wheel well where it meets the firewall. That area will be unaffected by flared fenders.

 

Thanks for the info. GREAT LINK. I am going to have to print that out and add it to the tech collection. THANKS. I should have been more specific on the fenders. Here is a link http://www.glassworksunlimited.com/gu33.shtml .They are actually 4" flared and 3" raised. So the limiting factor is the rear 1/4's. So, if I could fit 32's with stock fenders I should be able to fit 35's with 3" raised fenders. But then there is the rear....hmmmm. Any ideas?

 

As mentioned, it is the back of the wheel well/firewall where the tires rub (circled in red):

 

Ahh...Now I see. I will now more fully read your article. Thanks again.

 

ACtually, depending on which fenders he is talking about, most of the aftermarket wider fenders have larger openings and will allow bigger tires with no lift. 33s can actually be run (street only!) on an unlifted 87. With those fenders and the pinch weld knocked down 33s should be fine. Ask Deathrunner about his fenders.

You might crank the xtorsions up an inch and put a 1 1/2" AAL in the rear and be wheelin fer cheap.

 

With the pickup (pictured above) we installed 33x12.50 BFGs on 15x8 rims, 4.75" backspacing before any lift and there was major rubbing on the road. After a 1" body lift, fender seam trimming and hammering, cranking up the torsion bars an inch or so, there was still some rubbing off-road. Took more trimming and even so, there is a slight rubbing off road, nothing that does any damage, but the rubbing is not on the stock fender+flare, it is on the firewall. It is hammered/trimmed to be about as flat as possible. Might be a slight difference between a 3rd gen ('94) pickup and a 1st gen 4Runner body as well.

But do the fenders, put on the tires and then deal with and fix any rubbing you might experience. You could always measure tire clearance with the new fenders on around your existing tires under various conditions of articulation and steering.

 

Thanks for the info. Flamed- I am unfamiliar with 1 1/2"AAL. I am thinking shackles or blocks. Am I in the ballpark? Oooohhh I am getting hot and sweaty just thinking about it...33's and Flared/raised fenders. Ooooh. Mayeb I wil paint it OD Green instead of white. Hmmmm.... I have put tube doors and a bikini top on it and it has some 15x8 AR's with 31/10.5-15's . Lots of fun so far. It is quite the vehicle for family camping trips and romps through the woods and the creek and the National Forest. Many Thanks...

 

Ahhh...AAL. Add a Leaf. Got it.

 

I am running about 1.5-2" of lift and 33's fit fine. Even at full compression, no rubbing.

Fiberglass flares with the pinch weld whacked flat makes a big difference. If it still rubs just get the 1.5" bj spacers and forget about it. That's alot of perfromance for not much $$$

 

Deathrunner. AWESOME truck. I will be looking for your posts ASAP. Thanks for the info. The Vo-Tech teacher just told me over lunch that he will not be able to get me in until 2nd semester. No biggie, I guess. The truck is already white. I may just spray-bomb a white primer coat until he can do it right. BTW where did you get your fenders and how is the quality?Thanks.

 

I bought my fenders from www.hannemannfiberglass.com

You can also get from glassworks, but stay away from fiberwerx, there stuff isn't too strong from what I hear it is "race glass"

 

I ran 33x10.5 on my 4runner stock for a while. The only place I was rubbing was on the back of the front fender. The rear I never rubbed, even with the stock springs. Now I'm running a 3" lift with the glassworks fenders and the 33's dont rub at all.

 

Thanks. Good info. Nice runner pinnacle. Time to look for a gear set to pull taller tires. The truck is SLOW with 31's. I may actually go backwards with 33's