Toyota 4Runner Project

Page 2: Independent Front Suspension Installation

The IFS conversion kit comes in a pretty small box, but considering that it only contains a front axle it is actually pretty big. The contents are shown on the right which don't look like much. The inside of the box contains a couple of arcade games for your scale garage.

Here are the parts laid out on the table which don't look like they amount to much. The instructions are just a single folded page.

One of the big questions I had was, because this is an upgrade kit, does it use some of the parts from the original kit? The answer is no. The ring and pinion gear shown are exactly the same as those in the stock axle so didn't need to be included because they are duplicates. I guess this allows you to install this IFS kit on non-Enduro chassis. The little differential housing shown on the right ends up being the structural support for nearly everything else.

The IFS kit uses the same kinds of rod ends as the links on the regular 4-link suspension. The dual bellcranks for the steering are shown on the right along with a new metal servo horn.

Here the steering servo and steering linkage are installed onto a plate which then bolts to the gearbox housing as shown inverted on the right.

With the assembly flipped back over, we can now see the upper and lower wishbone arms as they attach to the gearbox housing. The skid plate has also been attached to stabilize the whole assembly. That open space on top of the plate can be used to attach a servo winch, although this fact is never mentioned anywhere in the instructions or on the packaging.

Here are the dogbone axles and the giant bearings which install into the steering knuckles. The steering crank is an aluminum part that bolts to the top of the knuckle.

Here the suspension assembly has been completed and can be tested. There is a lot of travel for independent suspension.

The IFS kit does not come with any new shocks, but it does come with new harder springs for the existing shocks which seem to work better with the IFS system. The lower attach point for the rear shocks also changes as shown on the right which effectively alters the ride height.

Here is the front suspension before and after the conversion. The shocks towers have to be swapped front to back which alters the position somewhat. The overall stance is about the same, but the details certainly are different.

Here are a couple of additional views of the completed IFS as installed. The picture on the right shows how completely different the front looks from the original 3-link layout. I like the long skid plate which runs all the way back to the middle of the chassis.

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