Viper Cut

For the first time today, I was backing out of a parking spot and had my steering locked fully to the left and noticed some tire rubbing. My new 4 runner has a 3" lift with 275/70/17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers. I assume the Viper Cut is what everyone does to alleviate any possible rubbing on the front fenders? Not too keen on cutting up my fenders, but I plan on doing some off roading with this thing and don't want to be rubbing every time I have to make a short turn.

 

Try doing this first.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BCFD-gw1B0

 

Find out exactly where you are rubbing first.

A lot are just hitting the mud flap and not the bumper.

 

You don’t need the Viper cut to clear the tires.

 

I had to cut. Heat gun on the mud flap it still hit.

Maybe could of got more caster out of it but was faster and cheaper to just cut.

 

Cheaper to hack up the bumper than a proper alignment?

 

@TX4x4
Hey OP,
I had rubbing just like that, literally as the shop backed my truck out after 3” lift. And I had UCA’s done proper. Don’t do the viper cut if you don’t want to in the slightest. Lucky enough at the time (for me then), my shop dremel cut a sliver off the bottom of the front bumper. And I removed front mud guards, let em go man I personally wouldn’t take a heat gun to my flaps or fender liner, I thought it looks bad.
Goodluck!

 

But what the hell do I know.
I ended up viper cutting the crap out of the bumper which ironically others think looks bad

 

Looks hella cool tho!

 

I had alignment you needed one here back in the day with any lift on your vehicle to get your annual safety check and recon which is now gone.

There is no way it was going to clear the bumper.

OP has 275s I had 285s if it makes a difference.

 

Don’t do it.. makes your 4r look terrible. Like an unintentional gouge.. looks especially bad from the side

 

It looks fine if you follow the body lines correctly and not just chop off a corner.

 

Jealous?

 

I’m not so sure the side angle looks amazing for us

 

Viper cut is the way to keep up with Jeeps

 

Viper cut offered no meaningful clearance in either of those situations you posted pictures of

 

Nah.. it looks goofy af. Reminds me of a nashcar body shell. Kinda looks like a 4R, but the proportions are all whacky and it’s ugly

 

Any body know who the hell sells stinger bar front bumpers for 5th gen 4Runners? I constantly see them old gens and jeeps. I want this.

 

Do what you think looks good to you OP. My 280 70 17's don't rub at full articulation and steering wheel fully cranked, but I removed the mud flaps, did a little trimming behind the mud flaps, cut the bumper ever so slightly ( you can't even tell) melted, partially relocated the plastic liner and a BMC.

Wheels are in their stock location. 0 offset

It's good to crank the wheel all the way both directions and you can look visually or get. Along ruler or something abd easily tell where you're going to rub at full articulation. I've done this visually and my 4runner and a tacona. No rubs. Same tire size on the 2nd gen taco but -25 or -35 offset.

 

The viper cut is ugly and unnecessary.

 

Viper cut is unnecessary and ugly (to most) as stated above.

I put 285/70 KO3 on my truck a month ago and had to trim the front fenders just a bit to clear. Took under an hour and I was working slowly.

Used an oscillating multi-tool which did a nice job but you could use other tools too.

See pics (before and after) below.

Jason

 

You do you, but I agree some angles I dislike it. I’m happy with my cuts though I can say that. And I took a different approach to typical curve at the bottom.



But, mostly I just like the look seeing my tires more from the front. Step 1 Viper Cut, Step 2 stinger bar front bumper. It’s about cash.

I’d be lying if I said bucking off the bottom of the front bumper didn’t save me a few inevitable scratches from f’ing around. I wish the stocker bumper cover didn’t have quite as large of a bulge in front of the tire.
https://www.4runners.com/threads/wh...h-gen-4runner-today.2261/page-925#post-517375

 

Some hideous 4Rs.. all ruined by this dumb mod

 

I like how my cut looks. Don't think it looks as awkward as some others as it doesn't end as high on the top side. T4R Garage's YT video is the method I used.

 

Some like it. Some don't. Just remember, once you cut you can't go back (obviously can replace with new bumper cover).

 

A viper cut only looks okay if you've got the right front bumper on it.

 

First - I'm a fan of cutting and mod'ing pretty much everything. I've cut fenders and wheel wells on other trucks. Getting the lines right - to look good from all angles is always the hardest part. The cutting is easy.
Second - I'm NOT a fan of the viper cut.

I think most of the viper cuts just look like no thought was given to the lines of the truck, other than a straight-on view of the front. You can't just look at the front, follow an angle on the facia, carry that around to the side and expect it to flow. That's why designers use 3D modeling, and some still us clay.

I agree with @Grandpawmoses - the right bumper goes a long way here. This looks better:

 

Retraction/correction: I change my statement from viper cut is ugly to viper cut is unnecessary in solving wheel rub issues in most cases.

I should know better than make assumptions, generalizations, and claims about taste.

Sorry.
Jason

 

Doesn't tire size matter? 34" and above likely to need more cutting. For most going 285 not a problem.