R4T High Clearance Exhaust For 5th Gen 4Runner – Install & Review

When it comes to aftermarket exhaust options for the 5th Gen 4Runners, there are a plethora of options. If you opt for this mod, you’ll first need to determine your priorities. Do you want a more aggressive sound? If so, how aggressive? Or, maybe you want a high clearance option so you don’t smash your tailpipe on the trail.

For adding a subtle yet aggressive tone to your V6 that won’t wake the neighbors, Runnin4Tacos (R4T) has an excellent high-clearance cat-back exhaust. This option offers excellent value for the market segment and is as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional.

This kit will fit the 2010-2023 4Runner.

Overview

This exhaust is made completely from stainless steel for corrosion resistance. It ships as a 2-piece system, so the box is surprisingly small.

Since the it dumps right in front of the rear axle, it’s significantly shorter than the 4Runner’s factory one. This not only saves weight but also provides the most clearance possible. If you manage to damage it on the trail, you’ve likely done far worse damage to other parts of your rig.

It looks super nice, with the perfectly polished stainless steel and subtle laser-etched R4T logo. I know I’ll never look at this again once it’s installed, but it’s a nice attention to detail. The welds might not be the cleanest, but they’re complete with no gaps, which is more important for a functional component like an this one.

Installation

Tools Required:

• Flathead Screwdriver
• 12mm, 14mm, and 15mm Sockets & Ratchet (3/8″ or 1/2″ is ideal)
• WD-40
• Jack + Jack Stand

Installation is fairly simple and should take you less than an hour. A second set of hands will help with removing the factory exhaust, however, I managed this solo.

Lift Vehicle (Optional)

This step is optional but makes removing the factory exhaust much easier, especially if you don’t have a suspension lift. Place a jack on the designated point toward the rear of the frame and then a jack stand for safety.

Step 1. Remove Front Bolts

Toward the middle of the vehicle and right after the catalytic converter, there are two spring-loaded 14mm bolts. Depending on how old your 4Runner is, these bolts can be stubborn to break loose. Always break them free with a breaker bar by hand before taking an impact wrench to avoid stripping the bolts.

Step 2. Remove Rear Bolts

Next are two bolts above the rear axle connecting the rear pipe. These are much more difficult to access than the forward bolts. To make things worse, they’ll likely be seized up and you can barely fit your breaker bar in the area.

Start by spraying the bolts with WD-40 or similar and let the bolts soak. I found that jacking up the 4Runner by its tow hitch helped raise the body from the frame and create more space to work with. I used my Go Rhino hydraulic jack.

Step 4. Remove Rubber Isolators

There are (4) rubber hangers/isolators in total that need to be removed – (1) in front, (2) in the middle, and (1) in the rear by the tailpipe. The easiest way to remove the posts from the isolators is to insert a flathead screwdriver and pry them off.

At this point, you can choose to use a sawzall with a metal cutting blade to hack off your factory exhaust. Or, if you’d like to keep it in one piece as I did, proceed to the next step.

Step 5. Remove Rear Shield

To remove this piece, you’ll need to drop your rear tire (if you still have one in the factory location). Then, use a 12mm socket to remove the bolts securing the silver metal shield. This should allow you enough space to twist and maneuver the entire factory exhaust through and over the rear axle.

Step 6. Install R4T Exhaust

Installing the new exhaust is much simpler than removing the factory one. Start by inserting the metal posts into each of the corresponding rubber isolators. These posts don’t have the tips that the factory one had, so they slide right in. Since it dumps before the axle, you don’t have anything to connect to the rear isolator underneath the rear bumper.

Once all (3) isolators have been connected, loosen the coupler nuts on the new one with a 15mm socket. They don’t need to be fully removed, just loose enough to slide the coupler over both ends of the exhaust pipe pieces. When you have the coupler roughly in the middle between the two pieces, fully tighten the nuts.

Final Thoughts

The R4T cat-back exhaust has a nice, low-pitched grumble when you fire up your engine. It’s not overly loud, which is good for me because I commute to work pretty early in the morning.

When driving, the note is pretty noticeable whenever you’re on the accelerator and is the most audible between the 1,500-2,500 RPM range. Fortunately, there’s no significant drone at highway speeds around 1,200ish RPM. When your foot isn’t on the gas, it is virtually silent.

Below is a quick before and after exhaust clip, and you can also check out Brenan’s review on his 2nd Gen Tacoma that has the same 4.0 liter V6 as the 5th Gen 4Runner.

If you’re in the market for an aftermarket exhaust either for aesthetic or functional reasons, this is an excellent option. it’s not super-aggressive sounding like Carven options nor as pricey as Borla and MagnaFlow. With a subtle grumble that won’t annoy your spouse to no end, it’s the ideal balance for a family vehicle that’s also used as a weekend warrior.

Sound Clips & Comparison To OEM