Typically, an aftermarket air intake is a quick and relatively inexpensive way to add some additional horsepower to your SUV's powerplant. Although power increases are usually minimal -- typically from 3 to 10 hp -- that extra boost is often well worth the effort.
AEM, a company that has an excellent track record in supplying performance products for the sport compact car market, has recently been focusing on SUVs and is now supplying its Brute Force intake system for a wide variety of sport utility applications. Since we've heard good things about AEM and its SUV intake systems, we decided to outfit our Project Sequoia with the Brute Force system to see the effectiveness of the product for ourselves.
We took a trip to AEM's headquarters in Hawthorne, California, to have the Brute Force system installed by AEM's highly capable technicians. Our project Toyota was to be the first Sequoia to receive the system. AEM had developed a system for the Tundra, which basically has the same 4.7L engine configuration as the Sequoia, so mating a Brute Force intake to our Project Sequoia was a snap. The entire installation took under an hour, and when finished, gave our engine bay a polished look and a performance attitude.
During the next several days after it was installed, we had plenty of seat time in the Sequoia to gauge the effects of the new intake, and we can honestly say, it is the most impressive intake we've tested to date. When the throttle is punched, especially while cruising the freeways at legal speed, the added power can definitely be felt, and the sound of additional air being sucked into the intake is sweet indeed. During dyno testing of the Brute Force unit, a gain of 15.1 hp was measured (see accompanying chart), which is phenomenal for an intake system alone.
Follow along as the AEM technicians install the Brute Force intake system on our project Sequoia. The result is a system that looks great sitting in the engine bay, and one that offers definite performance results.
 The AEM Brute Force intake...  The AEM Brute Force intake kit comes with everything you need to do the job right, even a filter cleaning system. |
 The stock intake on the Sequoia...  The stock intake on the Sequoia is a typical OEM fitment -- rather boring looking -- with several restrictive elements. Stock horsepower of the 4.7L powerplant checks in at 197 ponies at the wheels. |
 Installation of AEM's intake...  Installation of AEM's intake started with the removal of the engine cover by removing the two nuts holding it in place. |
 The bolt retaining the stock...  The bolt retaining the stock A/C line was removed. |
 The two screws retaining the...  The two screws retaining the MAF Sensor were removed, and the sensor was moved out of the way. |
 The hoses from the resonator...  The hoses from the resonator chamber were removed from the stock intake. |
 The hose clamp retaining the...  The hose clamp retaining the stock intake piping was loosened. |
 The bolt retaining the stock...  The bolt retaining the stock intake box was removed. |
 The stock intake was removed...  The stock intake was removed from the Sequoia. |
 The AEM heat shield was mounted...  The AEM heat shield was mounted into position using the supplied mounting tab. The stock nut was used to secure the shield in place. |
 The supplied rubber coupler...  The supplied rubber coupler was attached to the AEM intake tube. |
 The MAF sensor unit was attached...  The MAF sensor unit was attached to the intake tube. |
 The rubber coupler was installed...  The rubber coupler was installed on the throttle body using the supplied hose clamp. |
 The stock bolt was used to...  The stock bolt was used to secure the A/C line in place on the mounting block on the AEM intake pipe. |
 The three new hoses were secured...  The three new hoses were secured in place using the supplied hose clamps. |
 The AEM filter was installed...  The AEM filter was installed to the end of the intake pipe and secured in place using the supplied hose clamp. |
 The connection to the MAF...  The connection to the MAF sensor was snapped into place. |
 The stock engine cover was...  The stock engine cover was bolted back into place. |
 The finished installation...  The finished installation definitely spruced up the Sequoia's engine bay, and we were ready for some additional horsepower |
 The AEM intake provided a...  The AEM intake provided a peak gain of 15.1 hp. The Sequoia was now pumping out 212 ponies. |