OPTION 1) no diff drop, long travel inner cv boots instead
http://www.allprooffroad.com/9504frontsuspension/282

OPTION 2) 1/2" diff drop
can't seem to find the link now, I swear I saw someone selling this size.

OPTION 3) 3/4" diff drop
http://www.allprooffroad.com/9602frontsuspension/280

OPTION 4) 1" diff drop
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/DiffDrop.shtml

http://www.toyteclifts.com/index.php...mart&Itemid=72

http://www.chaosfab.com/toyaccess_taco.html

OPTION 5) sonora steel tapered 1" diff drop
http://www.sonoransteel.com/store_ta...diff_drop.html

OPTION 6) Any of the above diff drops AND the long travel boots.

What do you guys think. It's time I do something with my CV angles.

I say go for the Toytec. Save the few bucks on shipping and support a local shop that has some truly great people. Use Ric's discount too.

I'd say pony up for the tapered spacers but I've never heard anyone have a problem with the regular ones.

since i had to order a panhard bar from ss i went ahead and got the diff drop too at 45 dollars seem well worth it since it includes the needed bolts to remount the skid plate

You needed new bolts to remount the front skid plate?

i guess you do

It sounds like the Sonora Steel set up somehow does not lower the height of your skid plate, whereas others do. I quote from their literature "DOES NOT lower your skid plate"

If I were to get one it would probably be the SS one, but I have read and heard a bunch of folks saying the diff drop is not worth it or of any value at all??

The other question is do you think it I should still get the long travel inner cv boots even if I do the drop?

In my mind the combo of the long boots and the SS drop would be great, but it will also be a bit pricy. I have a torn boot, so I have to do something.

The 1" Toytec diff drop kit didn't interfere with my skid either. I just bolted everything back up. I think the angled spacers are a neat idea. I like those too.

You're CV angles are more severe at droop than at compression even with the 1" diff drop that's why the CV on the wheel that is hanging is often the one to break. Both of mine and Ric's were the hanging tire and we have the diff drop kit. As far as your torn boot I wouldn't bother changing the boot as it's a PITA to change the boot. At least that was my experience when Ric and I changed a boot on his '99. He had longer boots as well and they still tore. It's much faster and easier to change the entire CV than the boot. I got a spare CV at Checker Auto for $80. It's a new one, not a rebuilt one, and it has a lifetime warranty including the boots. I think it makes more sense to buy a the checker spare because you get the lifetime warranty on the boot, the CV the axle, it's faster, and easier to change. It's more money upfront but in the long run I bet you'll come out ahead. If I have a good sense of your wheeling addiction I don't think you're going to be stopping anytime soon and unfortunately you met us so I'd give it a fairly high chance that you are going to start pushing the limits too

Good find on the long travel cv boot. That would be my preferred option, but like glenyoshida points out, harder to replace than the entire cv. I would consider getting a spare set of cv's and fitting them with the long travel boots first, then wait for the current ones to fail before swapping in the spares.

A set of CVs would be really cool. If you want to save a little space and a few bucks you can get away with one spare since the Toyota engineers are so cool that they made the CVs symetrical. You can have one spare and use it for both sides Yay Toyota!

I went to advanced auto today to price factory boots, since I had trouble making my order with all-pro offroad last night. I had them price a whole new axle assembly and it was only $69 brand new, with the lifetime warranty. I asked if it included the boots and they said "yup"

Well the long travel boots with clamps and shipping were going to run $78.

Considering I have run this torn boot all taped up and f-ed up for the last few runs (shame on me, I know. Broke a Co4Lo rule), I figured to hell with it, and I got the whole new axle. It's sitting in my truck right now and I am putting it in on Sat!!!

So...my idea is this. clean up the old axle that I pull out, without the stress of time (since my rig will be running again). I will order the long travel boots when I get some more money (after I buy my fire stic antenna). This way I can install a long travel boot on the one, swap it with my other side that has an old 2000 boot on it (not leaking yet, but soon I am sure). then I can put another long travel boot on it and keep it as a spare!!! HELL YA!! This should give me lots of practice changing axles and boots in the comfort of my driveway, not a trail.

I had a bunch of emails with Steve from SS this morning, and I am comfortable with the idea of ordering his Diff drop and intalling it ASAP. For someone selling a product, he was very honest about it not being a complete solution for the CV angle issues, but that it certianly won't hurt and will help a little bit. Very cool guy. Still plan to support ToyTec as much as possible.

So...who want's to help a rookie change a CV axle this weekend?!

Feel free to post up a good writeup.

ask and ye shall receive....
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/cv_axle/

Thanks, Techno!!

I was going to say I bought the Long Travel CV boots from All-Pro and have yet to install them. I thought it was a $40 fix and then after the clamps and stuff was like $60. My plan is to get another New replacement and then put the LT boots on the factory axles.

I just recieved my Sonoran Steel diff drop in the mail today. Its one of the things I got my runner for Christmas.

The directions show a little grinding and pounding to get the skid to fit again at the stock height. I hope to get it installed this weekend!

I have Toytecs diff drop in the backseat of my 4runner right now, Ill bring it up in a few, but I remember seeing the spacers and bolts to lower the skid plate and it was only 30$

again, Ill verify that when I go grab some food shortly