diff drop. necessary?

[brian2sun]

I think it's less of a sales comment and more of a "why not reduce the risk of damage for cheap" comment, which I agree with 100%. There is some pretty undenyable proof in so many threads on the internet that the diff drop REDUCES the risk of damage. I don't personally care if this debate goes on and on, but here's my experience:

No diff drop = CVs leaking grease out the clamps the same day as the lift installation. 3 months later, torn boots and duct tape. 1 year later, replacement of CVs to avoid total destruction.

Diff drop and new CV axles = no problems for a year and still going good.

The diff drop doesn't just drop the diff, in fact it drops it very little (as you can see in the pics). What it does do is it "rotates" some of the pressure off the CVs and puts it on the driveline instead (which can easily handle a little incresed pressure because it is a straight shot out of the back of the diff).

 

[JohnsD90]

it's like $20 bucks skip the next Brittany album and buy the drop.....

seriously $20 bucks you spend more on that on oil or daily gas why even think about it, it's not like a tornado or a nuspeed sticker or anything.

The nuespeed sticker is rated at 12hp though, IMO that's good Bang for you Buck.

 

[jdrennan88]

Hey guys, getting in on this a little late. I was reading through and it seems everyone having issues had more than a 3" lift. Does a 2 1/2 need a diff drop? My boots starting leaking but also my diff oil is leaking, it's an 03 so I'm not rulling out age, just looking for some input. Thanks guys. Oh, one last thing what modification was needed for the skid plate with a diff drop?

 

[anthonysm]

Drop Diff Kit necessary if you feel the CV's buzzing

Funny you should mention Steve. He confirmed my suspicions that these kits are not necessary. When I did my lift I emailed him about the diff drop and questioned the negative effect it has by increasing full compression cv angles. He told me that although he sells the kit, in reality it doesn't really do much. He told me not to bother with it. Most cv's fail from excessive stress and not excessive angles. So actually, I do think he (and others) sell them for fun, $40 for two 50c spacers and a couple of bolts?? What a joke.
I'm not saying people are silly or stupid for installing them, they don't do any harm, and if it gives you some piece of mind then that's great, I just dont think they are truly needed, and my research confirmed it for me.

******
When Toyotas are lifted to over 3-inches , the CV's joints are nearing their articulation limit.
-If you lift your Toyota too much, your CV's will start buzzing in their cages when driving at speed, and these CV vibrations will resonate thru the cab.
-That's how you know if you need to drop the front diff kit. You need to lessen the angles of the axles, thus less vibration and wear.
-The factory stock CV boots also don't like being squeezed and stretched at those high angles either, these boots will fail prematurely due to fatigue.
-So basically when running a 3 inch lift you will need a complete drop diff kit that also includes diff spacers, swaybar spacers and skidplate spacers, plus hardware.
-reccommended by those drivers who run higher lifts, & don't drive buzzed!

 

[derek13]

I was told that a diff drop should be used for a lift 2in or more. Is that correct? I am looking at putting 99 Talls on my 98. Since its only about an inch of lift, a differential drop isn't required. Right?

 

[pluton]

I added the OME springs and shocks ( listed below in my signature) and without a diff drop when my 4Runner was 16 years old and had 120K miles. The 881 springs in front are intended to give about as 2-2.5" lift AFTER a bumper and winch are installed. But: I haven't gotten around to the bumper and winch yet, so the front sits higher than intended. So much so that my front wheels sit at a slight camber(inward at the bottom) due to the absence of the intended extra front end weight. As far as I know, the CV axles and boots were original from 1997.
It's now at 155K miles and nothing has happened. No noise, no boot failure, no CV failure, no grease leak. The 4WD shop guy that told me that diff drops weren't necessary has, in my estimation, been proven correct. YMMV...

 

[TLar25]

Just had upper/lower ball joints, tie rods, and pass side CV axle replaced. CV axle is binding now. Hopefully adding a diff drop will fix it.

 

[snow junky]

Just had upper/lower ball joints, tie rods, and pass side CV axle replaced. CV axle is binding now. Hopefully adding a diff drop will fix it.

Binding??? The boot ribs touching echother?


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[[email protected]]

I got 3 inches of lift with my Tundra coils and have the extra wheel travel from the OME struts. I do not have the diff drop stuff fitted and don't plan to. I off road regularly and have never had any issues at all. Most people do the diff drop cause they are afraid of damage but there is no evidence at all that it has any real benefit. I say save your money for something else.

hello, just curious if you still feel the same about a Diff drop? Have you experienced damage that those who had done a diff drop avoided, or is all good on the western front?vvv.
-Washington State native-
-There is all the land needed to be over...
Thanks
-Robbie

 

[techno]

Yeah, no issues at all. I'm at 199k miles now. The CVs have been replaced once due to rubber boots wearing out. It hasn't been off-road for the past 4 years, but has driven from PA to TX twice.

 

[MarkBlack]

I havent installed my diff drop either. Is there a video out there showing how to install?

Ive had my lift for 3 months and havent messed up the axles yet. But its bound to happen.

This post reminded me I need to get on it!

 

[Nicknasty]

Takes maybe 15 minutes to install. And it increases the life of your Cv boots mostly that's not even a question so it's up to you.

 

[nobb]

Sorry to bump and old thread, but I just installed a differential drop and I'm wondering how your guy's CV/differentials are holding up long term. Does anyone overfill their differential to compensate for the reduced lubrication due to a more aggressive pinion angle?

I installed my 3" lift ~7 years ago and I got tired of having to replace the CV boots every 2 years because they just don't last with a lift. Hoping this fixes things.

 

[mennisrodman]

Sorry to bump and old thread, but I just installed a differential drop and I'm wondering how your guy's CV/differentials are holding up long term. Does anyone overfill their differential to compensate for the reduced lubrication due to a more aggressive pinion angle?

I installed my 3" lift ~7 years ago and I got tired of having to replace the CV boots every 2 years because they just don't last with a lift. Hoping this fixes things.

Re-bumping ^^

I'm also curious if anyone has had issues with pinion lubrication after a diff drop. I'm thinking of adding a little more fluid, but not sure if that will do more harm than good. I can't imagine it would, but hopefully someone here can shed some objective info on this.