Diff Drop needed?

S

Skunkworks

New member
So I know it has been beat to death in the past, but all the threads are old.
What's the wisdom today? After years of running lifted 3rd gens, what is best? Diff drop with 3-inches of lift in the front to save CV's and boots, or don't do it because of improper diff angles?
Is there any new thought on this, or is it still a debate?
 
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Not sure on the other questions, but I can tell you my factory skid plate doesn’t fit following diff drop
 
OrRunner said:
Not sure on the other questions, but I can tell you my factory skid plate doesn’t fit following diff drop
Click to expand...
Your drop kit should've come with 2 spacers and longer bolts to keep the stock plate...I got a small lift but still put a drop on it.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 
I had a diff drop installed for a couple years but removed it a few years ago to see if it would get rid of a mild vibration I would get in AWD (not 4WD) at highway speeds. Within a few weeks of removing it I noticed the vibration slowly decrease until it was completely gone in the same driving conditions. I don't think it was a coincidence that removing the diff drop resolved the type of vibration I was getting but I also don't know for sure if it was what truly resolved it, which is why I have been hesitant about posting my findings because I didn't want to give bad info. To this day I still don't have the vibration in AWD at 55+mph since I removed it.

Side note, I could never visually tell a significant difference in the cv angles pre & post diff drop on my 4runner or any of the posted pictures I've seen. That's why I was ok with removing it & haven't experienced any unusual cv axle or boot issues. The only time I had a boot tear was in the original cv boots when I initially installed my lift & diff drop which seems to be common.
 
fourfive said:
Side note, I could never visually tell a significant difference in the cv angles pre & post diff drop on my 4runner or any of the posted pictures I've seen. That's why I was ok with removing it & haven't experienced any unusual cv axle or boot issues. The only time I had a boot tear was in the original cv boots when I initially installed my lift & diff drop which seems to be common.
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Well, due to the location of the mounts relative to the output of the diff, it lowers the inner CV very little compared to the loss of clearance at the front mounts, yes?

What is typical drop kit height? Someone let me know, and I'll draw it up and see how much it lowers the axle..
 
eimkeith said:
Well, due to the location of the mounts relative to the output of the diff, it lowers the inner CV very little compared to the loss of clearance at the front mounts, yes?

What is typical drop kit height? Someone let me know, and I'll draw it up and see how much it lowers the axle..
Click to expand...

I believe all of the various kits are noted as 1" differential drops.

From a few accounts on this forum and another one, the actual drop, or rotation is less than 1/2". One poster detailed:

"...The rear, driveshaft side, mount is 6" from the axle centerline. The front, where the drops go in, is 7" from the axle centerline. There for when you drop the front 1" the actual axle centerline only drops .462" (~15/32") Just under 1/2". It's hard to tell what strain it takes off the CVs when wheeling and you have full droop."

I just did the drop and it all fits above my aftermkt front skid.
 
1" is spacer length on all kits, anymore the ADD actuator hits cross member with vacuum type, servo type 1/4" clearance.
Have run since late 08 150k mi no vibes or bearing issues. As for cost not worth it, way better bang for buck making it yourself.
CV boots lasted longer with it.
 
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