S.S. Diff Drop Experience *photos

manhunter said:
Is the SS diff dop any better than the one that 4crawler offers, or does anybody know? The 4crawler one comes with longer bolts for the two rear holes on re-installing the skid plate. All you do is elongate the existing holes to the rear to accommodate for the rear of the plate being lower.
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trd_4runnin said:
The TOYTEC one was the same way. I don't really see how one diff drop can really be any better than another. I've never had any problems with mine. Had it on for about 1.5 years now and through a couple of wheeling trips + every day driving and have never had a single CV problem.
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The only advantages that I see to the SS one is that they taper cut the spacer ever so slightly so that it sit flat on each surface. This makes sense since the diff is not really "dropping", but rather "pivoting" at the axle connection. The other benefit is the instructions that come with the SS one explain how to modify your skid so that it goes back to "almost" stock height. However, you could modify your skid to do that on any type of drop, it's not specific to the SS system.

The PM from Rock Hardson simply said he was confused by the instructions that came with his. SS has modified their diff drop design over the years, so maybe his is an older one. I have confirmed that mine is installed correctly.

Glad this thread is helping some of you out with your research of diff drops!! That was the idea!!
 
CSL said:
The only advantages that I see to the SS one is that they taper cut the spacer ever so slightly so that it sit flat on each surface. This makes sense since the diff is not really "dropping", but rather "pivoting" at the axle connection. The other benefit is the instructions that come with the SS one explain how to modify your skid so that it goes back to "almost" stock height. However, you could modify your skid to do that on any type of drop, it's not specific to the SS system.

The PM from Rock Hardson simply said he was confused by the instructions that came with his. SS has modified their diff drop design over the years, so maybe his is an older one. I have confirmed that mine is installed correctly.

Glad this thread is helping some of you out with your research of diff drops!! That was the idea!!
Click to expand...

I always wondered what the "tapered" meant but I don't see it being a big deal. Also, I see what you are saying about modifying the skid plate as opposed to lower it, but my spacers that I use to lower the diff drop are probably about 1/4" thick. I can live with losing .25" of ground clearance.

edit: either way thanks for the pictures. I bought my diff drop because it was cheap and offered piece of mind, but never was able to tell the advantages. Your second set of pictures helped me more than the overlay picture, but I can still appreciate you doing the overlay as that probably took some time.
 
I'm not sure that you are going to notice any change in anything with the diff drop - but I think it is more intended to be a preventive measure to cut down on possible un-needed wear and tear on the CV's when you off-road, basically peace of mind. I will probably order the Toytec one when I order my body lift and do it at the same time.
 
manhunter said:
I'm not sure that you are going to notice any change in anything with the diff drop - but I think it is more intended to be a preventive measure to cut down on possible un-needed wear and tear on the CV's when you off-road, basically peace of mind. I will probably order the Toytec one when I order my body lift and do it at the same time.
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I didn't mean notice any changes in handeling or driving or anything, but in visually looking at them and being able to notice how much the angles improved. I didnt' take any before pics so I had nothing to compare it to.
 
theizzardking said:
dude why wouldn't you just post this here instead of pm'ing, i'm thinking of ordering this diff drop instead of the one i already own and i think the installation conversation you guys are having is valuable for the rest of us.
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I pm'd because I also sent a link for installation of the S.S. system 1.2 that includes the installation directions of the diff drop. Sonoran Steel asks that those be not made available publicly, but for customer use only. So I was honoring Steve's request. I wasn't trying to withhold any information from any members, and I apologize to you and anyone else that might have felt if I was.
 
CSL said:
The only advantages that I see to the SS one is that they taper cut the spacer ever so slightly so that it sit flat on each surface. This makes sense since the diff is not really "dropping", but rather "pivoting" at the axle connection. The other benefit is the instructions that come with the SS one explain how to modify your skid so that it goes back to "almost" stock height. However, you could modify your skid to do that on any type of drop, it's not specific to the SS system.

The PM from Rock Hardson simply said he was confused by the instructions that came with his. SS has modified their diff drop design over the years, so maybe his is an older one. I have confirmed that mine is installed correctly.

Glad this thread is helping some of you out with your research of diff drops!! That was the idea!!
Click to expand...
I installed a System 1.2 over New Years and originally installed my diff drop the way that you have installed yours because I thought it looked like the correct way to me. I checked the online install directions and changed it back to the way it said it should be. I haven't modified my skid yet, so it will be nothing to correct the spacers when I crawl under to put the modified skid back on.
 
So what is the everyones opinion? Do the tapered spacers really make that much difference over the non-tapered puck-style spacers?
 
DavidAlexander said:
So what is the everyones opinion? Do the tapered spacers really make that much difference over the non-tapered puck-style spacers?
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I think it depends on how anal you are. There is in fact an angle between the two peices of metal. It seems to work without the taper, but the taper makes it a more "perfect" fit.

I am happy with the SS diff drop and the service I got from Sonoran Steel.
 
CSL said:
I think it depends on how anal you are. There is in fact an angle between the two peices of metal. It seems to work without the taper, but the taper makes it a more "perfect" fit.

I am happy with the SS diff drop and the service I got from Sonoran Steel.
Click to expand...

x2

The reason I went with the SS 1.2 kit is because of Steve's research and extensive real life testing of 4runner lifts....dude knows what he is talking about.....and his customer service is excellent.
 
The dot goes forward and the other dot goes upward, toward the engine.

The taper is on the bottom as the mounting arms are now angled, the frame is not angled.
 
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