Diff Drop Question

boot failure happens because of fins rubbing, yes. CVs are always spinning so if the fins are rubbing, they will start to tear in short order.

CV axle failure happens either because you're wheeling hard, have a front locker engaged and using it too liberally, or your lift is too high and the CV angles are so steep that it compromises the integrity of the axle. Or a combination of any of those 2 or all 3. I had one CV axle actually fail on me, you'll know when/if that happens believe me lol

 

What are we talking short order? I'd imagine if it was that short... tons of people on here would be posting about failures constantly. I'm hoping I have some time? I read another post where someone got 70k on them, and another 15k.

 

Depends on how badly it rubs and how much you drive I guess. When mine were rubbing after I first installed my Kings, I had my first blown boot within 2 months. Second one happens a few months after that, even after I lowered the lift (damage was already done I guess).

 

Oh man. How many inches were you lifted? Did you replace them quickly after they tore? Sounds like I need to slide the boot clamp out sooner rather than later. I'm assuming thats an easy job I can just slide under the truck and do?

And I never hear about this on here (or at least not something that seems to come up a lot). I wonder how many people are driving around with torn boots with a smallish lift.

 

My truck was at the dealership for service and they recommended a front differential drop. I’ve got 2.5” Kings all around with about 2-2.5” of lift. They wanted just over $100 to install it so I told them I would look into it. They made a note on the service record.

They lift a lot of Tacoma’s and said they do a diff drop and ecgs bushing on all of them. I already have the ecgs.

Now I’m torn. Do I install a drop or do I go against their advice and run the risk that it will come back to haunt me in the future?

 

Haha you’re way overthinking it. Toss that bitch in and don’t look back.

 

Wait so you recommend the drop? I thought most don’t do it. And sounds like it doesn’t really help the boots from rubbing

 

I threw the drop in with my 2.5” ome lift. It definitely made the cv angles look healthier, but the boots will definitely last longer. Yes, boots are cheap, but pulling the axles and replacing the boots will eat up half a day if you know what you’re doing. If it’s your first time, it will obviously take significantly longer.

Look at your boots. Do the ribs touch each other? If so, they will wear through each other much sooner than they would have if they weren’t. This is the sole factor that made me decide to just throw on the drop. And then I still did the boot slide mod because the boot ribs still ever so slightly touched.

Search for the boot slide mod if you don’t know what that is. I definitely recommend it, if needed.

 

Yeah one fin touches on each side. Started getting slight wear ring but I can clean it off with my finger so doesn’t seem deep, just shiny. Hoping I can get decent miles without them wearing through but I may just do the boot slide mod sooner than later. Seems super quick and easy. It’s tough because you hear so many opinions. Some people live with it and go 70k miles and some say 2 months. I’m thinking maybe hard wheeling may do that. Lately I’ve been mall crawling and commuting.

 

The boot will definitely keep wearing itself out till it tears through. If yours are barely touching, I’d say do the drop and see if it fixes it. You don’t want them touching at all. Highway driving is probably worse with the boots like this as you’re generating more heat where the boots rub.

The boot slide mod was actually a little more difficult than I expected. The two outer boots are stiff and not very pliable, so difficult to “slide”, then they want to spring back to their original position, which is frustrating when you’re trying to crimp or tighten a clamp and the thing keeps moving. It actually took quite a bit of force to slide them.

The inners are softer, but more difficult to get your hands on to slide...

 

I put the drop on mine as I'm lifted good and wanted to know I'd done the best I could to minimize wear on anything. I will say though that the diff drop caused me to have to modify my TRD skid plate mount (spacers and longer bolts).

RZ Rob

 

Shameless flash of your truck

 

I’m saying either way it doesn’t matter. If it makes you feel more comfortable with it in there, go ahead and put it in.

 

I know a lot of people on here say diff drop doesn't do a thing/useless. But after I installed lift on mine, boots/fins were touching/rubbing. Installed diff drop, no more boot fin rubbing/touching.

 

How much lifted were you?

 

So what are the negatives to the diff drop?

 

Thanks. I was just planning on the inners as my outters don’t seem to be touching. How high are you lifted?

 

None

 

2" TRD pro suspension with 1/4" top plate.

 

Which diff drop did you install? Maybe I’ll pick one up.