Diff Drop Question

@ejewels how did the alignment with the JBAs go?

 

My boots have been blown out for thousands of miles on mine. The box with new CVs has been sitting in my garage, waiting on them to magically install themselves.

 

I run one and it greatly helped my CV angles. I even asked the 4x4 shop that has experienced Tacoma guys and they say with the 3rd gens (since the front is heavier and has a slight difference) it is a good idea to run one with any lift over 1.5". Diff drops are cheap and easy to put in/take out. CV's are EXPENSIVE to replace...why risk it?

 

I still don't think diff drops are worth the trouble as I said in my earlier post, didn't see any noticeable change in boot angles...but they are cheap and easy to install, with little negative drawbacks (just don't stack washers for a crazy drop). If it gives you peace of mind to do it, then do it. Only takes an hour or less to install if you take your time and they're cheap. Maybe it somehow has a more noticeable effect on 3rd gens, I dunno. But it literally did next to nothing on my 1st gen.

 

Really? I saw noticeable angle change with 3/4" spacers for the drop.

 

didn't do a thing for me and I still got a torn boot after I installed it, only thing that worked was lowering my lift. But its so different depending on each person's application really and what their setup is.

Mine was the 1" spacer diff drop kit from Low Range

 

Ugh... so many opinions! Thanks all for the help. At the end of the day, I just don't want the boot wearing / touching like it is. Sounds like third gen guys are doing the diff drops and it helps with the boots touching. For the cost of them, mind as well. I already ordered the cheap hose clamps for the boot slide mod if I need to do it. Only issue is I'm not that mechanically inclined and paid for all my s$%t installed. But these mods sound easy and I don't even need to lift the truck up.

 

yeah the diff drop is stupid easy really, just remove the skid plate and there are two long bolts that hold the diff into it's mount. I think I remember doing one bolt at a time, my kit came with new bolts. Just add the washer and put the new bolt in, torque to spec and do the next one

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/remove-the-differential-drop-on-your-05-tacoma.118545/

 

so the boots aren't really needed is what you're saying? lol

 

Not sure if this was meant to be serious, but I'm wondering if you have a point. Does wheeling make the rubbing and wear worse? If one is mostly on road does that prolong things?

 

Got it aligned after I got the lift... all went well.

 

Yep. That is second gen but not sure if still applies

 

you can buy extended cv boots that apparently reduce wear, not sure if they are tried and trued but eh

 

I wonder how many third gens with 2-3" of lift don't install the diff drop nor do the boot slide mod and just run it as is. If I knew how to setup a poll.. maybe that would be a good one.

 

Also, another thing I read in that linked thread above was that it can cause more vibrations? If anyone has followed my story... thats the last thing I need lol.

 

Still applies. The 2nd and 3rd gen front dif case, mounting area, cross member etc, are all the same.

Also if you plan to get an aftermarket skid plate at any point, most don't work with dif drops.

 

One thing I did notice in this thread is that more than one person said their off road tacoma specialist shop and/or dealer installs them and recommends. That in itself makes me want to try it. Thanks for all the help so far everyone... making this a classic ejewels thread!

 

Interesting. What lift and what did you lower it to?

 

You guys know more about this stuff but I wonder if being on a 1st gen is why?