Diff drop with IFS skid?

So I have the IFS skid on my 05 AC, and I'm wondering if I end up getting a diff drop with a bigger lift would I have to get a whole new skid plate?

 

Yes. The diff, as it sits is not very far from the skid. I don't remember off the top of my head but it is less than 1/2" above the skid. If you install a diff drop you'll need a front skid that also has a 1 inch drop built into it. We do make them, and I have one in stock.

 

Adam, to avoid starting a new thread, can you write up some information on your skids that work with diff drops? I have a 6" fabtech lift and no skids currently. I also really like your bumpers/sliders. I'd place an order for them today if I had the $$, so right now I'm trying to get together prices so I know exactly how much I'll need to save up.

 

They are all made from ¼inch thick steel plate plate. The 1inch diff drop skid plate has been engineered to take all of the abuse off roading will throw at it and protect your engine and front differential from those pesky rocks and logs. The 1" diff drop skid plate starts at the front cross member and covers all the way to behind the front differential for maximum coverage. There are 6 mounting points to hold the skid plate securely in place. Additionally there is an access hole for the engine oil drain plug so there is no need to remove your skid plate to change your oil. This plate is laser cut and CNC bent from high quality American steel and ready to protect your truck from the trail ahead.

 

I thought Diff drops on our 2005+ Tacoma's did nothing and were useless

 

I'll just leave this here:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/118545-remove-differential-drop-your-05-tacoma.html

 

This.

 

I have no comment about actually using a diff drop or not. I have not read much about that itself.

Wow, that is impressive! However, it is of no fault of the diff drop itself. That square cut out/drop section and speed is what really got him into a big load of trouble. Our skids are built to be a nice smooth flat SKID surface for exactly this reason. That skid might look cool but it failed him in the worst way I could ever think of. Had he not had a 1 inch square rock anchor sticking down below the truck I'm fairly confident he would not have had anything close to that much damage, if any at all. Also another reason to go 1/4" thick steel. To me a front skid is not a place to save weight.

 

Armor in general is not a place to save weight. Unless you're trolling the ladies at the mall...

I posted it as a "things-to-consider" warning. Based on what I found, the diff drop does more harm than good; in more ways than I posted above. It rotates the diff so the internals don't get lubricated as they should causing wear and breakage.

 

I'm running your front skid without the diff drop. It has been fantastic! I purchased a toytec 1 inch diff drop to adjust the angle of the CVs. The kit comes with skid spacers for the factory spray shield. Do you think it will work if I space out the skid I purchased from you guys?

 

Most likely you'd be ok, but there is a possibility of putting a lot of stress into the bolts if you hit the skid hard.

 

^^This.

He blames the diff drop kit for the damage. But instead of spacing the skid down to keep everything *above* the skid plate (or using a proper, heavy duty skid for his race), it looks like he just cut out the stock skid and essentially let the diff hang below it.

There's of course debate about the effectiveness of diff drops for the 2nd gens, but I don't think pointing to a guy that raced his truck with a hole cut in the skid plate so the diff would hang down is a great example of why you shouldn't use a diff drop. That's more of a lesson in proper installation techniques and using heavy duty armor for racing.