Diff drop advice.1st gen ONLY

I have a 2002 SR5 double cab 4x4.

I'm lifting the front end 2" using aluminum strut spacers "above strut mounted".

The kit came also came with a differential drop kit, I have read a bunch of threads on this and the recommendations range from "strongly recommended" to "don't do it".


BUT, The comments on these threads are are from 1st gen, 2nd gen, 3rd gen, and off road racers.

I don't race off road or "go muddin". This is my Daily driver and I'm only lifting it for leveling purposes and to fit bigger tires in the near future.

I do however drive down a rough dirt road on a regular basis.

 

Is a differential drop a good idea? Or will it do more harm than good?

It has also been recommended that I put a couple small spacers in the transmission mounting bolts to lower the trans so the drive train will line up more evenly.
Any thoughts?

 

IMO... a spacer placed atop the CO/Strut is generally a bad idea.

Doing so alters the factory geometry
and the upper and lower control arms are no longer parallel
in their alignment or travel.

As far as the diff drop thing...
Tho' it can compensate some for the CV articulation...
it also causes misalignment to the drive train cause the diff is simply tilted.
Not an instant death... but things will wear faster.

The combination of these two component designs are simply poor choices...
and do not alter/lift the Tacoma suspension correctly
and could result in premature wear.

Has it been done... sure...
but that still doesn't make it right.

 

Other than the obvious advice of "avoid spacer lifts at all costs". I doubt you'll really need the diff drop for 2" of lift. After you lift the truck just have a look at the fins on the CV boots, if any are touching then I would suggest you install the diff drop, if they aren't touching then it is just more work for a very marginal difference.

As far as shimming the transmission mounts goes, DON'T DO IT! There are many more extreme lifts than yours and none of them shim the transmission. If you have vibrations after the lift you should look into a carrier bearing drop to correct drive line angles.

Hope this helps some.