Is a Front diff drop bad?

I know the general consensus is that a diff drop is pretty ineffectual for 2nd Gens (at least in the 2-3" lift range). But
Is there any mechanical risk to putting one in?

 

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

 

Thanks, Oz. I totally forgot about that thread

 

The reason I brought this up. After my last trip, which was to Carrizo Plain, I began hearing a random metal-on-metal noise when I would shift from reverse to first. The sound would be best described as pinging a light gauge metal, like the stock skid plate, with a ball peen hammer. In checking out the undercarriage, I found nothing loose and found no signs of new damage (the front skid is slightly deformed from a previous incident).

I discussed it with my mechanic when I took it in for service a few days ago and he had some interesting feedback. First, the front diff had been lowered when my lift was installed. I was a little disappointed to hear this because the supervisor said one was not installed. When installing the lift, they had had used some spacers to realign the two stock skids, so the drop was not noticeable. For some reason, the front diff was now contacting the skid plate when I would shift from reverse to first, hence the random metal pinging sound (likely the skid shifted while traveling Carrizo Plain). My mechanic pried the skid away to provide more clearance, but there is very little clearance and a bad hit to the skid could possibly damage the front differential housing.

So, I will be removing the front diff drop before our next off road excursion.