Diff Drop Kit!

[ry888]

I've read a lot about suspension lift.. N there r many debates about the diff drop kits.. Some said diff drop kit is a must to prevent fast wear n tear of cv joints n boots.. Some said diff drop kits create alignment problems? N not necessary as long as the lif kit not exceed 2' need some more input here..

[ry888]

Here's the link discussing abt the pro n contra of the diff kit..
http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/show ... p?p=877208

[Hilux Max]

Not needed

You loose an inch in ground clearance in the front end to achieve the equivalent of almost .5 an inch CV angle reprieve....you really havent gained much. and have twisted the front diff mounted position forwards.

If CV angles are such a concern to someone, then dont raise the vehicloe to the point that it is a concern to you.

Just my opinion.

[Twisty]

Posted this on the 4wd action thread too....

I run a diff drop kit on mine from Cal Offroad

Bottom of page on the link below. All factory bash plates bolted back up.
http://www.caloffroad.com.au/products/c ... 2005on.htm

I think its worth while doing on a 3" lift, specially on the SRs that have no form of unlocking hubs.

Cant even tell its installed from front on.

[Hilux Max]

Twisty,

The reason you can't tell on your truck is because you've lowered the front bashplate to cover them.

Without the front bashplate on they look like this -


You can see how much more exposed the front diff mounts now are with them being dropped another inch lower......the factory bashplate protects nothing....its like tin foil for offroading.

This reduces your 3" worth of clearance to the same as 2" without the 1" diffblocks installed under the front diff.

The diff drop because of its "rolling forward" of the front diff when fitted also places more stress on the rear diff mount and changes the Universal joint angle to the front diff, thou this shouldn't be by much anyway.

Tacoma's and FJ Cruisers in the US have been running 35's with 3" lifts , no diff drops and crawler boxes for quite a few years now without any problems.

Heres a diagram explaining what I mean in regards to the 1" diff drop only giving you at best 1/2 an inch reprieve at the CV shafts -


It was like a cantilever effect and the CV shafts are halfway between the rear and front mounts.

Hope that helps abit.

[ry888]

Thx for the vivid explanation..
I got what u mean..It does make sense...
Thx a lot mmaaxx

[Hilux Max]

If there was a way to lower the rear diff mount so all 3 mounts were dropped 1", that would be a full 1 inch drop of the front differential, I would be all over this like a rash!

I remember Bull mentioning something about the Ultimate kit that somehow drops the rear diff mount a little and moves it forward a little aswell.....couldnt make head or tails of how.....

Hopefully Brendan from Ultimate see's this thread and cant jump in and share his knowledge with us.

[Jack S]

but would the drop diff kit be worth while if you wanted a 3 to 4 inch lift kit?
just to relieve some pressure on the cvs...

[Hilux Max]

thats the only time it would be worth it...when your trying to extract as much as possible over 3".......

[Jack S]

so just recapping-

2" lift there is no need
BUT
3" and over its worth while yet you loose an inch in diff clearance



So is there any difference in the snake kit over the cal offroad kit? or at the end of the day it does the same thing..

[ultimate]

Hi guys, I just stumbled across this thread and thought I'd show you how we relocate the diff for our 4" Smart Lift kits.

Rather then simply using spacer blocks like the previous pictures in this thread we have designed replacement mounts for all three mounting points.

I was going to get exact measurements on how far we relocate the diff but unfortunately the hilux we were going to do today has been postponed till after christmas, so it looks like we are all going to have to wait.

However here are shoots of the three mounts to wet your appetites until then.

Drivers side mount



Passenger Side Mount



Rear Mount

[Marshwa]

Ultimate just a few questions for you.

Do those kits also move the diff forward a small amount. Are u planning of selling them as a diff relocation kit, seperate to ur smart lift kit? and also are these (in the picture) 4" drop kits, or can u make just 1" drop kits?

Cheers, Max

[Hilux Max]

Marshwa, moving the diff forward has nothing to do with moving the actual axle position forward which is what I assume your reffering to which works on a live axled front hilux but wouldnt on ours unless your steering knuckles are made to accomadate the move forward as I think may be the case with Ultimates kit.

Brendan,

My question to you is this....the rear mount which seems to pose the most problem in regards to dropping the diff a little....how much do your brackets drop the rear mount?

Next question.....for those of us with coil over 3inch lift kit (no diff drop suspension kits) is it possible to use your brackets and get the full 1 inch diff drop rather than rolling the diff mounts forward and only getting half inch at best with the other kits?

I'd be keen on a set if it lowers the front diff a full inch.....

On a slightly different tangent I just thought off in relations to marshwa's question.....if the front diff is moved forward slightly, couldn't we make benefit of that scenario by getting the wheel alignment technician to put in a bit more castor than he normally would for factory specs? This would move the axle position slightly forward and help with bigger diamter tyres.

Eagerly awaiting a reply....

[ultimate]

Hi Max

As I wrote above I was going to get all of the measurements to show just how far we relocate the diff but unfortunately I am going to have to wait untill we receive another standard HILUX to work on.

In answer to your enquiry about it becoming a diff drop kit, the brackets were designed to suit our 4" Smart Lift Kit and as a result rely on other components of the kit to be effective. We do however sell a 2" Lift Kit which also includes replacement diff mounts to relocate the diff, just not by as much.

[Hilux Max]

May I ask how much the 2" lift kit reloctaes the front diff mounts? Do you have that on hand somewhere?

PM sent on what Im heading towards/thinking about.....

[ultimate]

Max i've read your PM and will hopefully answer it soon. just a bit snowed under atm

[KTM525EXC]

Ultimate what price roughly are we looking at for the diff drop kit for the 2'' ?

cheers Troy

[ultimate]

I was able to do the diff relocating comparison today comparing our Hilux to a standard Hilux. The results indicate the diff has been lowered 60mm and moved forward 30mm.

[Hilux Max]

Is there any way mate that you guys could make a brakcet that lowers the front diff a full inch only (25mm) and moves it 30mm forward?

[Jack S]

still slightly confused with moving the diff forward, in terms of what it does?
advantages....