Diff drop, is it worth it?

Question: I’m about to get 33s and ICON suspension installed on my 2nd gen Tacoma you think I would need a diff drop/spacers to keep the drive-line and CV angle closer to stock? I would hate to stress those components. Off Road Warehouse in San Diego recommends I get them installed but I’ve been hearing nothing but negative responses on the diff drop.

Anybody out there with experience having a diff drop installed on there tacoma? Do they really make a difference?

 

I thought diff drops on a 2nd gen were a no-no?

 

Diff drop is Worthless on 2nd gens.
Now, rear end shims or a carrier bearing drop are beneficial at times.

 

Thank for the heads up, lots of people are telling me not to do a diff drop on the 2nd gen tacoma

 

This is what I was reading. Yikes.

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

 

Yeah! I’ve seen that post. Part of the problem is that he had those things protruding from his skid plate, and because of it, it got cought against a rock or something. I know I would have issues installing my existing skid plate if I go with the diff drop. So it’s definitely a no go on the diff drop for me

 

I don’t know if I should admit this or not but I have them on my truck. I bought most of my parts from total chaos and they sold them to me. At the time I didn’t ask if they were recommended or not but they didn’t say not to use them on my 2nd gen. I’ve read many posts about how they’re a waste and have considered removing them but when it comes down to it I keep forgetting about it. I’d call total chaos and ask them how then feel about them. The guys who work there use these parts on there trucks and would value their opinions. My truck just doesn’t get driven much but when it comes down to it I may remove them.

 

I just don’t see the benefit of dropping the diff on a 2nd gen tacoma. I just hear more bad then good from these things installed

 

I’ve owned my ‘06 for 12 years. Lifted it in ‘08 I tore through 3 boots in a couple years then put in a diff drop. It’s been around 7-8 years since dropping it and I haven’t torn a boot. Everyone that says don’t do it are regurgitating something they heard from someone that knows someone that knows something or they are the guy with the shitty skid plate design. You’ll hear “it doesn’t improve angles, it just rotates the diff”. That’s not true. When you lower the front of the diff while installing you can see the angles decrease. It’s cheap, and it worked for me. There are skids on the market that work with it as well, I’m fully skidded. Wheel all over. Ran 6 miles of the Rubicon last weekend.

 

I see you’re a fire fighter. Thank you! Even if you don’t work wild land fires. Northern California is so fucked right now. Last week I was in Tahoe and Lasen, never seen so much smoke. I’m in Angelo Nat Forest tonight, headed out to Tucson tomorrow. They had a huge staging area off 101 in Ukiah for the Mendocino Complex Fire, hundreds of tents along the side of the Highway for the guys.

 

Thanks for the appreciation. Our department sent two crew B3762 and OES 308. One went to Ferguson the other Mendocino. I work on a truck company so I stay in my district

 

Not trying to dispute your claims. But a few factors will come into play with cv boot angles. Primarily if you upgraded your leafs for increased weight (weight that I see you have in the back there).
IOW, have a 2" (in the rear) raked stock truck. Put a 1K# load of concrete in the bed. What are the front springs doing? That's right, cantilevered by weight, the front springs decompress giving you undesired lift. Even more so with warn out springs not capable of handing any increased weight. That in turn increases boot rub and demise of your CV boot.
You by chance upgrade your leaf pack 4-6 years ago?

 

I hear you. Yes, I’ve beefed up the rear over the years to keep the stock rake. But a diff drop helps in the above scenario...?

 

Good info! I skipped the diff drop on my 2008…would only have exposed the diff to xtra damage.

 

Old thread but here's my experience. 2007 with a 2" lift. Without the drop a few boot ribs hit... with the drop they don't. Been on for 17 years with zero issues... still on the original boots. No rock crawling... just light offroad.