Diff drop for lift?

Snooperstyle

Snooperstyle

Active member
May 26, 2024
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Ordered my Dobinsons MRR extended travel shocks/springs and Icon UCAs. Dobinsons and Icon are both saying that this truck definitely needs a diff drop because the Dob fronts are extended travel. I went ahead and ordered the Icon diff drop kit, but not really sure I want to put it on unless absolutely necessary. At full droop (stock), the CV arm does look fairly angled already, so I do have some concern, but I also hate how a diff drop causes you to lose about an inch of clearance. I know I am going to probably get opinions that vary on this topic, but still putting it out here. Would appreciate any and all opinions, especially from those of you that are also planning a lift.
 
Great topic, tough answer. To be frank, I think we need to have more experience with the platform before we can call it. For example, on one of my 5th gen 4Runners, I ran 2.x" dobs lift in the front 1 inch rear and the CV angles looked almost stock still. On the other site, 3" on the previous gen Tacoma and the CV's would be shot within 10k miles. If we can get a look at what the angles the guys running Westcott lifts kit look like, should help make the call.

When my OT comes in, planning to do a Wescott kit unless there are more options available by then. Ideally, I'd like to do a 2.1-2.3" front and 1" rear again. Shock and springs. How do you plan on running your setup?
 
GaoKS said:
Great topic, tough answer. To be frank, I think we need to have more experience with the platform before we can call it. For example, on one of my 5th gen 4Runners, I ran 2.x" dobs lift in the front 1 inch rear and the CV angles looked almost stock still. On the other site, 3" on the previous gen Tacoma and the CV's would be shot within 10k miles. If we can get a look at what the angles the guys running Westcott lifts kit look like, should help make the call.

When my OT comes in, planning to do a Wescott kit unless there are more options available by then. Ideally, I'd like to do a 2.1-2.3" front and 1" rear again. Shock and springs. How do you plan on running your setup?
Click to expand...
Dobinsons MRR setup. Will be extended travel in front, and medium weight springs/shocks in rear. Hoping to achieve max of 2.5 lift up front and about 2 in rear. Doing Icon tubular delta joint UCAs. I like that the bushings on those are more like stock bushings. Diff drop kit is Icon, and it’s apparently the same for a 24 Taco. Will run JW Offroad front bumper with winch, stronger underbody skids, and hopefully JW comes out with their rear bumper soon too. Method 703’s with either 305/70/17 BFG AT’s or 285/75/17 Falken Wildpeak AT4’s. I am limiting myself to a C-load tire for ride comfort. Will have to toss the spare in the rear hatch until I get rear bumper with swing out.
 
I am planning on properly lifting mine also 2'' max. I currently have a 2.5'' spacer lift. Where my angles are sitting now, I would put on the diff drop.

I currently have a panhard bar misalignment and e-mailed DRKDSS, it seems as he is working on a relocation bracket. Probably means that the E-KDSS will also need spacers. Lastly I have to see if you can disable the AVS.
 

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Robkelhare said:
I am planning on properly lifting mine also 2'' max. I currently have a 2.5'' spacer lift. Where my angles are sitting now, I would put on the diff drop.

I currently have a panhard bar misalignment and e-mailed DRKDSS, it seems as he is working on a relocation bracket. Probably means that the E-KDSS will also need spacers. Lastly I have to see if you can disable the AVS.
Click to expand...
Great share. Definitely agree with you on a diff drop if those are the angles. Wonder if a 1" front level avoid the headache of the EKDSS as well. Might be the move with this platform.
 
Robkelhare said:
I am planning on properly lifting mine also 2'' max. I currently have a 2.5'' spacer lift. Where my angles are sitting now, I would put on the diff drop.

I currently have a panhard bar misalignment and e-mailed DRKDSS, it seems as he is working on a relocation bracket. Probably means that the E-KDSS will also need spacers. Lastly I have to see if you can disable the AVS.
Click to expand...
I pulled the fuse on my AVS and it doesn’t throw errors. So I think you can just unplug it and zip tie the wire to the truck and good to go. The panhard bar is not something I ordered. We shall see. The Dobinsons are in transit and I hope to install in a week or two.
 
Snooperstyle said:
I pulled the fuse on my AVS and it doesn’t throw errors. So I think you can just unplug it and zip tie the wire to the truck and good to go. The panhard bar is not something I ordered. We shall see. The Dobinsons are in transit and I hope to install in a week or two.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the pulling the fuse idea. Going to do that this weekend and check codes. Keep us posted on how your alignment goes with the Icon UCA’s.

You need a 15” #2 screwdriver to lower the headlights. I found it easier to put 2 dots on the adjuster and housing to count rotations. 44” at 20ft works good without blinding people.
 
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Robkelhare said:
You need a 15” #2 screwdriver to lower the headlights. I found it easier to put 2 dots on the adjuster and housing to count rotations. 44” at 20ft works good without blinding people.
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Thanks, I have not yet tried to adjust my headlights but yep gotta do it after pretty much any lift. Did not realize I’d need a screwdriver that long. This is why I love the forums!
 
By the way, Robkelhare, how much turn (rotation) did you do to adjust this height? I am sorry to keep bothering, but when I did it there was not much change I could make by turning a bit.
 
All good!
Now back to diff drop topic...As far as I can tell, nobody has actually installed one on a GX. I have mine in the box, two kits actually (Icon told me they didn't have in stock despite their website saying they did, so I ordered a kit elsewhere, and then Icon shipped anyways...doh!). My plan is to see how it works without it, and then put in after the lift if we determine it's needed. Same thing with panhard bar and bump stops.
 
Snooperstyle said:
All good!
Now back to diff drop topic...As far as I can tell, nobody has actually installed one on a GX. I have mine in the box, two kits actually (Icon told me they didn't have in stock despite their website saying they did, so I ordered a kit elsewhere, and then Icon shipped anyways...doh!). My plan is to see how it works without it, and then put in after the lift if we determine it's needed. Same thing with panhard bar and bump stops.
Click to expand...
I read the instructions (https://images.iconfigurators.app/pdf/I55156_REVA_2323.pdf) for the icon one. seems pretty straight forward. guessing that the kit not having skid plate spacers means it fits without it?
 
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