TECHLINE

DIFF DROP OR NOT I’m upgrading my lift kit from a budget Pro Comp kit to the Ironman 4x4 Foam Cell Full Kit (2–3-inch lift, new shocks, coils, full leaf pack, and carrier bearing drop kit) on my ’10 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab. The truck is my daily driver and weekend overlanding/camping rig. I don’t do any extreme offroading or rock crawling. Usually trails with softball-sized rocks at most.

- VERNE SIMONS

My question is, currently I have a 1-inch diff drop that came with the budget kit. The Ironman kit does not have a diff drop (has a carrier bearing drop) but has the same amount of lift as the old kit. Do I need the diff drop? I can’t seem to get a straight answer from anyone. I spoke with Ironman, and they said it’s not required if you’re doing moderate off-roading, but they can’t define “moderate.” I’d like to remove the diff drop so I don’t have to use spacers to attach my new skidplate. Should I remove it or keep it?

SALVATORE VIA FACEBOOK

Generally speaking, running the stock CVs for long periods of time at extreme angles is asking for axle shaft damage and/or CV boot failure. Hence, the differential drop you mention that came with the Pro Comp kit. So, our hunch with this situation is a diff drop should be used with any suspension lift that exceeds 1.5-2 inches, especially if you plan to, as you seem to indicate, drive the truck on-road a fair amount.

Still, we like more than one data point, so we reached out to a friend who has more firsthand experience with late-model Toyota 4x4s with suspension modifications. That friend is one of the guys who helped us set up the suspension (that we love) in our third-gen ’20 Tacoma, Jason Huss of Toytec Lifts. Jason says as a rule he sticks to is anything over 2 inches on a second-gen Tacoma should have a diff drop.