Is diff drop necessary?

Yeah 4Runner stock springs are overly soft for the weight and sag even when new. A 2.5" spacer on the existing springs will lift you ~2.5" over your status quo. A diff drop wouldn't be necessary.

A diff drop isn't necessary in most conditions with OEM CV axles anyway. OEM CV axles have more than enough mechanical angular travel. The wear point is the inner CV boot - the boot fins can rub at higher running angles and crack and leak. The solution there is to just stretch and re-clamp the inner CV boot as shown here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/my-cv-boot-mod.190669/

I did this mod myself on my Tacoma and ran it with 2.7" lift for two years with no issues, and all it costed me were two #16 SS hose clamps (nominally 1.5" dia.). Took all of 20 minutes lying in my driveway without even needing to jack up the vehicle.

 

That. Plus, a spacer doesn't have anything that can 'settle'.

 

Finally watched the tinkerers video on diff drops
The man says no ultimately
I did not know some of these clearance facts b4 saying yes at the shop, I may have declined. Oh well I've learned a lot

https://youtube.com/watch?v=47aat1tc6zw&feature=share9

 

I was runnin' through the thread to see if someone already posted this video or not. If....and that's a big if, someone really needs a diff drop, Tinkerers shows the one to get. Pretty sure that shop isn't going with that one and most people with diff drops don't either.....unfortunately.

 

Great video. I actually found it a day ago. Had to watch it a few times. Guys a wealth of info. Also found his IFS one. I came from solid axle jeep. So The IFS is all new. Thx!!