Diff Drop Won't Fit

Posted in the what you did today thread with no response so also posting here.

Just redid the suspension with ome shocks and springs as well as all new bushings. Wanted to also install a diff drop as its a bit higher. I got the wheelers offroad kit which says it's compatible but I'm not really sure how it is possible to space the diff down. When I drop the diff down and put in the spacers it is touching the cross member. I didn't keep the spacers in since i imagine the metal to metal contact would make noise and vibration. Anyone else used this kit or another? How did you have space to install!

 

that's intriguing. I had no issues with my supreme suspension kit.

 

Nor did I.
Are BOTH spacers in place?

 

Yep, I put both in and snugged it all up. Diff was still sitting on the cross member. I couldn't figure a way to make it not hit without making smaller spacers.

 

It doesn't look like it in the picture, but could the crossmember be bent or one of the attachment points?

 

I put a level on it and it seemed to mach the trans support brace pretty well and didn't seem bent. Frame is about 4 years old from the records I have wonder if there was a design change.

 

Are those 1"?

 

Yes

 

Dang..well, that was my best guess. Anybody else got any ideas?

 

How much your axles actually drops with 1" spacers?
I'm curios about that?

 

This is one of those math questions with no right answer, right?

 

It's practically useless because you are dropping probably .5 inch if?! Your angles aren't change a lot so I don't see purpose of actual diff drop only on one side. My 2 cents

 

I was curious before I installed but when I was getting it in there is was a pretty decent angle change. Just at the expense of it hitting the cross member which makes it pretty useless.

 

Yea it's not a huge difference but a bit would certainly help keep the cv alive for longer. Not sure what you mean by one side, it definitely drops both down a bit. Just dosent fit without hitting the cross member.

 

You dropping only front side of the diff and your axles are in the middle of the diff so you gained probably.5 inch maybe less. How big lift are you running on the truck?

 

It's probably 2.5-3". At this point I'm just going to run without it and contact wheelers for a refund. If the cv boots tear then I'll figure out a replacement. Just wish I could have gotten them a little less stressed since we don't have hubs to unlock them so they spin all the time.

 

These seem to be popular with a lifted first gen. https://www.offroadsolutions.com/products/high-angle-inner-cv-boot/

 

Thanks for that. Those are some pricy boots for sure, no warranty either, but if they hold up then it may be worth the cost.

 

Maybe the diff bushings are worn enough to sag a bit?

I'd probably just mark the spots that touch and clearance the crossmember with a hammer.

 

If CV boots are not torn, once done with lift take the clamp off and replace with narrow stainless steel hose clamp as the new angle will cause you to lose grease. I ran into that problem and not a drop since. Thanks to the men on this site for the info...

 

When me and a friend went to install the diff drop we ran into the same issue. With more reading I agreed that it wasn’t necessary. I didn’t dig too deep as to why there wasn’t room for the kit.
I did the clamp mod but a few weeks in I was spraying grease again. I did install the high angle boots and all has been well since.

My opinion - if you lift the front spend the money and install the high angle boots.