Diff Drop Kit

KJRenny · **Joined:** Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:52 pm **Posts:** 72

I was under Lib today looking at way to lower the differential 1.5 inches. I have found a way to do it, a completly bolt on kit. I was wondering how many people would be interested in purchasing this kit to see if its worth while for me to have the machine shop make alot of the brackets. I would say the kit with all brackets and bolts would be around $200

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:45 pm

what's tne benefit of dropping it?

KJRenny · **Joined:** Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:52 pm **Posts:** 72

with the short front axles we have, you cant lift over 3 inches or so because of horible CV alxe angles, which will make them break. Lowering the diff will correct the angles of the CV axles allowing for more lift

Calvin56 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:59 am **Posts:** 345

Dropping the diff gets you better CV angles so that you can lift the rest of the Jeep even further than the current lifts. The diff is dropped 1.5" from the frame, so if you lift the entire Jeep 6" you will still have increased clearance at the differential.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and it definately sounds interesting. I'm looking at the SFA option right now, but this would definately be interesting as well. You could drop the diff, but what about the other parts of the lift?

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:30 pm

Show me some hardcore proof that it works before I will think about making the purchase. I'm not going to be a guinea pig for front suspension.

Myke · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2005 9:08 pm

Tokyojoe wrote:

Show me some hardcore proof that it works before I will think about making the purchase. I'm not going to be a guinea pig for front suspension.

+1

krazz1e · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:29 pm

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2005 11:21 pm

if it's a machine shop you need, i work in one. I am not in favor of diff drop or cradle drop kits but i will help you make yours, send me the specs and i'll make the brackets

chefdab · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2005 2:34 am

Yeah but if you do that, you need longer upper a-arms as well. At least.

Troysterr · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2005 5:13 am

I can't be the first or second guinea pig, but I'd be willing to be the third or fourth, if the first 2 were successful. Especially if you get endorsement from the LOST West guys.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:46 am

Build a working prototype and wheel it hard and share your experience with the forum and see where it goes. Anyone doing same can endorse it, LOST West isn't the only group wheeling.
I keep seeing guys on the forum trying new things and there is nothing wrong with that as long as the engineering is sound and the testing is tough. It is Great that folks are getting involved with trying new stuff and at least thinking about new ways to improve the KJ. Eventually those that care will benefit from it.

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:02 am

There is a lot more than just dropping the diff. It would help me out, with just about a 4 inch lift in the front (2.5 inch Rusty's coils, 1" inch Daystar puck, 1" spacer above strut assembly, clevis lift, Daystar top plate). However it will not allow you raise the KJ any higher, even with my a-arms you still will have spring to a-arm contact, and possibly spring to body contact anything higher than 4.5". The trick, which I am working on is lowering the entire front assembly, lengthing the steering arm, and the steering knuckles.

If you would like to work together, what I need is a sub frame to start fabbing. I found a place that may have one here in Jersey. I plan to fit a 2" spacer made out of steel tube between the sub frame and unibody. The motor mounts will need to either be move to the spacer, or spacers will need to be made for the mounts. Than I plan to use the new Grand Cherokee steering knuckles with their increased length or height to solve the a-arm problems. With the current lift kits on the market, and a 2 inch spacer above the strut assembly, we should be able to get a total front lift around 5 inches.

Cost of the lift in parts should be around $1500 byy the time your done. If your KJ is already lifted, take the cost of the lift kit out. The most expensive part will be the Grand's steering knuckles. I have the back lift done already.

So if we look at the entire package, front lift, $1500, rear lift around $350 (see lift experimentation posts), SYE $500. So we are looking at $2350 to $2500 in parts with your labor. To sell on of these kits, most likely be looking at 3K.

I like the idea of just dropping the diff and adding a spacer plate above your existing strut assembly and getting a 3.5 to 4 inch lift. You will need to drop the skid, and than you should be able to use 265's or 285's with rubbing.

Any input, anything I missed, am I just too crazy?

Al

uvalax236 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:03 am

KJRenny, I would like to take a look at your design. Give me a call on my cell phone (I will pm it to you) and lets meet up. I would be happy to test this idea out but it will have to be sometime in Jan. This sounds like a good idea and I have pondered the Idea. Again give me a call sometime this week and lets meet up this weekend if you can.

krazz1e · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:25 am

Al, I like where you going with this... don't stop.

Diff Drop Kit

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