Diff Drop - Anybody here do one?

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Glocker

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Okay so that diff drop is not for the faint of heart. Took several hours and you better have a right angle drill and good bits. I will post pictures tomorrow.
Did you have to remove anything like control arms or other suspension parts?
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Did you have to remove anything like control arms or other suspension parts?
nope. Just just crawled under the truck, supported the diff with a Jack and started cutting away with a sawzaw. Man do I hate that tool. I would much rather use a cut off wheel any day of the week but there was not much room to work with.
 
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nope. Just just crawled under the truck, supported the diff with a Jack and started cutting away with a sawzaw. Man do I hate that tool. I would much rather use a cut off wheel any day of the week but there was not much room to work with.
I'm lucky - I'll be doing mine on a lift next weekend. Fingers crossed for a good result!
 

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Did the drill type kit in a couple hours and noticed no difference from before. Not that there was an issue before.
 


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I'm lucky - I'll be doing mine on a lift next weekend. Fingers crossed for a good result!
If you figure out what this ring is for lmk. It was not covered in the instructions
2EB91C7C-1135-44AF-BDB1-8A14C62D6B73.jpeg
 
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@Glocker How did the install go?
It went longer than I expected. The passenger side went really easy. The template for the driver side didn't match up at all! So we did a part of the driver side (driver side inner bracket first), and then used the driver side outer bracket to determine where to drill the holes. Everything looks good and I haven't had any weird issues/noises/etc. out of the truck. I didn't determine what the aluminum ring is for either. LOL

I have to say, it was great doing it on a lift with a transmission jack/support. I think it saved our back!
IMG_20220122_163035.jpg

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2022-01-22 13.14.55.jpg

2022-01-22 14.26.31.jpg

2022-01-22 15.40.09.jpg

2022-01-22 15.40.32.jpg

2022-01-22 15.40.14.jpg
 

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It went longer than I expected. The passenger side went really easy. The template for the driver side didn't match up at all! So we did a part of the driver side (driver side inner bracket first), and then used the driver side outer bracket to determine where to drill the holes. Everything looks good and I haven't had any weird issues/noises/etc. out of the truck. I didn't determine what the aluminum ring is for either. LOL

I have to say, it was great doing it on a lift with a transmission jack/support. I think it saved our back!
IMG_20220122_163035.jpg

2022-01-22 15.40.39.jpg

2022-01-22 13.14.55.jpg

2022-01-22 14.26.31.jpg

2022-01-22 15.40.09.jpg

2022-01-22 15.40.32.jpg

2022-01-22 15.40.14.jpg
Good Job !
 

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The template for the driver side didn't match up at all! So we did a part of the driver side (driver side inner bracket first), and then used the driver side outer bracket to determine where to drill the holes.

2022-01-22 15.40.14.jpg
I did the same thing. Cut about where I thought I needed too, bolted up the inside bracket and slid the bolt through backwards towards the driver side to go into the new bracket. Once I got the bottom hole drilled I slid a bolt in and drilled a pilot hole for the top hole and then removed the bracket to finish.
 

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Learn something new everyday. All this time I thought all the posts referred to the rear differential. Actually just looked on BDS website and searched for a differential drop kit and the only thing that populated was for a Dodge truck. I am with Phil, I won't be cutting on anything including the frame, if I do this I want plug and play.
I have the 3.5" BDS kit on my Ranger. The diff drop is of heavier steel than the factory one. Plus location of factory drop would seem to block any mod. I cannot see how any diff drop would avoid cutting off the factory welded one. The BDS Drop comes w/ their lift n level kit. VERY happy with it. SUPER Stout. PITA to install.
 

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It went longer than I expected. The passenger side went really easy. The template for the driver side didn't match up at all! So we did a part of the driver side (driver side inner bracket first), and then used the driver side outer bracket to determine where to drill the holes. Everything looks good and I haven't had any weird issues/noises/etc. out of the truck. I didn't determine what the aluminum ring is for either. LOL

I have to say, it was great doing it on a lift with a transmission jack/support. I think it saved our back!
IMG_20220122_163035.jpg

2022-01-22 15.40.39.jpg

2022-01-22 13.14.55.jpg

2022-01-22 14.26.31.jpg

2022-01-22 15.40.09.jpg

2022-01-22 15.40.32.jpg

2022-01-22 15.40.14.jpg
Looks good.
 
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the idea of cutting the frame on a new truck is not something im gonna do. i want to put on the bilstein 5100 shocks and struts and get a little bit of lift / level but if its going to make problems i may just skip the headache. any one have a "safe range" suggestion? the ride height is adjustable, i do not NEED lift for bigger tires etc. i mainly want the upgraded shocks and struts. i would like to have the front closer to level but still have the truck raked a bit.
 
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the idea of cutting the frame on a new truck is not something im gonna do. i want to put on the bilstein 5100 shocks and struts and get a little bit of lift / level but if its going to make problems i may just skip the headache. any one have a "safe range" suggestion? the ride height is adjustable, i do not NEED lift for bigger tires etc. i mainly want the upgraded shocks and struts. i would like to have the front closer to level but still have the truck raked a bit.
How much do you use your truck off road? Funny thing; being lifted in the 3.5" to 3.75" range, I had no problems off road. But three times, while turning left out of driveways on asphalt surfaces, I heard a little binding up front on the right side. That's what drove my desire to drop the diff., just in case. I've been out a bunch without any issues though.

I also retained the parts cut off, and they can be easily welded back in just a couple of minutes. :D

I think you will probably be fine with your desired level of lift with the 5100 shocks and struts.
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