What do you guys think/feel about diff drop brackets? The idea popped into my head over the weekend. I'm not in any rush to lift the truck right now, but I figured that if and when I do, I don't want to go with a body lift for the extra height. I'd rather go suspension on top of what I already have installed. And I'm not looking to go with a SAS.

I know two companies have come out with the diff drop bracket for next gens - Calmini and Fabtech. I can't remember if SLR came out with one or not.

Are these brackets a good idea in general?

I'm not sure about second gens, but I don't thing they make enough of a difference on the first gens.

I never did it, and I have not had any more problems, perhaps less, that those who have.

Theoretically they should make a difference but I still break an axle now and then. It seems too much of a pain to put in a first gen for what it does unless you're doing something else at the same time.

Do you have one, Tom?

Yes, I put it in when I put in the front locker. I had the diff out and so it was not that big a deal and was told that it would be beneficial.
Taking out the diff. and getting the OEM bushings out of it was a bitch. I don't think I'd go through the pain of all that just to add that one, 1/8" drop.
But that's just me...

After seeing that guy in the Frontier bend his Calmini drop-bracket at Rausch (Don't remember his name, it was at the NIORA winter run a couple years ago) I was definitely hesitant to do it on mine. LaRana (Jim) has the Calmini bracket lift, but he's at around 8" total suspension lift with modified Radflos.

If you go that route, I'd definitely go with some sort of skid plate and just be careful of the line you pick. If you look at OZ's rig, he's got the Fabtech front bracket and that one has a little rise in the middle, giving you a little more ground clearance. I think that the old SLR one was similar to the Fabtech one. I had a couple pictures of it I will try to dig up for you.

How much height does it gain you, though?

The front bracket will give you another 4-6"

**EDIT** if you go with the bracket, you could crank down your radflos some so it'd be more like 3-4" over what you currently have, but you'll have more down-travel.

Fabtech Lift (Oz's Rig, Better pics on thenewx):


SLR bracket/kit:



Calmini Bracket (LaRana's X):

Ahh. That is something completely different than what I have and what is available for the first gen. I've seen that on a few trucks and those that had them say they are great but I no likey. Might as well but a cheap snow plow on your junk IMHO.

Thanks, Bobby.

I hear what you're saying, Tom. I remember someone at ECXC in '09 saying they kept hitting the Calmini bracket. The Fabtech and SLR look like they tried to avoid that by having that curve.

If you could run your skids from your bumper to the bottom of that cross member and then from there back as the TC skid it might work better. I don't know.
It seems like it would get wacked pretty hard all the time.

I agree! Looks like a wedge to catch on a lot of stuff.