@JayM Even if it were free- prob not for me (my explanation why further down) You said 2.5" and down, just to clarify under 2" I think the "no" camp concensus is its not necessary. Over 2" maybe a different story. OP is inquiring for a 1.5" lift which most here including myself believe doesn't justify it.
I pulled my 174k mile cv axles apart to reboot them a couple of weeks back-I disassembled the inner CV ; the races and tulips were in good shape- some shiny/polished spots but no signs of worn in "grooves" or measurable wear marks. The outer CV's dont come apart so I couldn't fully asses but what I did see (cages & bearings) looked good. I am running a 2" lift and no drop.
Diff drop only provides 18.75 mm of drop, it doesn't get you back to stock angles. So regardless of the drop you are rotating cv internals at different angles and positions inside the tulip than before. It's why I don't really buy into the opinion that 100series CVs wear in at one operating angle and if you change that operating angle it creates failure issues as it relates to CV internal components. (Unless the CVs were run dry and already damaged or super high mileage IDK). Yes old boots may leak, or tear with increased angles, but failure of the CV internals by running moderate increase (under 2" lift) in angles probably has negligible affect.
I am more concerned with front prop shaft alignment being affected by a diff drop- it levels the front propshaft which creates less load on the ujoints, impacting how the needle bearings spin, the overall balance ( creating driveline vibes) and ultimately spider life.
Dropping or not dropping is probably a trade off. Like yin & yang of any lift mod, each upgrade impacts another operating system requiring further upgrade or repair.
I pulled my 174k mile cv axles apart to reboot them a couple of weeks back-I disassembled the inner CV ; the races and tulips were in good shape- some shiny/polished spots but no signs of worn in "grooves" or measurable wear marks. The outer CV's dont come apart so I couldn't fully asses but what I did see (cages & bearings) looked good. I am running a 2" lift and no drop.
Diff drop only provides 18.75 mm of drop, it doesn't get you back to stock angles. So regardless of the drop you are rotating cv internals at different angles and positions inside the tulip than before. It's why I don't really buy into the opinion that 100series CVs wear in at one operating angle and if you change that operating angle it creates failure issues as it relates to CV internal components. (Unless the CVs were run dry and already damaged or super high mileage IDK). Yes old boots may leak, or tear with increased angles, but failure of the CV internals by running moderate increase (under 2" lift) in angles probably has negligible affect.
I am more concerned with front prop shaft alignment being affected by a diff drop- it levels the front propshaft which creates less load on the ujoints, impacting how the needle bearings spin, the overall balance ( creating driveline vibes) and ultimately spider life.
Dropping or not dropping is probably a trade off. Like yin & yang of any lift mod, each upgrade impacts another operating system requiring further upgrade or repair.
