Diff Drop Brackets

[JHarris1385]

For some reason I do not have 100% trust in welded drop brackets.....With my little to no exp. with welding and trusting the craftsmanship of a welder. Should I even be the slightest concerned with the structural integrity of welded brackets vs. stock?

[tom4bren]

Zeus & BigMeat have been running theirs for some time now with no problems. Joe Darlington has been making them for years. Email him with your questions - his addy is earlier in this thread.

I found pix of Joe's version but I didn't download them. They look great. I couldn't see any weld lines & he even paints them to match my Proton.

There was a write up by starchild on the installation that I did grab & create a pdf. I'll try to get it to Moncha ASAP so that he can post it (along with all the other great 'how to's' that I've gotten here). If you want to find it on your own tho: planetisuzoo - hall of fame - look for thread on diff drops by starchild.

The bottom line is that I don't want to take any business from Joe ... but ... his drop is 1 1/2 inch (& look pretty). The one I'm having made is 2 inch (& don't look pretty). The choice is yours.

If you need the install pdf before I get it to Moncha - lemme know & I'll email it.

CD done - just gotta get it in the mail.

[tom4bren]

Joe's diff drop bracket

OK - I'm still post-pic-challenged. It's in my gallery if you want to see it big.

[tom4bren]

The welder brought in the diff brackets yesterday. They look just like BigMeat's. He's cleaning them up now & grinding down some of the weld where the axle housing will mount. I'll post some pix of the final product when he brings them in. Looks like the price will be comparable (slightly less) to Joe's so the only difference will be 2" drop versus his 1 1/2" drop.

[JHarris1385]

I think all said and done I paid $50

[tom4bren]

"I think all said and done I paid $50"

OK, let us in on your little secret. Did you buy em or make em? Joe indicates $200 plus shipping & my welder is estimating $150 plus shipping.

[JHarris1385]

bought the brackets from someone parting theirs out and got a welder to fab it basically free.... Its not that hard of a job, but I am no welder either, just what I have heard.