Yota82

Oh I see I was talking about the difference between the track width of Total Chaos kit compaired to the Downey kit not stock compaired to a TC kit. Downey is 2" per side and TC is 3.5" which is 1.5" difference per side making the TC kit 3" more than the Downey kit. But upon further investigation the TC kit is 3.25" per side (6.5" overall) so in reality the TC kit is only 1.25" per side wider than the Downey kit (2.25" wider overall). The whole point is that the width increase over a TC kit compaired to Downey is very minimal, so when people like Fred say that the TC kits are "much too wide", there is really no logical explanation on why that is or what he doesn't like about it besides the way it looks. 1.25" more per side is nothing. It would actually make it have more lateral stablity and will handle better. I work with TC at the races and the company is definantly light years ahead of Downey when it comes to innovations. They definantly stand behind their products. I work on one of the 2 trucks that had the prototype TC Generation 3 kit on it. The new Gen. III is basa$$ to say the least. Over 1000 race miles and no problems.

ewong

The problem with the GenIII kit is no 4WD... its a monster race bolt on suspension, but its NOT a "all arounder" kit (nor was it intended to be).

Way OT.. but what I want is the infamous Kreg Donahoe Krazy Yellow 4Runner..

kevmortensen

I run total chaos gen 1 caddy kit and love it. I have 4 wd, t100 axels, king 2.5 resivours and have not one complaint against this set up. Coil over would be nice, and will probably upgrade to ne new gen kit once i have the cashoola.

jped1981

Hate to bring up an old thread, but im looking into the downey kit and the TC gen 1 ball joint kit, jst surveying everyones experience

bump old thread

ewong

jped1981:

did the thread answer your question? (it should have)

jped1981

Hey Ewong,

Seems like this thread is similar to most ive read on here, basically saying that TC > Downey as a race ready setup. I think we can all agree that the downey gen 2 is the best one, but my truck is a daily driver that does not need to be so race ready, so im wondering if anyone has first hand knowledge of the downey kit, and how it has held up. I wonder how well it has lasted throgh time, and not an analysis of the parts used. I was hpng someone who has the downey kit would read it.

jped1981

Kinda anwered my question, but id like to hear a first hand experience about the downey kit. I did a test ride in the downey truck, but that one may have been babied or parts replaced etc. Just loking for anyone who has the kit if they could chime in.

ewong

The general feeling here is that there are some general "thresholds" for IFS kits

low end
- new shocks

LIFT as the goal
- bracket kits

Long Travel as the goal..
- TC or similar (meaning JD Fabrication)

The general "paper" assessment is that the final cost of LT is $3K or more when all is said and done.
So - saving $300 (or 10%) is not really worth it - this is after all a rather non trivial outlay in cash.

The reason that you wont see many reviews of the downey LT kit IMHO is that...... there aren't many buyers of the kit.

If you want a lift for looks - $3k is alot of moola
If you want a lift for "dez running" and you dont have the cash - the 10% savings isnt really gonna make or break the deal.
If you really are that strapped for cash - get a used LT setup - which usually means the more popular setup - which translates to TC.

From a manufacturing standpoint - Downey had the axles on the shelf from the old "Rancho IFS" upper A arm combo - so that from their stand point the kit is cheaper to stock as they have to make less parts.
From a marketing standpoint - going up against TC et al with "the same configuration" would be a potential losing competition.
So - their 2" per side kit....

But thats just my OPINION