This is with 3" suspension lift on a 2003 TD5.


No space for any flexing.
There were signs of rubbing even on the 2" lift the truck had when I bought it. The rubber on the shaft was "cut in half".
But on 3", there really is no other way than remove that cross member. There are spacers for it to bring it lower, but I wouldn't go that way.

 

Good point! if its tried and true to remove then thats what I will do. Quick question. Does someone make like a 1/2 inch or 1 inch spacer to go in between the driveshaft flange and the diff flange? Looks like you have some teeth showing when flexxed and a spacer here would be alot cheaper than having an extended shaft made. Thanks.
EDIT: Never mind, I answered my own question. Will I need a spacer for a 2 inch lift?

 

Can't say anything to that prop spacer, but those teeth show because the rubber boot over them is shot.
And it's normal to see them, as it slides in and out due flexing. If You look carefully, You can see that the grease nipple has also hit the cross member.

That pic is with the stock front prop and I now have this installed.
https://gwynlewis4x4.co.uk/product/d...dc-d2-ext-600/

 

I just did the TF 2” lift and was wondering about that cross bar. It’s good to know it can be taken out because I was concerned! Thanks for bringing it to my attention!

 

Yep no point in risking any damage to the front driveshaft over that support. I drive my 3inch lifted D2's all over the place 80MPH to a snails pace off road and I never noticed a difference to the vehicle.

If it was held in place with some large bolts like a D1 transmission support then yes I would have to agree it's structural. However those 4 soft metal bolts holding it on would certainly snap if any kind of load was ever placed on them. I can't count how many of those bolts have simply rounded off with 1 turn of a 3/8 wrench.

The spacers which are not cheap to lower that support basically take any gains away from your lift and place that sucker right back in the line of fire to get hung up on out on the trail.

I think in today's world that support would be called the catalytic converter brace so people would have something to rest them on right before they saw them out from under your D2.

 

Just took my cross member off a few minutes ago- I was all ready for a fight, but it just zipped right out! Yay for west coast trucks!

 

Yeah, I pulled mine off yesterday afternoon as well. Texas truck so same as you. The bolts came out too easy. My little spacer lift shows up Friday so I will get it on this weekend.

Also, your sig says "pcv mod". What is that? Putting that in the search on this site yielded no results. Thanks!

 

Here is the link to the PCV mod (thanks Best4x4):
https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...install-92942/

The stock PCV can get clogged causing a pressure buildup in the crankcase which pushes oil out of seals and whatnot.

 

Got the rear lift installed this afternoon after work. Ill hit the front tomorrow morning. 2 inches really is 2 inches with a spacer lift! The 99-up Chevrolet Silverado 1-3 inch extended shock brackets work just fine. The one thing to point out is that the hardware that comes with them is bigger than the shock eye hole. You can either get smaller hardware at the hardware store, or do as I did and drill out the shock. There was plenty of steel left after drilling out. I'm going to need new shocks in very near future anyway. I believe these to be the stock shocks from 2001!! I'm eyeballing some Bilstein 4600's. They ride so smooth and I can buy stock sized shocks available in most parts houses.
I'm also going to have to do at least rear brakes soon as well.

 

Awesome! Glad that's a confirmed "fix" for the spacer lift. Thanks for following up.