2 part question here:

I recently installed a 2.5" spacer kit on my tracker, now the axle boots on both half shafts where they attach to the differential are ripped.  is the spacer kit causing the axles to be at too much of an angle, and do i need to install a diff drop kit to lower the diff and decrease tha axle angle?

While installing the kit, i just removed the axles from the diff to allow the a-arm to drop low enough to get the springs back in under the spacers.  now that my axle boots are ripped, i've been looking at the repair manuals, and they seem to indicate that i should have marked the axle to differential location and installed back to the mark.  I did't do that, is this the cause of my woes?  If so, how to i get the correct alighment when i install the next set of axels?

Thanks in advance

john

What size spacers did you install on the front springs?  Did you also install a strut drop at the same time?

Bought a 2.5" spacer kit that included the 4 spring spacers, strut spacers, & rear diff spacer.  all installed at the same time. 

Where the front spacers a full 2.5" tall or only 1.5"?  To tall and you can risk breaking CV joints.

As for the boots, did they have oil on them or where they pretty stiff?  They can tear easier as they get older and are kind of a pain to replace.

well, the front spacers were almost the same as the rear spacers, they were probably a 1/4" or so shorter than the rear spacers. so probably 2.25" spacer in the front.  the boots werent bad looking before, the outer boots looked a little more worn, but the inner boots looked fine to me.  I think ive decided to go ahead and order drop brackets to lower the fron differential.  now my concern is with getting th new axles on correctly.  to your knowledge, does the rotation of the axel in relation to the differential matter, or can i just slap them on?

Oreintation of the CV shaft to the inner axle shaft isn't that big of a deal.  Just put it on wherever it lines up.

It shouldnt matter much at all in regards to the front axle phasing, CV's are far less susceptable to imbalance due to their inherently balanced tripod design and being hub centric.

Sounds like the OLD degraded stock boots simply couldnt take the additional flexing from moving the knuckle downwards in relation to the diff. You may be fine with just replacing the boots, but adding the diff drop will greatly extend the life of the CV's themselves as well as the boots. 

I think i'll go ahead and get the drop kit and install befor i put on the new half shafts.

Thanks all for your help