Front Diff Contacting Skid Plate

I removed my front skid plate a few days ago for some maintenance and noticed that the skid and diff are showing evidence of contacting. I am running and RCI aluminum plate. The skid has a slight tweak to hit from hitting a rock, which may or may not be the reason for contact. Long story short, is this something to be concerned about? Seems to me that it could lead to some long term issues. Or could be a vulnerability if I were to hit something directly underneath the diff. Are other after market skids as tight to the diff? The stock skid has a small pocket pressed into the metal directly below the diff, should I cut out a hole and weld a plate lower on the skid?

Thoughts and ideas appreciated

 

For the plate to be fully effective it should not be in contact with the diff. The shock of an impact could be directly transfer to the diff. How thick is your aluminum skid. Could you hammer it back into shape?

 

1/4". Going to try a big brake press. And probably going to cut a hole and weld a small lower plate

 

Buy a steel skid plate and that will fix it. Aluminum skids are not meant for the rocks

 

Been thinking about steel, but... Are other aftermarket skids close to the diff as well?

 

I've got 1/4 steel on the front of mine from ATO and it has taken some serious hits, it's not close to the diff at all

 

My Allpro aluminum skid has resisted "frame shaking" rock hits without anything more than a scuff in the surface. Hits that sent loose change flying. Aluminum skids are fine for rocks as long as they are designed correctly.

 

Agreed, Wile. The slight tweak in my skid isn't anywhere near the diff. Maybe my diff just hangs a bit low. No diff drop, by the way.

 

Sounds like the solution then is to get a different designed skid plate

 

So do other plates have spacers to hang lower?

 

No they just designed the skids to not collapse under one hit

 

My skid didn't collapse. The tweak is in the front; no where near the diff

 

This is like a broken record, skid is designed poorly. Obviously just get a new design or modify yours to be better.

Here's how I fixed my back ones from bending

 

Thanks for the input. In my case, the problem is not a bent skid plate. The problem is my diff is as low as the frame rails.

 

No problem. Maybe you should get a different truck then.

 

Buying a new truck would be so much better a solution than a skid spacer or a different brand of skid. I didn't even think of that!

 

After about 40 years of designing and building stuff that interacts with the earth (logging and mining equipment) - I can tell you that even the nastiest Caterpillar rock guards and ROPS cages get bent......... And there is always someone waiting in the wings with a welder and more scrap iron to doctor them with a better idea. In my world - you can always find a bigger hammer.

Most of the aluminum in our stuff is plain old 6061 - which has about the same yield strength as mild steel. So at equality - size for size - shape for shape - strength is pretty much a draw (except the aluminum is much lighter).

 

I hear you. No armor is indestructible and I've always thought of it as disposable.

I'll try spacers.

I might cut a hole in the plate below the diff and weld a plate over the hole. I only need 1/8" clearance.

 

The problem has nothing to do with your diff. Aftermarket products SHOULD be designed to fit and work properly on whatever vehicle and OEM parts that will be near them. Sounds like RCI makes a shitty product.

 

That's one reason I'm trying to assess how other skids attach, clearance, etc.