Rear diff skid plate recomendations

Boogered up my rear diff a bit over the weekend and would like TW opinions on best diff skid plate for 2016 TRD OR.

 

I believe someone has one for sale here, Bay Area Metal Fab

 

Rci

 

I can’t imagine a much worse setup for armor than that....giving up a ton of ground clearance

 

About 1 inch lost in that rear diff area and if your really worried about that, then I feel sorry for you. Better than slamming the rear diff on a rock.

 

What would u do ?

 

An inch is a big deal when you are measuring diff clearance in the 10-12” range. Not to mention what they are asking for a price.

Done.

If you don’t own a welder, spend the money you saved over RCI or BAMF to buy one and learn to weld

http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/toyo...for-hilux-pickup-4runner-tacoma-8-tar-dg.html



Even cheaper is my preferred method to weld a strip of 3/16” along the face of the rear cover along where the ring gear is. Guys have been doing it for years in crawlers with no issues

 

Nothing against you but with new trucks people don’t like to weld on them even when they have access to any welding machine under the sun. Not everyone who has armor owns a rockcrawler that we can just weld crap on.

 

That design doesn't look like it protects the bottom of the diff very well. Just the back, which I would worry about the least.

 

I can get that... but if you’re wheeling trails hard enough to require diff armor, then you’ve probably crossed the line on most of your axle related warranty anyway.

The bottom of the housing will live through a nuclear war...you will never hurt it. The only issue can be having the 24mm drain plug grabbing on rocks and loosening. Easily fixed with a 10mm Allen head drain plug or just welding it in and draining the diff via a bolt in place of a stud on the bottom of the third. The thinner metal on the cover can be bent in if you back into a rock. It can potentially hit the ring gear and cause damage.

 

So I believe we have come to the conclusion that its personal pref. Regardless good knowledge coming from Tacoma world

 

In pure performance, the weld on armor is the far better choice. The only way bolt on makes any sense is if you are unwilling/unable to weld on armor.

FWIW I never armored by rear axle when I had the stock Tacoma axle and don't plan on armoring my FZJ80 rear axle either. Years of abuse and no issues to report.

 

I had the same opinion but I feel that if you do some major damage to your armor, and it's welded on and rubbing, better hope you have a pry bar and leverage, I like the bolt on option so it's easily removed for ANY reason.

Edit: Back on topic, I have the RCI and I could take it off in less than 5 minutes if need be, and I feel very good about it's ability to do its job.

 

Not trying to stir shit but maybe that works where you live but in AZ we have rocks everywhere and dragging the rear diff is a common occurrence

 

But that inch a clearance loss !!!! Your going to need it lol

 

If you mangle diff armor, then the axle is bent and a write off at that point. You'd have to absolutely slam a rock at high speed in reverse to hurt it... It's been working just fine for decades.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-truck-4runner/450269-diff-armor.html

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-truck-4runner/557521-axle-armor.html

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/miscellaneous/204392-rock-plate-differential-armor.html

Never have seen a rock in my life.

Coming from the guy that had to make a thread to ask how to do an exhaust dump...

 

Alright bro, go back to the first gen section were you belong. Lolol

 

Your arguments are literally invalid and pointless.

 

I managed to mangle my rear diff without bending an axle. Looking for a way to avoid that. You have nothing to offer. Need advise from someone who doesn't know it all

 

Did you actually read my post? I said if you mangle your diff armor...

You asked what the best diff armor was and you're getting conversation as to what is the absolute best diff armor.