Crooked skid plate

Hello! Long time researcher, first time poster, haha! So I did a little beach 4x4 a few weeks ago. Went up a large sand dune/hill that I’ve done 100x in my old Runner and never had a problem. I took my truck up it fine, wheel ruts were pretty deep but I have a 3 inch lift so it shouldn’t be a problem. I noticed a weird noise the following day, almost like a slight metal to metal clanging when driving. When I hit my breaks it stops. I noticed that the stock skid plate was cockeyed and the right side was off the front clip (left was fine). When looking at the truck head on the right side of the skid plate is sagging lower than the left. The left is snug to the truck but the right is inches lower than the left. Looking under everything looks ok, didn’t notice any missing bolts and since reclining the front right clip the noise has subsided quite a bit. My question is… has this happened to anyone else? I’m assuming when driving up the hill, the wheel trenches were deep enough that the plate might have got hurried and somehow dislodged or…. Who the hell knows. It’s pulling slightly to the right as well. Any ideas on what’s going on? Thank you!!!!!!

PS: photo quality is terrible and doesn’t look too terrible in the photos, but in person the sag on the right is very noticeable.

 

Maybe the dealership crossthreaded a skid plate bolt doing an oil change.

 

I can speak to this. Two of my four were cross threaded when I did my first oil change after buying the Taco, and the skid was therefore hanging to one side like yours. Had to chase the threads and install some new bolts.

OP, specifically regarding the skid plate, I would look and confirm that all the bolts are all the way tightened.

Can't speak to any of the mechanical problems that you described.

 

It seems like it could have been bent a little from soft impact(sand) and if it’s pulling to the side after some off road fun may be that the cam bolt move uppon an impact. I don’t get where the “cross thread” talk started.

Cheers!

 

I would drop the skid plate and re-seat it. While it is off, if it is bent look for damage. My skid plate requires some wiggling to get it to seat properly before I attach the bolts. If a Tech changed your oil, it is possible they did not seat the skid plate properly.

 

Thanks guys/gals! I had the oil changed in December so I’ll look at that. I’m thinking TA2016 has a good idea of taking the skid plate off and checking it out. I don’t believe there’s any mechanical issues, I’m thinking a rock possibly lodged itself between the roter and break. It’s hard to hear that noise anymore but the skid plate sag is obviously noticeable. I’m looking forward to getting under it this weekend and utilizing all the suggestions!!!

 

Everything feels secure and attached under there, that’s the weird part…

 

Jeez another thing I will have to avoid looking at on my truck. Once I see it I will need to do something.

 

Seems like a good excuse to install a real skid plate.

Welcome to the forum

 

OMG it’s totaled! The only thing to unfuck this now is to do the same thing in reverse

 

I can tell you that at least one of your struts are blown on the front.

 

Right?! Already on the search

 

Soooo…. After further inspection it appears the side that’s NOT sagging had a nice ole dent in it. So somehow when hitting the hill it got push up and dented. The sagging side is where it’s intended to be, so weird because it looks snug and perfect on the other side time for an aftermarket one….. oh dang, lol

 

I just installed RCI front, transmission and car-wings. Cat-wings are free with transmission plate for a while.

 

And there IS some fluid-like thing on the UCAs, I think. fxntime mentioned that.