2016–2023 Tacoma Catalytic Converter Shield – Bolt-On Theft Protection by Cali Raised LED

Hard to say if it's worth contacting them yet or not. Once some folks receive the replacements (v2.2?) we should have a better idea with respect to them having more clearance at the U-joint. I haven't heard back yet so I guess we just wait and see.

 

Got it. So you must have received v2. I must have received v2.1 since it fit okay (just too close to the U-joint IMHO).
Hope the next version addresses all of our concerns.

 

I’m thinking they should go out there with a 4X4 off road and a Go Pro camera and record how good or bad are these V2.1 on an actual rocky scenario. That would save us from worrying to go off road when these are so close to the U-joint. Then they can make a decision if a V2.2 are necessary.

 

Great idea! Wait, send me a GoPro and I'm in!

 

Received an email from Chris (@CaliRaisedLed) which addresses *my situation* since I tweaked my shield to allow for about 9mm of clearance between the driver's side shield and the U-joint but others may need a little more guidance. It also confirms my earlier thoughts about the U-joint/driveshaft movement being vertical, not horizontal.

"Hello Richard,

Mon, Apr 10, 2023 at 1:09 PM

Thank you for the detailed notes. I looked over your pictures and I believe your 9mm of clearance will be safe. The way the front diff is mounted to the truck, it does have a rubber mount to reduce vibration felt by the driver. However, if you take a close look at the two mounting arms they each have two bolts that connect in a front to back direction. This tells me that if the front diff does flex on the rubber the only physical direction it can move is up and down. I crawled under our test truck and checked how this would affect the CAT shield and from what I see, this will not be an issue for you. The way the tab is on the CAT shield it will not interfere with the driver shaft with even a major up and down movement. If it was side to side, it potentially could, however even with these rubber mounts, 9mm of side to side deflection would be quite extreme. Based on your pictures and notes you have a good install from my perspective and I don't think you have anything to worry about! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, thank you!"

Here's my earlier post regarding what I did to gain some additional clearance:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...2016-2022-tacoma.784146/page-50#post-28603447

I'm going to rest easier now, but if you're not comfortable with how your shield is situated, it'd probably be worth getting in touch for some more detailed feedback from @CaliRaisedLed.

 

Hey everyone, we had our engineer look over your responses and here are some notes for you all:

1/4" clearance or more is a safe distance to have. The way the front diff is mounted to the truck, it does have a rubber mount to reduce vibration felt by the driver. There are two lower mounts and one upper mount that support it from multiple directions. The goal of these mounts is to reduce vibration, but to keep the diff firmly in place so that suspension and drive angle change does not happen. In short, it is designed not to move. If you take a close look at the two lower mounting arms they each have two bolts that connect in a front to back direction. This tells me that if the front diff does flex on the rubber the only physical direction it can move is up and down. I crawled under our test truck and checked how this would affect the CAT shield and from what I see, this will not be an issue for you. The way the tab is on the CAT shield it will not interfere with the driver shaft with even a major up and down movement. If there was side to side movement, it could potentially happen under extreme conditions, and your drive shaft would be the least of your worries. Based on the notes above, I don't believe you have anything to worry about! If you have individual concerns please reach out to us via our website chat and our technical support form and we can give each of you the individual attention you need. We cannot do this on the forum and our technical support forms come directly to the engineering department. Thank you for the support!

 

Lol

 

Great news so, 1/2 “ of clearance is more than enough. Thanks.

 

The research you put into this is insane haha definitely much appreciated! So it seems like I might do the same thing and take the shield off and put it in a vice and try to bend it. Maybe I can get some pliers to bend it while it’s still on the truck? But it’ll definitely be hard lol. Might put the passenger v2 side on as well since I’m there

 

Completely agree if someone has a concern to directly contact the vendor.

Thanks for working the issue and addressing it publicly. Refreshing to have a small business doing the right thing.

 

I was thinking about the interference issue and believe/agree that the driveshaft should move vertically as the terrain changes, and the driveshaft itself should also extend and retract as well, but all within the same vertical plane. I hope the 1/4” clearance accounts for the vertical movement and the potential extension of the driveshaft simultaneously.

 

Thanks for the kind words. Just happy to give back where I can.

It's pretty tight so I don't think you can get pliers in there, but even if you could, the shields are pretty heavy duty and it would take some Hulk strength to bend them by hand from underneath. I think your best bet is to remove it, put that part in a vice and carefully bend it in just a little otherwise you'll start to tweak the rest of it and that might be problematic when it comes to reinstalling it.

At this point I believe I could actually install both sides in the 20 minutes or so the original video talked about... instead of the hour and a half that it took me the first time.

 

I ordered my cat shield on 2/18 and received it on 4/6. I believe I got the V2 shield. The passenger side clears the transmission hose with plenty of space. I put some trimlok on that side just in case but is not needed. The drivers side has about a 1/4 inch of space with the driveshaft. I have no rattles when daily driving in 2wd. Also heard no noise when putting truck in 4wd. Attached are pictures and I also have a video linked below of the truck in 4wd to show clearance on drivers side with driveshaft. I don’t think this will be an issue but might end up using a angle grinder and cutting part of the corner off slightly for more clearance with driveshaft. https://youtu.be/ylpaANQ8IUg

 

Nice work! Thanks for that.

 

I know right! I might just end up having to put the passenger side on haha but did you end up just bending the tab closest to the drive shaft? Or did you bend all 3?

 

Just bent the tab by the drive shaft. Luckily it's cut at just about the right place. Leaving the v1 on the passenger side. If it ain't broke...

 

Ordered these on Feb 28th just received confirmation from CaliRaised that they have shipped. Looking forward to installing them when I get back from my trip

 

I'm kind of wishing I would have just done this. Although, I don't have a vice. Seems like a waist to have three sets sent my way. Might be sending a set (or both) to Texas for @278horn if he wants them.

 

Just got done finishing mine as well. Put a rag over the tab, put it in the vice and used my body weight to bend it haha. Thank you for the tip @TRDRed ! From the pictures it doesn’t look different but in person I feel like it is. Gives me less of a headache (for now)… ended up doing the passenger side as well since I was there and it looks like the v1 secured the cats more and the v2 exposes the cats a little more and the thieves can just slide the cats through the sides but these shields are just a deterrent so it is what it is. Hopefully it’ll be my last time taking these on/off. Reminds me of doing warranty work at the dealer

 

Could be the angle, but it looks like you have more space than mine. Well done!

Oh yeah, looking at the shield, you definitely bent it in further. So no alignment problems? Nice.