1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Why you need a rear diff skid plate

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by majpooper, Jul 4, 2025.

  1. Jul 4, 2025 at 10:06 PM
    #1
    majpooper

    majpooper [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2022
    Member:
    #414242
    Messages:
    664
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dennis
    North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2022 Black TRD OR
    OTT Tune Front 2" lift OME 888 coil Bilstein 5100 DuroBump extended front bump stops Archive Garage extended rear bump stops Rear 1.85" lift Icon RXT leaf pack Bilstein 5100 SPC UCA DX4 16x8 +10 wheels 285/75R16 KO2 viper cut CMC sway bar delete exhaust reroute exhaust cut just past the rear axle U-bolt flip LFD engine skid plate RCI transmission and x-fer case skid plates Spindle gussets
    I had to learn this the hard way. I thought I was fine underneath because I have skid plates (engine, transmission and transfer case). I did this on an obstacle that I was having trouble getting over and had to back up a few times. You have to be careful in picking a rear dif skid plate because they don't all extend underneath towards the front and protect where this happened. C4 rear Dif plate does.
    upload_2025-7-5_1-5-37.jpg
     
  2. Jul 4, 2025 at 10:29 PM
    #2
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2012
    Member:
    #73066
    Messages:
    16,772
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Anthony
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 dcsb trd offroad 4wd
    Damn that sucks. I have hit mine pretty hard where the driveshaft bolts up but didn’t catch that part that you did
     
    majpooper[OP] likes this.
  3. Jul 5, 2025 at 8:02 AM
    #3
    majpooper

    majpooper [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2022
    Member:
    #414242
    Messages:
    664
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dennis
    North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2022 Black TRD OR
    OTT Tune Front 2" lift OME 888 coil Bilstein 5100 DuroBump extended front bump stops Archive Garage extended rear bump stops Rear 1.85" lift Icon RXT leaf pack Bilstein 5100 SPC UCA DX4 16x8 +10 wheels 285/75R16 KO2 viper cut CMC sway bar delete exhaust reroute exhaust cut just past the rear axle U-bolt flip LFD engine skid plate RCI transmission and x-fer case skid plates Spindle gussets
    Yeah - I was of the opinion that the diff housing was steel so why do I need to protect it with a steel skid plate. Of course had I picked a better line I would have cleared the obstacle so there is that but I did have a good experienced spotter so . . . .
     
  4. Jul 17, 2025 at 8:11 AM
    #4
    shadesbro

    shadesbro Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2022
    Member:
    #411410
    Messages:
    50
    Gender:
    Male
    I should do this probably
     
  5. Jul 17, 2025 at 2:11 PM
    #5
    gudujarlson

    gudujarlson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2019
    Member:
    #298083
    Messages:
    7,350
    Gender:
    Male
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2020 TRD Off-Road DCSB 6MT
    Kings, Dakars, SPCs, 33's, Mobtown Sliders, TRD Skid
    If it’s still functioning properly and holding oil (I only see some seepage), I would not worry about it. Consider it part of the cost of doing business.

    If it bothers you too much, I’m guessing that replacing the seal isn’t super expensive, possibly less than the cost of a diff skid.
     
  6. Jul 17, 2025 at 2:56 PM
    #6
    Mrcooperou812

    Mrcooperou812 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2023
    Member:
    #438257
    Messages:
    451
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Las Vegas NV
    Vehicle:
    2016 DCSB OR 4WD
    Yikes. I have C4 rear dif skids on my Tacoma and FJ Cruiser (same year 4Runner plate fits it) specifically for protecting the yolk area and not for more steel protecting the already steel dif housing.
     
  7. Jul 17, 2025 at 3:18 PM
    #7
    Buck Henry

    Buck Henry Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2020
    Member:
    #349241
    Messages:
    3,636
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 White TRD Off Road
    Drive it!
     
    BillF1564 likes this.
  8. Jul 18, 2025 at 12:13 AM
    #8
    Mach

    Mach Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2024
    Member:
    #458465
    Messages:
    457
    Vehicle:
    2022 Lunar Rock DCLB TRD Off-Road
    The problem with the skids that protect this area is that every one I have seen has a nice big lip on the front that will catch way before that did. Anything that catches is likely to result in damage if it happens with any momentum.

    Also they all seem to eat into your clearance.
     
  9. Jul 18, 2025 at 12:14 AM
    #9
    Mach

    Mach Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2024
    Member:
    #458465
    Messages:
    457
    Vehicle:
    2022 Lunar Rock DCLB TRD Off-Road
    Honestly if it's not leaking or scraping then sounds like nothing's wrong and your good.
     
  10. Jul 18, 2025 at 8:40 PM
    #10
    Toycoma2021

    Toycoma2021 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2021
    Member:
    #351607
    Messages:
    1,739
    Northern California, Temporarily
    Vehicle:
    2021 Access Cab, LB, AT, V6, Off Road
    As others have said, no problem. If you really get into wheeling, from your post I can see you have not, you will see much worse. On another vehicle I have bent the exact part you have and I no longer even install it when working on the diff. The first few bumps and bruises hurt the worse. You are a child getting his/her first owie and the pain is unknown, once you age and receive more pain you won't even notice it.

    I would never reduce my clearance for diff or lower control arm protection - both are strong enough to take a lot of abuse. Just drive it. 4-wheeling is a philosophy.
     
    Mach likes this.
  11. Jul 18, 2025 at 11:05 PM
    #11
    helix66

    helix66 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2017
    Member:
    #235675
    Messages:
    1,834
    Gender:
    Male
    DPRC
    Vehicle:
    2017 DclB TRDor MgM
    ProGrille,MesoStuff,Tinted,AllPro sliders, RCI ALL skids, BAMF diff skid, KDmaxPro tune, Demello bumper, Warn evo10s, BD s8 & squadrons, Accutune UCAs, Fox 2.5pes, Eibach & Deaver
    Reading this, it sounds like it's implying you have the C4......the bamf covers that too, I'd guess most of the good quality ones do.
     
  12. Jul 19, 2025 at 10:35 AM
    #12
    Mrcooperou812

    Mrcooperou812 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2023
    Member:
    #438257
    Messages:
    451
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Las Vegas NV
    Vehicle:
    2016 DCSB OR 4WD
    Here is my c4 rear dif skid.

    20250719_103422.jpg

    Here is c4 for a 4Runner on my FJ.

    20250719_104055.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2025 at 10:42 AM
    TnShooter likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top