RCI skid plate LCA CAM tabs: cut off?

I have the RCI A Arm Skids (1/4" Aluminum) sitting off of the truck for getting an alignment as the tabs would interfere with that.

One of the reasons I specifically got the RCI ones was because they appear to protect the cam bolt, although I'm now wonderinhow much protection they actually provide as they could likely easily bend depending where they were struck. Thinking about cutting those ears off to make the alignment bolts more accessible.

I may then get the TRD Pro front skid, which shields the Cam bolts in a different way.

 

I just took mine off because I'm more concerned with them trapping road salt against the lower arms. I've had many alignments done though and no one ever said they were an issue though.

 

I have the RCI A arm skids and although the cam bolt wing of the skid has not yet taken a direct hit, I view them as sacrificial instead of the cam itself taking the hit.

 

I have the RCI A-arms matched with the OEM PRO skid. You will need to grind down the wings on the A-arm. Under certain deflection angles I had A-arm plate to skidplate collision reducing motion.

RCI designed the A-arms for the OR skid or their skid.

 

The LCA skids are unnecessary. Just leave them off the truck. It's nonsense to have an aluminum skid "protecting" a boxed steel structure that is stronger and more abrasion resistant.

 

I tend to agree with this. At this point I will probably take mine off this fall and shelve them long term. They trap mud and salt and because of how I pick my path through obstacles I almost never use them. My drivers side has a little use. They probably provide some help but honestly I hit my lower unit on my rear shock more than my A-arm

 

^My LCAs have taken multiple hits (they are lower than the engine skids). Only evidence are a few scratches. Nothing is bent or cracked. Even the plastic anti-whistle plugs are intact.

I have Marlin Crawler frame gussets for the cam tabs. You'd have to be a masochist like my off-road club's co-founder to bend those...