How Do You Remove Factory Skid Plate?

So I am wanting to remove my factory skid plate from my 1996 Toyota Tacoma LX to paint it black. It is a 3.4 Liter V6. I have heard it is like 4-5 bolts but I am wanting to make sure. Someone also said there are clips hanging there to hold it up and you have to push up and slide it out then when putting it back in you have to slide it back in. Any help?

 

There is nothing to it, really. Just crawl under there look it over and start in on it. Youll figure it out. Take a few out, give it a lil wiggle and some tugs figure out where the points of contact are thats still connected and youll get it.

 

It's 7 bolts. 2 are deep in the middle of the 1st plate.

 

Thanks guys!

 

It is more a tool catcher then a skid plate

 

Oil catcher too!

 

since it wasn't mentioned. you have 3 bolts in front, the plate has 2 hooks going into the front bumper to hold it up for you while you put said 3 bolts in, you have 2 bolts connecting your FRONT and REAR skid plates (yes you have 2 plates, or should), and 2 more holding the rear end of the back plate on.

 

Whoever had my truck before me crossed threaded about half of the bolts so as soon as I put any pressure on them at all the bolts just snapped in half. I was going to drill them out but that was about a year ago and I still don't have a skid plate on my truck lol. Not sure the stock one would do much to protect anything under there anyways.

 

Argh. I tapped with hammer, with small rubber sledge. It's solidly on there. I hate dealing with little stupid crap like this.

I count 7 bolts removed (but I don't recall any that were "deep" like TrillTacoma said?). The rear skid plate came out easily and I can see how it slides into the front one.

I suppose I need to find a way to wiggle the front one out past the "2 hooks going into the front bumper." The bumper? I'll have to look again tomorrow.

 

It's not the front bumper. I thinks it's called the valance. It is a solid piece of metal with holes in it underneath the bumper. If you have a diff drop installed it is even harder to get the front one off since those metal spacers between the diff and skid plate are pressing against the front skid plate holding those front hooks in place in the holes of the valance.

 

Then my PreRunner should be that much easier. I just can't see anything holding it on.

 

So, it's NINE bolts altogether. Got it off. It's only 7 if you're removing the front and rear plates together as a unit.

 

It's not a Pelfreybuilt skid but they're a little tougher than I thought they'd be...

 

need to soak the shit outta them for a week with PBlaster or WD Rust Release if you've never taken them off

 

I know this is an old thread and forgive me for resurrecting it, but I’m putting mine back on. When I drive through a washed out road my battery light comes on without it. I think water hits the alternator. Additionally, I just changed the oil and noticed rust that wasn’t present before having it off for a while.