Installed skid plates, cab noise is really loud now

I had a set of ARB skid plates installed on my 2018 DCSB. Cab sounds like I have a straight pipe exhaust now, so much engine noise!

What should I investigate first?

 

Is it rubbing against something? Torqued to spec? All bolts installed?

 

Take skids off, test again.

 

Do 3rd gen trucks have the stupid low-hanging crossover exhaust pipe right near the T-case? If so its that rubbing on the skid?

 

Does not sound like rubbing. Sounds like exhaust noise being reflected into cab. It was installed by a garage who powder coated them. I got a bill for fasteners for $14.50.

Hahahahahahahaha. I paid 3 hours labour at $80 to get them installed! Truck was whisper quiet before the plates were installed.

 

You're probably going to have a little bit more noise simply because you have something solid bouncing the sound waves back up towards the cab. If you want to run the skid plates all the time you might just have to learn to live with it assuming nothing's making contact and rattling.

 

I will have a look.

 

Ok.. well, hopefully it’s something you can see with an X-ray machine since you don’t want to take any bolts off.

Good luck.

 

Inspection camera. Good luck in life!

 

This thread requires some audio.

 

Slight interference between plate and a stock rock guard on rear transfer case:





I claim I have the prettiest skid plates on Tacomaworld, they are powder coated same as the body:

 

Ya that powder coating looks really nice.

 

Did you solve the noise ?

 

Yes, I just removed and discarded the pictured black rock guard. That rock guard was contacting the plate!

 

Did you keep your stock front TRD skid plate ?

I want to get the entire ARB skid plate but not sure if it replaces the stock front skid. I guess I like the red TRD badging on it.

 

I discarded the stock plate, took it to a metal recycler.

I would look to plates that are actually designed for your Taco generation. It is very useful to be able to change the oil and filter without removing the plate. It's possible to relocate the oil filter to the top side of the engine, but very expensive and people who have done it report leaks sometimes. It would be feasible to install a Femco or Fumoto-type system with an 8" hose to drain the oil if you relocate the oil filter.