Pop/Clunk with Chassis Flex? - Check Your Skid Plates

Figured this might save someone else some headache. I'm sure this isn't related to just RCI or aluminum skid plates, but I kept having this very odd like "pop" noise coming from the middle/front of the truck whenever I'd enter my driveway and or body would flex when driving off-road, etc. I can't tell you how many times I checked torque on my LCAs, ball joints, UCA, wheel lugs, etc. I've got a lot of aftermarket stuff but I am a nut for making sure I'm following torque specs on suspension components.

I've got the RCI engine and transmission skid plates, and when you go to install these, you remove 4 total frame/chassis braces. Two near the catalytic converters, and two from the front subframe to the bottom of the radiator mount. Knowing this, I started looking for hints that these were causing issues. Basically my poor scientific mind equates this to, the skids staying "in place" as the frame flexes, but then skips (very slightly) when the bolts are not tight enough on the skids since they're essentially functioning as frame braces now. See attached photo from the back of the transmission skid that led me down this rabbit hole, chipped powder coat from what I assume was it rubbing on the crossmember on frame flex. It's not corrosion on either the crossmember or the skid, that's all mud in the photos. Retightened all my skids, specifically these last two bolts on the rear of the transmission skid and all is tight and quiet! RCI doesn't list torque figures on any of these bolts, but these last two on the transmission skid were pretty darn tight, now they're hulk tight and staying quiet.

 

With my full RCI skids, it was actually the mating surfaces of the engine and transmission skids that were popping...tightening only worked temporarily. Permanent fix was placing fender washers between the two...

 

Yep, I had the same issue a few years ago and also put some thin rubber washers between the skids and the frame and that seems to have resolved it.

 

I have similar noise for years. I removed my skid plate to drive around for a month and no noise! Putting skid plate back on, after a few weeks of driving, noise came back. I will for sure get some rubber and place in between them.

 

I did rubber fender washers with a stainless fender washer in between

very annoying problem, sounds like front end noise!

 

Good to know as I’m looking at buying some of these skids and will just go ahead and do this during initial install. Anyone have the recommended part they bought that went in between the skid and mounting surface.

 

getting this exact sound took off my skids and reinstalled sound went away for weeks just came back. If anybody has a part for rubber washers I would be grateful!

 

Home Depot / Lowes nut and bolt section...

 

Ace is much cheaper fyi, if you have one

 

Do you ever go to ace hardware? Most expensive place in the world. I was surprised they were cheaper for this

 

God I hope this is the issue I have been chasing, the timing does line up

 

Mine clunks and pops when I'm turning my wheels at parking lot speeds while trying to park or when the truck is stationary. It also clunks a bit when I shift from park to drive/reverse as well. Basically, it'll make some kind of sound whenever the truck gets any type of movement at very low speeds or when stationary. I have a TRD skid and a Talon's Garage cat shield with the transmission skid (powder coated 3/8 steel). I wasn't sure if I needed to tighten down the bolts more or if that's just how it's gonna be with skids under there but I guess I'll try to tighten them down even more next time I'm under there.

 

I can't wait to try this weekend. I can kind of replicate the slow sounds I am chasing when I jack up the front under the engine skid, which then probably makes the slow move sounds even worse. Duh

 

Are those of you using the RCI full skids running the plastic spacers that come with the skids?

If memory serves it goes Frame > Plastic Spacer > Transmission Skid > Engine Skid > Bolt.

It's hard to tell from people's pics. I have RCI full steel skids. I have the same noise. I took everything off a few months back and torqued them down to RCI recommended spec.

Or, as RCI has in their PDF installation guide, https://rcimetalworks.com/wp-conten...RANSMISSION-SKID-PLATE-INSTALLATION-GUIDE.pdf

Align the two slotted mounting points on the Tacoma Transmission Skid Plate(C1) with
the two M8 bolts loosened in step 2. Adjust the nylon spacer on the M8 bolt so that it
sits between the vehicle frame and the Tacoma Transmission Skid Plate(C1). The
mounting order should be as follows: Ground>Engine Skid Plate>Transmission Skid
Plate>3/8” Nylon Spacer>Vehicle frame.

When I was still getting free oil changes, I'd take off the access cover with instructions not to drop the skid. I knew there'd be little chance that, A.) They'd be reinstalled, and B.) They'd be reinstalled in the correct configuration.

But I am starting to think it is a combination of frame flex, and new skid anchor points that don't want to flex that are causing the pop/clunk.

 

I also had the clunk and after trying everything it was my rci skid plates. Put some delrin or fender washers in between the plates. They are rubbing on each other and popping. You can see the powder coat rubbed away.

 

For those who had it be the front skid plate, did it sound like it was potentially coming from the back of the truck? I have a clunk, and can't find the source, but it sounds like it's from the back. Haven't entertained the idea it could be the TRD skid plate til reading all these

 

From Tinkerer's Adventure vid comparing 3G c-channel frame flex to 4G boxed.

 

Update, this really cures all. I put big rubber washers between the rear engine and transmission skids as well as front engine skid and frame cross bar. I did the same where my bumper connected to the cross frame bar. I have not heard such silence since it was stock.

 

Did you only put a rubber washer or flat washer in combination with the rubber washer ?