TRD skid plate question

You are right; not sure why I keep coming back to this thread and being a jerk. I apologize and it won't happen again.

Hey Fishpick; piece of advice! Loosen up those allen bolts holding the filter access cover on before you install the plate. They can be in there pretty damn tight from the factory. I removed them and put a little dab of anti-seize on the threads before reinstalling. And also watch how much torque you use on the main mounting bolts for the skid plate. Some here have snapped the hardware putting them on with too much force. I think it was less than 30 foot-pounds but the instructions should say how much.

 

Yes aluminum oxidizes/corrodes, but it forms a hard layer of aluminum oxide that is very corrosion resistant. Whether aluminum oxide is more or less attractive than pure aluminum is for the eye of the beholder.

Does aluminum oxidize as much as steel? No. Is it likely to cause your truck parts to fail? No. Is it something to worry about? I sure don't and don't think I'm in the minority. There are millions of people driving around the country with aluminum wheels not worrying about if road salt will cause them to fall off. YMMV.

You got me curious about what Minnesota uses on roads though, because it might explain some of the differences in opinion. This is what I found.

"Sodium chloride is the most common deicer used in Minnesota and across the U.S. (Sleeper, 2013)."

https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/How_salt_works_and_overview_of_deicing_chemicals

 

Installation was simple. The 2 smaller bolts that go in the open threaded holes on the frame at the back needed a squirt of liquid wrench in there as the threads were rusted and not wanting to accept a fresh bolt without risk of snapping off the bolt.
All hardware got anti seize for the future date when it might need to be dropped to hopefully keep it from rusting to the truck.
Happy with it. also whoever recommended taking off the hex bolts before installing to lube them for filter access… excellent idea - those are grossly over torqued from the factory. So they got anti seized and the like all hardware torqued to spec.

Did pull the air dam- and honestly - I think the truck looks better without it!

 

Cross braces are still intact!
Finally dropped the Skid Plate and drove around anddddd the noise is still there. I re-installed the skid plate and used blue loctite and a torque wrench. Skid was fine and the hardware good to go.

I'm fairly certain my LCA bushings are shot but at this point who knows. Nothing looks broken or worn out, i'm gonna rig up a gopro next week and see if that captures anything. The sounds is really prominent off road or turning and going over speed bumps slowly. PITA honestly.

 

I have a new set of the skid plate hardware that I am returning tomorrow. I bought it thinking I needed it when I ordered my TRD skid plate. Damned thing came with the hardware. I got mine from BAM parts. It was sold as used because it had a scratch on it and they could not sell it as new. I won't tell you what I got it for, but it was significantly less than y'all are posting. The scratch, you ask?

About a half inch long, behind the back 12mm bolts and not even fingernail deep. Not visible to anyone except someone I am actively running over...depending on where they are facing.

The skid plate went in without issue on my 21 OR.

I also live in NY and will probably just rinse it off when I wash the truck.

 

That sucks. The action cam is the way to go.

 

The design of the TRD skid plate with the solid bar stand-offs might be causing the noise. Aluminum is known to have galling issues when subjected to movement under tension, combine this with some frame flex and when the skid shifts ever so slightly it could make some noise. Maybe disassemble the skid and apply generous amounts of anti-sieze to both ends of the aluminum stand offs.

 

Does anyone know the length of longer spacers? I lost one…

 

If you lost one but not all wouldn’t you just measure one you still have? I dropped mine a couple days ago to do the diff fluid but too lazy to drop it again

 

You are not wrong.

It’s just I don’t wanna take off my skidplate twice. I also stripped a weld nut that the skidplate bolt screws into… So will be a fun weekend

I actually found the bolt/spacers specs here: