The purpose of this write up is to help others that may have or thought about using studs or bolts that act as studs while mounting the TRD Skid Plate.
DISCLAIMER: If you decide to do this mod, you are doing this at your own risk. Period.

If you have removed your OEM skid plate and are planning on installing a TRD Skid Plate, I advise chasing the mounting threads with a M10x1.25 tap or thread chaser.

The TRD Skid Plate arrives with the front bolts installed in the skid with a spacer and a retaining washer to hold the spacer in place on the bolt.

I removed the retaining washers and the spacers and put them aside.

Items ordered came from Belmetric & McMaster-Carr.

EDITED VERSION Rev 1.1

For the Rear Location
I used 2) JIS Medium-Strength Steel Hex Head Screws, M10 x 1.25 mm Thread, 70 mm Long bolts and came in from the top of the threaded part on the radiator support.
With a backing nut or jam nut on the bolt, place a washer on top of the radiator support, insert & adjust to length (3/4") and tighten nut, bolt will be locked in place.....
Never seize should be used sparingly to coat the threads for ease of removal.

For the Front Location
I had to make the fronts with 2) JIS Medium-Strength Steel Hex Head Screws, M10 x 1.25 mm Thread, 70 mm Long bolts cut with Dremel Tool to total length of 2 5/8” to bottom out in the forward radiator location.
I used 2) NJAM10X1.25YLW - Jam Nut Yellow Zinc to tighten the now cut bolts into place.
I used blue loctite on the fronts.

Once the front bolts have been installed, remove the jam nuts.
Now place the spacers on the forward bolts and slide them up into the recessed bracket holes, using a small vice grip, thread the retaining washers onto the bolt until it is tight against each spacer.
If there is a small bent area on the retaining washers, they will flatten out when the skid is tightened up or using the jam nut and a washer, one could flatten the retaining washers out prior to putting the skid plate on. Remove the jam nut and washer!

All bolts were Yellow Zinc.

Stainless Belleville Washers (WB16SS - Stainless Belleville Washer) and Stainless Acorn Nuts (NA10X1.25SS - Acorn Nut FINE Stainless) were used.

>>> NOTE <<< One could also use Stainless Flat washers (WFHV10SS - HARDENED Flat Washer Stainless Steel) and Stainless Lock Washers (WL10SS - Lock Washer Stainless Steel) if they prefer.
I am going to use oxide coated black hardware myself.


Install skid, install washer(s) and acorn nut(s).
Make sure the bolt/stud protrudes only 1/2” below skid.
You don’t want the bolt/stud to bottom out in the acorn nut !

Tighten to specs.

Attached Images