ARB Skid Plates DONE!

[TOY2G]

So which part number are we supposed to be using? ARB doesn't list the 4th gen for an application (they list 2010+ though).
I would guess the 4th gen could use the 5421100 since its listed for working with the FJ. Is that correct?

ARB 5421100

This thread is going to cost me money...

Nice skids.

[MENTION=6383]STRAP22[/MENTION] is one of ARBs biggest distributors in the US and he works for Toyota, perhaps he can chime in and save you some money.

Call Adam (Works For Phil) 9l9.787.OO99

 

[laufer]

Please help - 2004 V8 insufficient clearance btw transmission skid and exhaust pipe

I have had the ARB's on my 04 V8 for years and I'm very pleased with them. If yours is a dedicated crawler, then maybe look at something a little more heavy duty, but these are at least far superior to stock. I do mostly overlanding and technical trails, but have done plenty of rock crawling as well and the ARB's have held up despite coming down on them really hard numerous times. I will say that I'm happy I have a much heavier RCI skid under my gas tank though.
Fit is great; they went on easily. I did replace the 2 Allen head bolts with some grade 8 hex heads though.

Hi all,

I am having trouble installing my ARB 5421100 properly because of insufficient clearance between the transmission UVP and the exhaust pipe section (part 17450B in the upper left section of the diagram) that crosses from the driver's side exhaust manifold to the rear catalytic converter.

I also contacted ARB tech support in case they've seen this problem before, but I'm hoping someone from this community with an early 4th gen V8 or GX can share some advice based on their own experiences.

The photos show the provisional installation my mechanic performed just to complete the job. (We are aware that the tube spacers go on between the front panel and the crossmember below the radiator.) He could not install the transmission panel according to the instructions without that exhaust pipe getting in the way.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to finish this installation properly? In particular:

• Is it acceptable for the exhaust pipe to rest on the transmission UVP panel?
• If so, should we put adhesive heat shield on the panel? (I want to avoid wrapping the exhaust itself because that would trap moisture and lead to premature corrosion.)
• Should we be using the included transmission spacer bar (ARB part # 3759302)? Perhaps we could bolt this to the inner slots of the panel as far back as possible to increase distance from the exhaust. Or should we find some spacer tubes to put between the rear bracket and the panel?
• Should we try to raise the exhaust by putting hose clamps around the rubber mounts? Based on the diagram, the only places to do that are further back from the problematic section, so we might not gain much clearance in this way.
• Any other thoughts or advice?

I would greatly appreciate your help as I am trying to get this vehicle "expedition-ready" over the next few weeks. Other than this complication, the product is exactly what I was looking for (light-duty protection on mild trails).

Btw, they seem to have changed the design of transfer case skid. This one bolts on nicely using the existing bolts, not requiring "spreading" or any other modification.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Does anyone have any ideas on how to finish this installation properly? In particular:

• Is it acceptable for the exhaust pipe to rest on the transmission UVP panel?
• If so, should we put adhesive heat shield on the panel? (I want to avoid wrapping the exhaust itself because that would trap moisture and lead to premature corrosion.)
• Should we be using the included transmission spacer bar (ARB part # 3759302)? Perhaps we could bolt this to the inner slots of the panel as far back as possible to increase distance from the exhaust. Or should we find some spacer tubes to put between the rear bracket and the panel?
• Should we try to raise the exhaust by putting hose clamps around the rubber mounts? Based on the diagram, the only places to do that are further back from the problematic section, so we might not gain much clearance in this way.
• Any other thoughts or advice?

I would greatly appreciate your help as I am trying to get this vehicle "expedition-ready" over the next few weeks. Other than this complication, the product is exactly what I was looking for (light-duty protection on mild trails).

Btw, they seem to have changed the design of transfer case skid. This one bolts on nicely using the existing bolts, not requiring "spreading" or any other modification.

Letting the exhaust rub the skid plate may create a rattle, probably not a good idea.

I made my own skid plates, and designed them so they lay flat all the way across the crossmembers so I had an exhaust shop cut the piping and build/weld another pipe up higher just enough to clear the skid before mounting them. $130. I have a 2005 V8 so the exhaust crosses just before the t case where yours looks like it crossed under the transmission but you could probably do the same thing.

Check out this page for more information on the rerouting:

Inv4drZm's Build Thread

 

[duffdog]

First things first. ARB skids are junk. I have them and all of them have bent an deformed and I had to weld 1/2" steel onto them to reinforce. Now they might actually do something.

Second thing, I can't believe anyone would use that tiny little insignificant transfer case "skid plate" and think that it would do anything. I took it off and threw it in the backyard for scrap metal.

Third, This skidplate will work with the ARB kit and cover the crossover exhaust for the 4th gen while also providing protection for the t-case:
Trail Gear T-Case Skid Plate Kit w/Hardware Single Case for 07-11 Toyota FJ Cruiser

Granted, the frame on an FJ is 1" narrower than the T4R, but some spacers and a drill can fix that problem.

 

[laufer]

Letting the exhaust rub the skid plate may create a rattle, probably not a good idea.

I made my own skid plates, and designed them so they lay flat all the way across the crossmembers so I had an exhaust shop cut the piping and build/weld another pipe up higher just enough to clear the skid before mounting them. $130. I have a 2005 V8 so the exhaust crosses just before the t case where yours looks like it crossed under the transmission but you could probably do the same thing.

Check out this page for more information on the rerouting:

Inv4drZm's Build Thread

Thanks for the suggestion. I looked at your build thread, and they did a beautiful job rerouting that crossover! Thanks also for being clear about the increased noise after deleting the rear cats.

I'll have to take another look at mine to determine how much space can be gained below the transmission. I'm also reluctant to move the exhaust to avoid damaging the manifolds and introducing the dreaded leak.

In the end, if we can't install the transmission skid with sufficient clearance for the crossover, I might just leave it off. Meanwhile, I am waiting for a response from ARB tech support...

 

[laufer]

First things first. ARB skids are junk. I have them and all of them have bent an deformed and I had to weld 1/2" steel onto them to reinforce. Now they might actually do something.

Second thing, I can't believe anyone would use that tiny little insignificant transfer case "skid plate" and think that it would do anything. I took it off and threw it in the backyard for scrap metal.

Third, This skidplate will work with the ARB kit and cover the crossover exhaust for the 4th gen while also providing protection for the t-case:
Trail Gear T-Case Skid Plate Kit w/Hardware Single Case for 07-11 Toyota FJ Cruiser

Granted, the frame on an FJ is 1" narrower than the T4R, but some spacers and a drill can fix that problem.

Thanks, that looks like a really cool t-case skid plate.

My situation is a bit different, though, as the exhaust crossover on the early 4th-gen sits before the crossmember between the transmission and the t-case, and my clearance problem is with the transmission skid.

In terms of protection, I am actually OK with something between "b) brush and stick protection" and "c) light impact protection", as opposed to "d) boulder protection".

 

[laufer]

ARB 5421100 transmission skid considered incompatible with 2003/04 4Runner V8

After studying the situation a bit more, I have concluded that the ARB 5421100 skids are not fully compatible with the early (2003/04) V8 4Runners because of the position of the crossover exhaust pipe below the transmission pan.

A friend of mine (2003 GX) has addressed this issue by using spacers toward the rear:

My concerns are that he is actually reducing his ground clearance and breakover angle in this way, he might get caught up on something if backing up, and the setup might not hold up if the vehicle actually comes down onto something (unless he upgrades to heavy-duty spacers and bolts).

Raising the crossover exhaust pipe even a tiny bit will get in the way of dropping the transmission pan for maintenance. Rerouting it would seem to be a major job that might open another can of worms, such as risking damage to the exhaust manifolds. I would definitely not consider that a simple bolt-on solution.

So, for the time being, I have kept the transmission skid off. I might ask the vendor and/or ARB if they are willing to buy it back from me...

I suspect that other skid plates might have the exact same issue simply because of the construction of these early models.

 

[AuSeeker]

After studying the situation a bit more, I have concluded that the ARB 5421100 skids are not fully compatible with the early (2003/04) V8 4Runners because of the position of the crossover exhaust pipe below the transmission pan.

A friend of mine (2003 GX) has addressed this issue by using spacers toward the rear:

My concerns are that he is actually reducing his ground clearance and breakover angle in this way, he might get caught up on something if backing up, and the setup might not hold up if the vehicle actually comes down onto something (unless he upgrades to heavy-duty spacers and bolts).

Raising the crossover exhaust pipe even a tiny bit will get in the way of dropping the transmission pan for maintenance. Rerouting it would seem to be a major job that might open another can of worms, such as risking damage to the exhaust manifolds. I would definitely not consider that a simple bolt-on solution.

So, for the time being, I have kept the transmission skid off. I might ask the vendor and/or ARB if they are willing to buy it back from me...

I suspect that other skid plates might have the exact same issue simply because of the construction of these early models.

Just an FYI, you can't completely remove the transmission pan on V8s without removing that crossover pipe anyway, if that helps you any.

That being said raising the crossover pipe up closer to the transmission might not be that good of an idea either because it could cause the transmission to overheat, but I not sure if that would be the case, but if it does high heat, like anything over 200ish degrees is a very big issue for transmissions and the fluid.

 

[Wessideg]

I bet your backyard is beautiful

First things first. ARB skids are junk. I have them and all of them have bent an deformed and I had to weld 1/2" steel onto them to reinforce. Now they might actually do something.

Second thing, I can't believe anyone would use that tiny little insignificant transfer case "skid plate" and think that it would do anything. I took it off and threw it in the backyard for scrap metal.

Third, This skidplate will work with the ARB kit and cover the crossover exhaust for the 4th gen while also providing protection for the t-case:
Trail Gear T-Case Skid Plate Kit w/Hardware Single Case for 07-11 Toyota FJ Cruiser

Granted, the frame on an FJ is 1" narrower than the T4R, but some spacers and a drill can fix that problem.