Bud Built Belly Skid Clearance Issue

[smallfry]

Have any of you run into any clearance with the bud built belly skid and the bottom of the transfer case and the vibration damper/isolation (whatever that chunk of rubber is called)?

For awhile I had a clunk noise coming from under my 4runner but couldn't figure out what was causing the issue. I went ahead and pulled the belly skid off and noticed that the bottom of the transfer case and the vibration damper/isolation had been rubbing the skid plate (started to make an indention in it and before anyone says anything the skid isn't bent it's straight).

The seam on the bottom of the transfer case has been worn smooth to the point were you can't see the seam anymore.

So I went ahead and added a couple of washers as spacers to try and get some clearance between it and the t-case along with bolting the skid to the other side of front skid plate. Playing around yesterday in the mountains the chunking noise made it's return.

When I pulled the skid plate this morning the same wear marks are back despite the spacers (washers) being added.

Any idea as to what is going on here? Is the clocking of the t-case messed up? I could add some additional washers for more clearance but that's more of a Band-Aid fix than addressing an issue and I shouldn't have to do that. My past (2) 4runners both had the belly skid and didn't have this issue.

 

[Dous]

I have the same exact issue. It makes quite a bit of noise driving around, especially with my firm shifts from the valve body upgrade.

Now my skid isn't perfectly flat anymore, but there isn't much of a bend in it.

 

[the great him]

The issue I had was similar, but it was only the vibration dampner that was making contact with my belly skid. I simply removed the dampner, and the problem went away, no more vibration noises or rattles under my rig, on or off the road.

 

[snivilous]

It's called a Tune Mass Damper

 

[Dous]

Yea I mean you'd have to bend the skid plate to get it to hit the transfer case....it just bends way too easy...needs some gusseting

 

[smkd13]

Or you could ya know clock your Tcase :lol:

 

[Dous]

Or you could ya know clock your Tcase :lol:

Pishaw

 

[EatonKyleH]

I put my belly pan on this past week and experienced the same thing on the trail today. Good to know and I find it amusing this thread was toward the top right when I was about to start searching for noises after belly pan install.
thanks!

 

[Doc2012]

Clock the t-case, or get an Inchworm Lefty.

You can talk all the smack you want to about the clocking rings, but they're great. (Insert Tony the Tiger here. LOL) Singtoe seems convinced that the reason I've gone through my most recent transmission is because of it, but weather or not that's an issue, I'm not convinced. Bud recently redid his clocking rings, so they're not as thick as mine, and don't require any special seal or an adapter like I made for mine.