skid plate installation question

[kolelt]

Just installed my new skid plate. I have a 1" diff drop, curious why the plate is so close to the steering rack and if it's susppose to be close ? The diff drop came with some little plastic washers or something.

 

[MStudt]

I would be concerned with that! It's very close if not touching your steering.

 

[kolelt]

Any tips on how it needs to be mounted to have clearance?

 

[BlazeRunner]

Try adding some washers between the skid and mount locations. BTW, who makes that skid plate? That's kinda lame if it's specific to 3rd gens

 

[kolelt]

Try adding some washers between the skid and mount locations. BTW, who makes that skid plate? That's kinda lame if it's specific to 3rd gens

Forget the guys name, he is on these forums. Was a group buy

 

[csp]

You should work on remembering and make it known to him.

 

[kolelt]

Does the diff drop have any effect on the plate being close/touching the steering rack ?

If I add some washers I should be good? Rubber/plastic or metal ?

 

[NateMob]

Does the diff drop have any effect on the plate being close/touching the steering rack ?

If I add some washers I should be good? Rubber/plastic or metal ?

A diff drop wont have anything to do with this contact.

ALL Aftermarket skids are very tight through there, space it down with a metal washer or two and you'll be fine. If you are still worried clamp it in a vice and tweak it a couple degrees. This isn't a big deal, all of our trucks are at least 13 years old and none of them are exactly the same. Aftermarket parts sometimes require a little extra effort to be perfect.

I know my Savage skids have made contact there after being used for what they are designed for, sliding over rocks.

 

[awpsome]

I think I have the same skid plate, if you cant remember the name its from R.A.T. products he had a bunch of group buys on those skids.

Its not a specific for "3rd gen" skid but its more so a works on both the 1st gen taco and our 3rd gen sort of deal.

mines did the same thing, after bolting it up it was pressed up against the steering rack which was a cause for concern as well for me.
I used some square washers that are about 1/4" thick on the rear two mounting bolts to bring the rear of the skid downward and haven't had any issues since.

 

[MStudt]

Maybe [MENTION=101896]isu2014[/MENTION] can help.

 

[isu2014]

A diff drop wont have anything to do with this contact.

ALL Aftermarket skids are very tight through there, space it down with a metal washer or two and you'll be fine. If you are still worried clamp it in a vice and tweak it a couple degrees. This isn't a big deal, all of our trucks are at least 13 years old and none of them are exactly the same. Aftermarket parts sometimes require a little extra effort to be perfect.

I know my Savage skids have made contact there after being used for what they are designed for, sliding over rocks.

Nathan pretty much covered what I would have said. All vehicles are different, there are a lot of different bumpers being used, diff drops or no diff drops, sway bars or no sway bars, etc. Also there are small tolerance in the bend angles and locations of the skid that I can't control.

The skid is designed to work on Tacomas and 4runners, which are pretty much the same, but I think the 4runners might have a different steering rack. This is the first time this has been brought to my attention, so now I can modify the design.

Spacers won't hurt anything. I would use steel ones. Rubber will compress.