What did you do to/in your 5th Gen today?!

[LawnDart]

It went on fine at first. I was about to put the nylon spacers in the back as per the instructions but as I pushed the back closer to the cross member to bolt on I felt resistance from the skid. I looked as to what could be giving me resistance and noticed that the bottom of the front diff. was making contact. I didn't like the idea of the skid making contact with the front diff. and having to slightly bend the skid to get the back bolted down.

I then switched the spacer to the front and that gave me enough clearance (like 1/4") to clear the front diff. and no bending.

Put on the additional spacers provided by RCI Metalworks after informing them of what I ran into. so it all seems to fit correctly now with a nylon spacer on each of the four mounting points for the integration skid.

So do you think Josh/RCI made those front towers a little taller to accommodate this? Again I didn't feel any resistance on the installation, and I just checked and there's no bulge or bending that occurred.

Thoughts? The front sits a little higher than the back of the TRD skid plate, but JUST a tiny bit. I think if I installed spacers in the front it'd end up being 1/4 inch or more LOWER than the back of the TRD skid, which seems like a nice way to rip something off and make for a bad day.

 

[Boyds4Runner]

Thoughts? The front sits a little higher than the back of the TRD skid plate, but JUST a tiny bit. I think if I installed spacers in the front it'd end up being 1/4 inch or more LOWER than the back of the TRD skid, which seems like a nice way to rip something off and make for a bad day.

Looks like I edited my post after your reply to it.

You're right, the nylon spacer up front does create a small edge but hasn't caused a problem yet, and I did roll over lots more rocks this past outing.

Based on your description it's quite possible that RCI made the front tower a bit taller to avoid having to put the nylon spacers there.

 

[LawnDart]

Looks like I edited my post after your reply to it.

You're right, the nylon spacer up front does create a small edge but hasn't caused a problem yet, and I did roll over lots more rocks this past outing.

Based on your description it's quite possible that RCI made the front tower a bit taller to avoid having to put the nylon spacers there.

I'll get a photo of the front and back of the RCI plate, and you can take a look and see what you think. I suppose the middle ground would be to go to home depot and buy a few nylon spacers that are maybe half the size of the RCI ones, just to absolutely even out the gap between the TRD plate and the integration plate. I may pull my plate off tomorrow early morning just to double check I'm not smashing anything, but I felt zero resistance when installing it. I'm wondering if I'm just overthinking this.

 

[Dogtown]

So do you think Josh/RCI made those front towers a little taller to accommodate this? Again I didn't feel any resistance on the installation, and I just checked and there's no bulge or bending that occurred.

Thoughts? The front sits a little higher than the back of the TRD skid plate, but JUST a tiny bit. I think if I installed spacers in the front it'd end up being 1/4 inch or more LOWER than the back of the TRD skid, which seems like a nice way to rip something off and make for a bad day.

I will post some close ups on the full plate tomorrow and where I installed the spacers/contact points. When I tightened it down I noticed bowing on the plate which was my sign that there was contact. Mine surprisingly sits dead flush with the spacers installed. I also noticed that unless you line it up perfectly you will catch the front lip of the plate on the recess line of the stock trd plate. At first I thought it was flush but saw the snag and when it lined up without out the plate jamming into the stocker that's when I noticed the bowing so repositioned with spacers and third time was a charm.

 

[LawnDart]

I will post some close ups on the full plate tomorrow and where I installed the spacers/contact points. When I tightened it down I noticed bowing on the plate which was my sign that there was contact. Mine surprisingly sits dead flush with the spacers installed. I also noticed that unless you line it up perfectly you will catch the front lip of the plate on the recess line of the stock trd plate. At first I thought it was flush but saw the snag and when it lined up without out the plate jamming into the stocker that's when I noticed the bowing so repositioned with spacers and third time was a charm.

When did you get your plate? I'll pull mine off tomorrow and make sure I'm not grinding metal to metal, but I haven't encountered anything you're describing. Maybe Josh altered those tower/recessed bolt heights based on feedback.

 

[Dogtown]

When did you get your plate? I'll pull mine off tomorrow and make sure I'm not grinding metal to metal, but I haven't encountered anything you're describing. Maybe Josh altered those tower/recessed bolt heights based on feedback.

I drove up to RCI about 4 weeks ago and picked them up. On my end it may have been a symptom of installing the complete set of skids. If one isn't close to perfect it will interfere with the entire set. It yours is contacting you would see a slight bow in the middle of the plate and would feel resistance while tightening that feels like you are stretching the bolts from forcing the plate to bend around the diff rather than normal tightening.

 

[LawnDart]

I drove up to RCI about 4 weeks ago and picked them up. On my end it may have been a symptom of installing the complete set of skids. If one isn't close to perfect it will interfere with the entire set. It yours is contacting you would see a slight bow in the middle of the plate and would feel resistance while tightening that feels like you are stretching the bolts from forcing the plate to bend around the diff rather than normal tightening.

Did not encounter any of what you are describing. Seems pretty flat to me, I just ran my hand across it and don't feel any bowing. As you said maybe this is an issue of multiple plates interfering. Mine is JUST the integration plate so maybe that's why. At this point I don't know if pulling it off to check is worth it when as you said I'd know pretty easily if I was bowing the plate during install, all bolts went in fine, no ape-strength required.

 

[Dogtown]

Did not encounter any of what you are describing. Seems pretty flat to me, I just ran my hand across it and don't feel any bowing. As you said maybe this is an issue of multiple plates interfering. Mine is JUST the integration plate so maybe that's why. At this point I don't know if pulling it off to check is worth it when as you said I'd know pretty easily if I was bowing the plate during install, all bolts went in fine, no ape-strength required.

You should be good then. If you poke your head up from the passenger side you can get an eye on the diff and will know if it's contacting. I swiped a thick zip tie from side to side to make sure it passed through clean.

 

[LawnDart]

You should be good then. If you poke your head up from the passenger side you can get an eye on the diff and will know if it's contacting. I swiped a thick zip tie from side to side to make sure it passed through clean.

Will check in the morning and let you know. Thanks man.

 

[LawnDart]

I drove up to RCI about 4 weeks ago and picked them up. On my end it may have been a symptom of installing the complete set of skids. If one isn't close to perfect it will interfere with the entire set. It yours is contacting you would see a slight bow in the middle of the plate and would feel resistance while tightening that feels like you are stretching the bolts from forcing the plate to bend around the diff rather than normal tightening.

Looks like I edited my post after your reply to it.

You're right, the nylon spacer up front does create a small edge but hasn't caused a problem yet, and I did roll over lots more rocks this past outing.

Based on your description it's quite possible that RCI made the front tower a bit taller to avoid having to put the nylon spacers there.

Just double checked, no bowing. Yes it's tighter than a Gnat's ass in there, but I could get 2 zip ties between plate and the differential. See photos:

It looks like it's about 1/4" from being dead nuts even to the TRD skid, again see photo. So what I will do is just go to a hardware store, grab a pair of 1/4 nylon washers, and throw those up front, it'll provide just THAT much more seperation between plate and Diff and also make the integration plate dead nuts flush with the stock skid plate.

Sound good?

 

[Magnetic4R]

I have the transmission skids which helps but mine still interferes.

 

[LawnDart]

I have the transmission skids which helps but mine still interferes.

I wouldn't say mine is interfering, it's just really tight. I think the front nylon 1/4" spacer would solve it perfectly.

 

[EL CID]

Got some new shoes yesterday! Joined the KO2 cult, i mean, club. Gotta touch up the plastidip now, but definitely worth it. Thanks to everyone else who has posted about the 275/70r17s, made the choice easy!

 

[NutZac]

link for lights?...thanks

[MENTION=124732]LawnDart[/MENTION] [MENTION=2636] [MENTION=47340]Titanpat57[/MENTION] I got them off a group buy on this forum. Talk to [MENTION=119516]jicko[/MENTION] about ordering now. Well worth the $!!

Best of luck.

 

[Spenny]

Round trip total 1124 miles from Costa Mesa to Death Valley - all over Death Valley! Goler Wash, Cottonwood Wash, Racetrack Playa, Telescope Lookout, Mesquite Dunes etc.

Rolled over the 9,000 mark leaving the Racetrack.

Bone stock except for some stickers for increased HP, damn thing handled like a champ. New tires for sure and a mild lift - I'll be super happy.

Little bit Dusty - Rear wiper spoiler helps collect more dust on the rear window than anything.

Tundra guys decorated my windshield.

 

[pauldavis]

Round trip total 1124 miles from Costa Mesa to Death Valley - all over Death Valley! Goler Wash, Cottonwood Wash, Racetrack Playa, Telescope Lookout, Mesquite Dunes etc.

Rolled over the 9,000 mark leaving the Racetrack.

Bone stock except for some stickers for increased HP, damn thing handled like a champ. New tires for sure and a mild lift - I'll be super happy.


Little bit Dusty - Rear wiper spoiler helps collect more dust on the rear window than anything.


Tundra guys decorated my windshield.

The rear spoiler drives me crazy with how dirty it keeps the back of my 4runner. Its like a time release dirt dispenser.

 

[rochmpr]

Anyone what to guess??


Removed the KDSS sway bars. The system is still in tact. Jacked up the pistons to fully collapsed and secured with steel cable. It's a trial to keep the system so it can be installed versus an entire gut.

 

[EL CID]

The rear spoiler drives me crazy with how dirty it keeps the back of my 4runner. Its like a time release dirt dispenser.

It's the worst, I always forget how much dust is actually collected in there and will leave the windows open in the garage and whenever I slam it shut it just explodes particulate into my face, lungs, and interior! :dammit: If I'm lucky I remember to get the vacuum and clean out the track and lip, otherwise me, the dog, and the truck get freaking ninja-bombed!

 

[marshal]

View attachment 181143

Anyone what to guess??


Removed the KDSS sway bars. The system is still in tact. Jacked up the pistons to fully collapsed and secured with steel cable. It's a trial to keep the system so it can be installed versus an entire gut.

that was my idea, you owe me royalties. just end me that rear bumper and we'll call it even

evening bath

 

[rochmpr]

that was my idea, you owe me royalties. just end me that rear bumper and we'll call it even

I'm sure one stamp ought to cover the postage. So far, it does the trick. Didn't take but a couple of hours to do, and I had all the cable and clamps at the house, so I didn't even have to run to the hardware store.