No more stripped TRD Skid plate bolts…

Removed the four bolts securing the TRD front Skid Plate to a 2024 TOYOTA 4Runner. The front two came out stripped. This was the first time these bolts were removed after ownership. The vehicle had less than 1000 miles, and I used a wrench to remove them slowly.



Upon close inspection I discovered that the front bolts were held by retaining clips (not pictured), which appeared to have been part of the problem. The other part was that the holes these two front bolts passed through were not aligned properly. -After removing the skid plate brackets, I soon realized the problem was due to excessive weld metal keeping brackets from mating flush with the front frame cross member.


Easy enough fix was to grind down the excessive weld material. The other problem was the bolt spacer retaining clips. These clips keep the aluminum spacers aligned on top the bolts for easy re-install. The problem with this factory system is the bolt retaining clips cut into the bolts, causing them to strip.


In the following pictures I will attempt to show how I solved this problem.


I first purchased a length of steel 1 inch OD tube, with .25 inch wall. I cut this down to match the stock aluminum spacers.



I then placed the new spacers inside the skid plate brackets and clamped them to my welding table. From here I marked where I wanted to drill using a center punch, and then drilled two holes through the skid plate mounting bracket and into the steel spacer (approximately .25 inch). Note: Didn’t take a picture of the drilled holes prior to welding.



View from opposite side of the skid plate mounting bracket (after welding).



I then plug welded the drilled holes and ground them down flat.


After grinding the plug weld flat.


After a little paint they were ready to be reinstalled. I smeared on a little RTV where the skid plate marries up and let it dry to make for a better fit and reduce wear which could lead to rust later on down the road.



I also had the TRD skid plate powder coated and and replaced the red TRD letters with some aftermarket black "TRD" raised letters I purchased from eBay. TUFSKINZ part# TAC 016-BLK-G.



Had the heads of the new bolts powder coated as well, and reinstalled all four bolts using a little anti-seize.


Easy enough job that makes changing the oil less of a hassle, and has greatly reduced the chance of stripping out the screws in subsequent oil changes.

 

Nicely done.

 

Very nice!

 

Looks amazing!

 

Great job.

I'm guessing you hadn't heard of the mod to mount studs to the frame and use nuts underneath instead of the bolts...

 

That should make oil changes a little easier in the future. I did my first oil change on my ORP and removing/reinstalling the oem skid plat is a real PITA.

 

Good looking DIY solution.

 

It’s a good looking solution.

However, I’ve done four oil changes and I have the same skid plate. I have not had a problem with stripping out screws. I just don’t unscrew too much ensure it the retaining clip stays on the bolt and when I screw then back I screw them back to spec. The protruding welds were never any kind of an an actual issue.

But, nicely done!

 

What are these retaining clips?

 

That's a brilliant fix!

 

I'm imagining an E-clip type thing to retain the bolts in the skid plate, so you don't have to chase them around the floor/ground. But just guessing here.

 

This is the thread on this forum that discusses the stud installation modification that @Saker details. It looks like it could still be done by the OP even with his welded on spacers, thus eliminating having to remove the bolts each time.

One of the photos shows the retaining clips in question. It appears they are supposed to hold the spacers onto the top side of the skid plate once the loosened bolts clear the cross member threads, so those spacers pretty much stay in place. In the modification shown in the thread below, the retaining clips keep the spacers in the angle bracket hole when you drop the skid plate...

https://www.4runners.com/threads/trd-skid-plate-mounted-w-studs-20102021.27082/

Very clever idea, I have to say.

 

Yeah, that E-clip is similar to what I was imagining. Didn't know about the spacer, though. As you can tell, I haven't been down there on this vehicle ;-)

 

Thanks sir.

Below is the picture of the fastener (holding the spacer in place on my mod mentioned by @glwood54) .... not an E clip.
It is threaded on the bolt and it doesn't ever have to be removed when removing the TRD Skid plate.

 

I saw that pic. Misinterpreted an E-clip, but I understand now.

 

OEM Skid plate was about to fall off, now after fixing it by re-tapping to 5/16-18, grade 8 bolts and hardened washers, Its now secure.

• I've concluded that this Skidplate mounting design is very poor by Toyota
• The bolts they use are very weak, and they cannot handle constant removal (I believe the plate needs to be removed for the Oil filter?)
• I'm confident Toyota stripped out the screws each time my oil was replaced
• I believe this happens because the skid plate doesn't line up with the holes perfectly, and requires a good amount of force with one hand, pulling it forward to line up the screws. Which the Toyota oil change tech probably just slams the screw up and fires the gun. Which causes the threads to stripped out. Which is what happened to me.
• When I noticed all this, one long bolt was completely missing, the other one was half way falling out and practically fell out when I pulled on it. I'm surprised the skid plate didn't fall off already
• The front bolts are too small and don't hold up to the elements, causing them to rust and break.
• If I replace the skid plate to the TRD one, I'll upgrade the bolts using this method and the M10 bolts. Looks to be a great design!

In Conclusion
If you take your 4Runner to the dealer for oil changes, or anywhere as a matter of fact, check these bolts regularly!!

Another solution I saw, maybe it was on this thread, but drill out a 4" hole to allow the oil filter to be replaced without removing the skid plate.

 

How do you torque this to the frame to specs? What if it comes lose?

 

Torque what to the frame?
The studs? See my original mod. Studs can be torqued using double lock nuts, with loctite.
Then torque the nuts after your TRD Skid Plate has been installed in place.

Easy peezy

Hope this answers your questions.

 

The biggest issue with dealership AND quickie lube type place oil changes, even if you check these bolts afterward, is that the damage is already done when you get the vehicle back. You'd like to think they know how to R&R a skid plate, but it's not worth the risk anymore, it seems. Plus the risk of overtightening the drain plug and filter housing.

 

Just use the default “yep right there, as your pushing the ratchet, seems right, but be careful not to hit the butter zone”!!

 

Been a little since OP posted, do you happen to know what size washers go with the bolts? I just saw that one of my bolts is missing the washer.