Dented this part underneath while off-roading ?

Hi all not sure how serious this is? But I noticed a small dent on this part underneath after off roading the other day. I have attached the part number also

 

Doesn't look to be deformed or compromised. If it were me this would be my decision for skid plates adding protection since your off roading using the truck.

 

It depends on whether it's dented enough to pull your frame out of square. It doesn't look terrible, though. How is it tracking on the road?

 

Time for full skids.

 

Showed car to parts department and the guy said it is not something that needs to be replaced asap. Also next day took car to dealership for oil change and inspection, no mention of it?

 

No big deal. It appears that may have protected your catalytic converter on that side.

If you insist on replacing that, you could find one at a wrecking yard for a fraction of the dealer cost.

 

It's a piece of steel whose sole purpose is protecting the trans if you were to drop the front wheels off a ledge at the right height, so it's fine.

Agree with the others that you should invest in some real skid plates (engine, trans, and transfer case). If you had the same gash in that shiny metal pan in the middle, this would be an entirely different kind of thread.

 

It's not a structural component, and it is fine that it is dented. You could spray some black spray paint over it to less the rusting over time, but otherwise, forget about it.

If you shoot it with some paint, expect the paint will burn off the exhaust. Not an issue, just realize you'll smell it for the next 50 miles or so.

 

Can't tell if you sliders. Another good investment to prevent expensive damage.

 

It sounds like you're OK.

 

Served one of its purposes and will continue to. But do what you wish.

 

Considering how that brace looks, your gas tank skid is on the same side. Any scrapes there?

 

Skid plates would not have protected that particular brace.

 

I think so, too. I don't recall seeing any skids that covered those braces, and if they did, they would reduce ground clearance. Does anyone have a specific example?

 

Those support braces are not required with skid plates but leaving them on is fine, even if bent. As for skids to cover the cats.. look at Cali Raised cat shields... those can be put in independent of most/any skids, but are also compatible with RCI transmission and most other vendor's skids also.

 

Cali Raised cat shields use the forwardmost bolt location on those braces, so unless a transmission shield does not use that same location for mounting, I would not know if it would be compatible.

 

I believe the Trans is in front of the fwd mount bolt, look @ Drive shaft & it's the Cat that is "shiny" next to it.

 

Some skids might be too wide or use the forward outermost bolts (as in your photo), but most trans skids would use the rear bolts on the factory cross member. For RCI, I just don't use the add-on wings that they offer for the cat protection (i.e. I mixed and matched RCI skids with Cali cat shields): sorry no photo, I'm recovering from a surgery.

If someone did want a single skid to cover the cats, I think C4 and CBI are much wider and more protection, but I'm fairly certain they require removing the factory support brackets (i.e. some skittish owners cringe at the thought of removing a factory part).

 

I realized after my post that you'd most likely never use Cali Raised cat shields in conjunction with any transmission skids anyway. A lot of them use the tranny skid, and some with an additional piece, to protect the cats.

 

Shit, it's not shiny at all. I meant the transmission drain pan (actually black).

 

No one is suggesting skids to protect those steel braces. The point is, if you're denting up those braces with your off-roading , you're likely to dent up something more important, so you should get skids to protect the expensive stuff.

 

No harm done OP.

But if you wheel often it may be worth upgrading your skid plates to avoid damage to something more critical...

Pictured: RCI's skids with cat shields retains that brace:




RCI Full skids:




I have these and like them a lot.

 

I retained those braces as the pictures above show when installing my RCI skids. Never considered leaving them off.

 

OP, I might have a set of those laying around somewhere in my shop if you want em. I'm running the C4 full skidders and those two braces needed to be removed when the transmission skid is mounted.

 

My 2010 4Runner didn't come with those braces. Same with the ~1.7 million 2nd gen Tacomas. The threaded bolt holes are there but no braces.