Alright I'll plan for the Diff skids and the LCA/Shock skids to start, and the engine/trans skid shortly after. Looking more and more like it wont show up till Saturday so one last trip out this year isnt going to happen so I have more time to armor up.
Oh yea 100% my plan lol The Xterra I always avoided things that looked like they may scrape cause there was nearly 0 aftermarket for it.
Another reason the rear axle side LCA’s are important is that the factory brackets bend and cause leaky shocks. The metal used for the bracket is a bit flimsy and I had to work pretty hard to squeeze my Artec skids on with no visible deformation. If I had just done that first, it would have been a breeze.
Yup, or lift high enough to make skids less necessary lol. Will say, one benefit of the LCA/shock skids is that something like this won't happen as easily. Happened on my JK when I goofed and left the shock bolt hanging out to the inside of the axle and slipped off a rock funny:
I think the biggest thing is, even if you are being slow and picking good lines, falling off the line happens if it's wet out or if a rock comes loose or other unpredictable things happen. It's in those situations that I think skids come into their own - when you've come off the good line because of something outside your control.
That never happens...
For the diff skids, my buddy had been running the Rancho skid in the rear of his JKU for some time and it did well by him, so I decided to give it a try. Also liked that I didn't have to run anything other than the factory diff cover, made it easy. For the shock skids, I liked the way they were shaped at the rear of the skid:
This reminds me, I think when that stabilizer comes off I'm gonna cut off that plastic shield and see how bad it got it lol.That never happens...
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Well that sold me lol. Now to get them ordered.For the diff skids, my buddy had been running the Rancho skid in the rear of his JKU for some time and it did well by him, so I decided to give it a try. Also liked that I didn't have to run anything other than the factory diff cover, made it easy. For the shock skids, I liked the way they were shaped at the rear of the skid:
Kind of encapsulates the shock and lets the skid slide down an obstacle without losing protection. There are definitely other skids of the same variety with this design, and I'm sure it'd be fine to run any of them, but I went with the Ranchos because I trusted them for the diff sliders so why not the LCA/shock skids?
This reminds me, I think when that stabilizer comes off I'm gonna cut off that plastic shield and see how bad it got it lol.
Pro tip on installing them - I believe the easiest way to install the shock skids will be to get the Jeep on jack stands under the frame, disconnect the rear swaybar end links and let the axle droop out to the limit of the shocks, and then support the axle on jack stands or a floor jack and undo the LCA bolts, get the skid on at the LCA portion and the LCA bolts started, then undo the shock bolt and get that part of the skid bolted on. The Rubicon shocks are super stiff and doing it at ride height was a struggle. Really want that axle drooped out so you can just lift the axle up to the point where the shock eyelet aligns with the bracket and the hole in the skid. That's probably the method I'll take when I install the lift and get the shocks reinstalled.
Old mans pro tip, I use a giant zip tie , ( 100 for 12.00 on the Amazon) sometimes you have join two together, and put it around the shock like they do when they ship them…….. cut off when done….. us old guys are always looking for the easy way out….…..
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Those are monstrous and I can think of so many ways to use those to prank people with those. One around the driveshaft to give your buddy the brown pants when they drive off and it starts slapping around?Old mans pro tip, I use a giant zip tie , ( 100 for 12.00 on the Amazon) sometimes you have join two together, and put it around the shock like they do when they ship them…….. cut off when done….. us old guys are always looking for the easy way out….…..
Yeah, there’s a dozen or so of these in my recovery box, along with full roll of duct tape, you’d be surprised what you can temp fix to get off the trail…….
Yep - tape, zip ties, ratchet straps, and a good socket set always go with me.
I got this!!!!!
They work!!!
Thank you for my TED Talk.
Enjoy
