Skid plate to protect Front Differential?

imjus4u2nv · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 4:09 pm **Posts:** 28

Anyone know of any skid plates or protection for front differential? If so is it just a bolt on?

thanks.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2018 5:55 pm

There is definitely a skid plate for that. Here are a bunch of good threads to answer most of your skid plate questions:

Mopar Skid Plates overview - http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=69504
Radiator Skid install - http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=104&t=76967
Gas Tank Skid install - http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=104&t=50745

imjus4u2nv · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 4:09 pm **Posts:** 28

Thanks for the reply - I had seen at least one of the thread you posted but not sure any actually cover the differential. Do you or anyone know for sure if the transmission plate or another one actually covers the differential?

I was able to find this but not it is not for the KK and a little more aggressive then I need.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2018 7:08 am

Because of the independent front suspension, the front differential is tucked up high, above a crossmember. So it is not exposed to rocks like on a solid front axle. The engine skid plate covers that whole area, and the radiator skid plate + the engine skid plate makes a continuous surface below the front diff. There is no way it is vulnerable to rocks.

imjus4u2nv · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 4:09 pm **Posts:** 28

I may be calling it the wrong thing - but is the differential? Should have given more background, but something hit the part in the picture that is hanging low and cracked it. Going through insurance but a very expensive fix (approx. 2k) which is why I am trying to makes sure it never happens again. To me this looks like one of the lowest parts of the truck and most likely to get hit. It is one the driver side (almost under the seat) and doesn't look like the skid plates for the transmission doesn't seem to cover this but hard to tell.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2018 11:03 am

Ok, I’ll have a look under mine and get back to you.

imjus4u2nv · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 4:09 pm **Posts:** 28

Would really appreciate that!! Thanks so much!

MarkZ28 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2018 5:34 pm

That is the front diff. You must have been going wild off roading, have to hit it just right or real hard to break it. I have the Mopar skid plate set for my 09 but havent installed it yet. Dont know if that covers the front diff or not.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2018 7:04 pm

imjus4u2nv wrote:

Would really appreciate that!! Thanks so much!

It rained in Philly today so i didn’t take pics yet. I haven’t forgotten you though!

Here is one I took a while back for something else, but it’s the best i have at the moment.

imjus4u2nv · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 4:09 pm **Posts:** 28

MarkZ28 wrote:

That is the front diff. You must have been going wild off roading, have to hit it just right or real hard to break it. I have the Mopar skid plate set for my 09 but havent installed it yet. Dont know if that covers the front diff or not.

I had to hit it just right - I dont do anything too crazy, just bad luck i guess.

imjus4u2nv · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 4:09 pm **Posts:** 28

lfhoward wrote:

imjus4u2nv wrote:

Would really appreciate that!! Thanks so much!

It rained in Philly today so i didn’t take pics yet. I haven’t forgotten you though!

Here is one I took a while back for something else, but it’s the best i have at the moment.

Thanks LFHoward!

lfhoward · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2018 10:30 am

Here are some photos from under my Jeep. The front diff is completely above the engine skid plate.

From behind pass side tire:

From in front of pass side tire:

From behind drivers side tire:

From in front of drivers side tire:

A couple of shots from center front. You can see the trailing edge of the radiator skid plate.

I am pretty sure the diff is not vulnerable with the engine skid plate installed. Unless you hit something that destroys your skid plate also.

imjus4u2nv · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 4:09 pm **Posts:** 28

LFHoward - thank you for taking the time to take those photos - it is really appreciated.

Your right it looks like the differential is covered up by your plates. What plates do you have? I plan to order the same ones as soon as I get my truck back (will take a look under and post photos if anything seems different) - for now they gave me a 2018 fully loaded cherokee as a loaner, gonna be tough to give it up.

Best,

J

lfhoward · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2018 3:47 pm

imjus4u2nv wrote:

LFHoward - thank you for taking the time to take those photos - it is really appreciated.

Your right it looks like the differential is covered up by your plates. What plates do you have? I plan to order the same ones as soon as I get my truck back (will take a look under and post photos if anything seems different) - for now they gave me a 2018 fully loaded cherokee as a loaner, gonna be tough to give it up.

Best,

J

You’re welcome.

I have them all:
Radiator, engine, transmission, transfer case, and gas tank.

Of those the gas tank skid is the most expensive and the trickiest to install. All the others just bolt on (using nutzerts).

I have been thankful for skid plates multiple times. While it’s not too common that I nail a rock on the trail, there have been several encounters with road debris when I didn’t see it coming. One time a driveshaft, u-joint and all, fell off of a pickup truck in front of me and went right under my Jeep with a resounding “thunk”. Skid plates are cheap insurance compared to what could have happened. This also happened with a rusty muffler. Again, skid plates saved a very expensive repair.

A lift and rock rails help as well, but one mod at a time. :mrgreen:

See the threads I posted above for info on part numbers and installation tips for the various skid plates.

imjus4u2nv · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 4:09 pm **Posts:** 28

Well said - many thanks, will be in touch when I decode to do the lift lol

Tman's KK · **Posted:** Wed May 09, 2018 2:09 pm

with the radiator skid and engine skid, how difficult has it been to change your oil? and what about that tricky oil filter thats already hard enough to get to? do the skids have to be removed?

thanks,

lfhoward · **Posted:** Wed May 09, 2018 4:39 pm

Tman's KK wrote:

with the radiator skid and engine skid, how difficult has it been to change your oil? and what about that tricky oil filter thats already hard enough to get to? do the skids have to be removed?

thanks,

It is a PITA to change the oil. I have long skinny arms so I can still do it (using a ratchet and filter wrench), and I got reasonably good at it with some practice. I don't take the skid plates off to change the oil, since there is a hole for the oil to drain through. These days I take the Jeep in to the shop for oil changes and save myself the aggravation.

Skid plate to protect Front Differential?

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