Everything About Car Skid Plate
What Is Skid Plate?
A skid plate is a metal plate that protects various components of the car. Wherever it is attached, it helps in absorbing and deflecting the major part of the impact on the vehicle. Usually in off-road vehicle, skid plates cover the vital and most important parts prone to damage. These include gas tanks, gear boxes, axles, differentials, oil pans, etc. Thus, if you are driving on a difficult and uneven terrain, skid plates can perform a major role in protecting some of the most important components on the car.
Earlier the skid plates were made from steel. But it was too heavy and was affecting the mileage of the car. Thus, later skid plates made from aluminium became popular and extensively used.
Materials Of Skid Plates
As discussed, skid plates are usually made of steel or aluminium or a similar alloy with as effective strength and durability.
Aluminium plates came into existence because the steel plates were too heavy and expensive. Aluminium plates are cheaper and lighter but also lack the strength of the steel. Also, aluminium sheets are more prone to damage, shatter and rip-offs. This means that the aluminium plates are difficult to repair but still provide enough protection. It is also important to understand that merely the elemental properties don’t decide the qualities of the substance. How the product is used, also matters. Thus, aluminium sheets can be equally strong as steel, if used appropriately. The correct shape and size of the sheet and how it handles the pressure, damage and weight, determines the effectiveness of the skid plates. Aluminium plates are successful on standard roads and remain rust-free for prolonged periods of time. Thus, they can easily withstand wet and salty roads better than the iron plates.
Steel plates are heavier and costlier than the aluminium skid plates. They are also much stronger than the aluminium plates. Because of this, steel plates can skid easier and don’t grip to any obstacle easily, handling all the pressure and damage with least harm. Also, they are repairable in nature, and not line aluminium sheets.
Skid Plates Vs Belly Pans
People often confuse belly pans for skid plates. Although belly pans offer somewhat the same functionality, they are only successful on pavements. They can withstand heavy bumps and damages and can deflect the heavy debris and rocks that can damage the components in the engine compartment. Also, belly pans can significantly affect the aerodynamics of the car as they cover the bottom of the can and help in reducing the air resistance from under the car.
One must understand that finding the perfect belly pan for your car is much more difficult than finding the skid plates. Belly pans are usually made in precision with the particular make and model and are quite large and heavy. Also, belly pans are not a popular aftermarket upgrade. Most of the belly pans that are installed from the respective manufacturers only and are hard to replace. Thus, we find belly pans in luxury or high efficiency vehicles only.
How Do Skid Plate Work?
There are many reason and ways to use skid plates under the car body. Skid plates, when attached to cars like coupes or sedans, they protect the car from underline damage, increase the airflow and improve the aerodynamics. In vehicles that are low height rides, skid plates protect the car and also decreases the air resistance from underneath. Some may also add them for aesthetics purposes, but that will be a foolish investment, if the car doesn’t require it.
The primary function of the skid plates and of them being found all over TRD trim levels, is to protect the car from the underneath. It means to protect the exposed area of the car and engine compartment from damages, while driving in extreme natural and off-road conditions. When the car is driven in off-road conditions, all kinds of dust, dirt, gravel and debris can hit the car from underneath and damage the vehicle’s underbody extensively.
Uses for Skid Plates
When the skid plates are applied to the coupes or sedans, their main function is to improve the vehicle aerodynamics and to keep dust and debris from damaging the engine bay from underneath, keeping it clean and clear.
Another reason for installing the skid plates is to protect the underbody of the vehicle from external elements while driving off-road. This becomes important because, driving off-road has many risks involved, like objects hitting the car not visible and causing damage.
Skid plates also come handy when installed on low ride height vehicles, to avoid similar damages. However, in such cases, the damages are due to the vehicle hitting and scraping the ground rather than going off-road.
Another reason to use skid plates, it to make the car look aesthetically cool and look like an off-roader.
Purpose Of Skid Plate
Skid plates are used in off-road vehicles and low ride height vehicles to protect them from damage from the underside. This damage can be due to hitting the road, or dust, debris and small rocks while off-riding and on uneven surfaces.
Tools Needed For Skid Plate
Do you like repairing your car on your own? Thinking of opening up your own car body shop? It is a great business opportunity if you love cars and possess a good work ethic. Now if you want your shop to be successful, then you will require a combination of effort as well as car mechanic training. And of course, the correct equipment which would upgrade your speed as well as make your repair work easy. If you have the right tools, then you can easily meet the demands of today's car body structures. Here are some of the most essential tools which you might need to repair your Skid Plate.
Top Brands For Skid Plate
How To Change Skid Plate?
Skid plates protect a lot of important and exposed components of the vehicle from major damage. Thus, installing the skid plate properly and accurately is very important to protect the undercarriage of the vehicle from getting damaged. The skid plate protects many vital components of the vehicle like gas tank, steering linkage, transfer case, oil pan and engine compartment from dust, debris and small rocks from hitting them, especially when driving on uneven, off-road terrains. This also helps in a smoother driving experience other can provide protection to the vehicle.
Following are the steps to replace the skid plate properly:
- To prevent the tire from rolling, push the wheel chocks against either back tier of the vehicle.
- Using floor jack and jack support, raise the front of the car by placing them under the body rails for support and lifting.
- With the help of the other two jack stands put under the engine, the new skid plate is placed on top of them.
- Check for the mounting holes and align them with the new skid plate to be installed with the factory drilled holes in the vehicle’s frame.
- With the help of the mounting hardware and socket set, secure the skid plate onto the vehicle frame body.
- Remove the jack stands from under the car engine and raise the car to remove the other jack stands too. Then, lower the vehicle carefully and remove the jack.
- Remove the wheel chocks from the back tires and that’s it. Your new skid plate has been successfully installed onto your vehicle.