What in the World was Chrysler Thinking?
Thread Starter
JK-Forum Founder
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 36,534
Likes: 16
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
What in the World was Chrysler Thinking?
Have any of you ever taken a close look at your automatic transmisson skid plate? You know, the one that your front drive shaft hits if you have a 3" lift or more and limits the amount of droop you have? Wouldn't it have been great if Chrysler thought ahead and took this into consideration when designing this skid - maybe shape it in a way that would offer just a bit more clearnace? Well, by the look of things, they actually did. Only problem is, they put it on the wrong side 
This is a shot of the automatic transmission skid plate as it would look if you lowered it to the ground and you were standing in front of it. The single mounting point in the center points towards the back of your JK....
Here is a close up shot to give you a better look at what the skidplate looks like...
Now, I have looked and giving this a lot of thought and simply cannot think of why this skidplate would be embossed and trimmed where it is. There is nothing on the passenger side of your JK that requires this extra clearance nor can I think of why it would be needed on forign or military JK. BUT, had it be located on the driver side, this would have been perfect to help offer clearance for your front drive shaft.
Anyway, I thought some of you might get a kick out this.
This is a shot of the automatic transmission skid plate as it would look if you lowered it to the ground and you were standing in front of it. The single mounting point in the center points towards the back of your JK....
Here is a close up shot to give you a better look at what the skidplate looks like...
Now, I have looked and giving this a lot of thought and simply cannot think of why this skidplate would be embossed and trimmed where it is. There is nothing on the passenger side of your JK that requires this extra clearance nor can I think of why it would be needed on forign or military JK. BUT, had it be located on the driver side, this would have been perfect to help offer clearance for your front drive shaft.
Anyway, I thought some of you might get a kick out this.
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
From: Tracy, CA
Maybe it was done to help tooling in the assembly process.....then again maybe not......just a thought?
EDIT: I am beginning to wonder if with a little welding skill you could cut it out and cut the identical area on the other side and swap it????
EDIT: I am beginning to wonder if with a little welding skill you could cut it out and cut the identical area on the other side and swap it????
Last edited by 09rubicon; Sep 20, 2009 at 01:36 PM.
