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Trimming the plastic "skid plate"

Old 01-14-2013, 03:27 PM
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Default Trimming the plastic "skid plate"

Got my lift on yesterday and wheels and tires installed today. My tires are rubbing at full turn on the front plastic "skid plate" if there is such a thing as a PLASTIC skid plate. Has anyone else had to trim this back?
3" BDS suspension lift
35/12.50/17 toyo m/t on mt classic III


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Old 01-14-2013, 03:31 PM
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Rip it off and throw it in your recycling bin
Old 01-14-2013, 03:34 PM
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Yes trim it or toss it.

I customized mine by cutting the slots out too. (I don't know why)

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Old 01-14-2013, 03:35 PM
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X2. It's coming off on the trail if you don't do it now.
Old 01-14-2013, 03:35 PM
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That's the air dam, I believe it's just there to help direct air flow under the jeep. It might offer some protection, but it would be very minor. I ripped mine off a long time ago and threw it away, you can do that or just trim the sides where you tires rub.
Old 01-14-2013, 03:35 PM
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Originally Posted by sky
Rip it off and throw it in your recycling bin
x3 ...did that with mine --although i noticed a slight mpg decrease on the highway ~1mpg. I later got a steel bumper and added a real steel skid plate.

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Old 01-14-2013, 03:36 PM
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Toss it, I ripped mine off at the tire shop and asked them to toss it for me.
Old 01-14-2013, 03:49 PM
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I Trashed it and I thought it was a splash guard to protect from water/mud splashing when hitting a sweet water puddle or water crossing.
Old 01-14-2013, 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by engineeredjku
Got my lift on yesterday and wheels and tires installed today. My tires are rubbing at full turn on the front plastic "skid plate" if there is such a thing as a PLASTIC skid plate. Has anyone else had to trim this back?
3" BDS suspension lift
35/12.50/17 toyo m/t on mt classic III

<img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=409536"/>
Yes, you can easily trim the "wings" off each end, or use a heat gun to fold the wings back toward the engine at a 90 degree angle to give additional tire clearance. The plastic serves only as an air dam. It will reduce your highway gas mileage if you take it off and don't replace it. Jeeps are already aerodynamic bricks and you don't have to make it worse for no reason. Also don't cut any holes in it (like one of the other posters). Otherwise you might just as well trash it in that case.
Old 01-14-2013, 04:19 PM
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I took a dremel tool die grinder and cut off the wings on each side and smoothed it up with a file. You can't even tell it was cut.

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