My $5 fix for a $500 problem Stock DS with lift
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Daytona Beach, FL
My $5 fix for a $500 problem Stock DS with lift
Long story short. 2012 JKU 3.5 aev lift. stock front driveshaft.....rub city. took off the tranny skid and kept it off for a year. hit a stump blew out the tranny. fixed the tranny but still not willing to drop $500 or more on a skidplate. (Live in FL and hardly ever see anything but mud.) looked under the jeep and wondered, why just not put a spacer between the skid plate and frame? BAM stock skid plate with a lift and stock DS.... $5 spend on the mod. Why companies like AEV say leave it off instead of put a spacer between the skid and frame i will never know. 
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 165
From: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
Do you disconnect? Guessing you don't.
This isn't the thread I was looking for, but post 4 shows pics of:
Using a zip tie on the boot. (smaller than the clamp that gets ripped off, so may be an option)
Notching the skid.
Dropping the skid with washers.
(none of these will keep the driveshaft from mashing in the corner of the tranny pan...)
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/sout...-rocker-90284/
This isn't the thread I was looking for, but post 4 shows pics of:
Using a zip tie on the boot. (smaller than the clamp that gets ripped off, so may be an option)
Notching the skid.
Dropping the skid with washers.
(none of these will keep the driveshaft from mashing in the corner of the tranny pan...)
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/sout...-rocker-90284/
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Daytona Beach, FL
No, you are right i have a Sahara not Rubi so i dont disconnect. It works fine as a temp mod. if i decide to disconnect i dont think it will work. BUT, disconnecting with aftermarket DS and this mod i think would work. and i would much rather drop the money in a DS, which will eventually fail, rather than a skid plate. If you notice my exhaust was modified to clear the DS with the lift. so an aftermarket skid wont work with my setup, i would need to get the Y pipe, again a waste on money IMO for a weekend warrior and a DD. When i first tried the setup i used a much longer bolt and a 2 inch spacer and it dropped the skid 5 inches down. that would clear anything and it was solid as a rock. i bet it could take some good hits. At least you could beat the hell out of it before dropping money in another one.
JK Junkie
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,013
Likes: 0
From: West Richland Washington
Long story short. 2012 JKU 3.5 aev lift. stock front driveshaft.....rub city. took off the tranny skid and kept it off for a year. hit a stump blew out the tranny. fixed the tranny but still not willing to drop $500 or more on a skidplate. (Live in FL and hardly ever see anything but mud.) looked under the jeep and wondered, why just not put a spacer between the skid plate and frame? BAM stock skid plate with a lift and stock DS.... $5 spend on the mod. Why companies like AEV say leave it off instead of put a spacer between the skid and frame i will never know. <img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=479787"/><img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=479788"/>
Trending Topics
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 680
Likes: 0
From: Saltillo, Mississippi
No, you are right i have a Sahara not Rubi so i dont disconnect. It works fine as a temp mod. if i decide to disconnect i dont think it will work. BUT, disconnecting with aftermarket DS and this mod i think would work. and i would much rather drop the money in a DS, which will eventually fail, rather than a skid plate. If you notice my exhaust was modified to clear the DS with the lift. so an aftermarket skid wont work with my setup, i would need to get the Y pipe, again a waste on money IMO for a weekend warrior and a DD. When i first tried the setup i used a much longer bolt and a 2 inch spacer and it dropped the skid 5 inches down. that would clear anything and it was solid as a rock. i bet it could take some good hits. At least you could beat the hell out of it before dropping money in another one.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: Midland, Texas
