Skid Plates Part Numbers - Rear differential skid plate clarification + front & transfer case skid install

[AdFour]

Does the skid plate interfere with changing the dif oil?

Yes you have to remove it, but its easy. There are aftermarket plates that have access holes for the drain. I don't see this as a big benefit.

There are a total of 6 screw screws. Remove 4 and 2 you leave on. You use those to to slide it off and slide it back on. My original had 2 plastic cover plates before putting this one on.

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[mtbtone]

Skid plate will need to be removed for diff oil change for sure.

 

[ToYoDaMan]

Hello! Got it all installed! Thanks to everyone! Special thanks to @AdFour!

I will be removing the TRD front skid plate completely tomorrow to install the front end bolts for the transmission skid plate, since I already had the TRD front skid plate installed weeks ago.

Went back through the post and @AdFour at an earlier post indicated that the other 2 front end bolts for the transmission skid plates will be covered up by the TRD front skid plate.

I knew it was too easy when I saw 2 unused bolts! Lol! Trial and error! Love it!

On with the mods!

 

[ToYoDaMan]

Thanks for the tip, I will follow your steps for the rubber and bracket.

For anyone else reading years from now. Heres what I purchased for the non hybrid.
The front skidplate should work for either hybrid or gas model. There is a cross member behind the engine that is specific to the hybrids (I think, do your research).

Front Trd Aluminum skid: PTR60-35240
Transfercase STEEL skid: PT228-35248
Rear Diff STEEL skid: PT228-89254
This skid is shown for the 4runner and Land Cruiser as a direct fit. PT228-35242 is the Tacoma plate and comes with the rubber stops I've shown above.

The paperwork that came with the skid plate says torque to 36 Nm and in a specific order.
The transmission skid should go on first. There are 2 bolts that will get covered by the TRD skid plate (toward the front) and you will not have access to them when you put the front skid on.

Thank you! I will remove the TRD Front Skid Plate completely and install the front end bolts for the transmission skid plate that is covered up by the TRD Front Skid!

Your tips and advice are very helpful!

 

[ToYoDaMan]

Looking at the differential skid plate picture, looks to be installed the other direction than the Tacoma video.

Noticed the one bolt in the middle on his picture is facing rear.

The Tacoma video shows thhe one bolt in the middle, (that secures the rubber liner), facing towards the front of the vehicle and the 2 bolts (also secures rubber llining) is facing rear.

Guess iit can be installed either direction? I installed mine like the Tacoma videeo:. I guess it works both ways.

Any thoughts?

Here's a picture I found on the internet or possibly member of this forum showing how I installed mine

 

[RockyWeasel]

That first pic is installed backwards. The installation instructions show the single bolt on the sway bar side of the axle. Although, I can see where that "Front" arrow might be confusing. Also, the large rubber piece "hugs" the diff's driveshaft protrusion when installed with the single bolt towards the front.

 

[AdFour]

Correct, the way mtbtone installed it in the picture is incorrect. You want it in the orientation as shown in the PDF instructions. Unless you will primarily going in reverse.

 

[ToYoDaMan]

I ordered my Trailhunter skid plates from a Toyota dealership here in the Bay Area. The oem parts came in boxed up with the part numbers on the box and everything looked right!

However, it didn't come with instructions and that's why I completely depended on this thread and you tube videos.

the OEM TRD plate I ordered directly from Toyota online during the Labor Day sale, picked up at another Toyota dealership looked more professionally packaged, with instructions and all, as expected.

Guessing the oem Trailhunter skids I ordered directly from the dealership are oem parts sold as wholesale, assuming that these parts are being installed within the dealership by in house Toyota mechanics.

Anyhow, thanks to y'all, I was able to install the skids!

 

[ToYoDaMan]

Thank you! I will remove the TRD Front Skid Plate completely and install the front end bolts for the transmission skid plate that is covered up by the TRD Front Skid!

Your tips and advice are very helpful!

Done! All bolts torqued into place! Here it is!
Excuse the clutter in the background.

 

[AdFour]

Done! All bolts torqued into place! Here it is!
Excuse the clutter in the background.

Looks great! Exactly like mine!
I just realized I also had the PDF install instructions for the center / front skid plates.
Just attached them to the OP. This will be the ultimate skid plate forum!

 

[RockyWeasel]

However, it didn't come with instructions and that's why I completely depended on this thread and you tube videos.

Yeah, I only got instructions with the front skid plate. I found these instructions on some dealerships website.

 

[mtbtone]

My apologies to all. I’m embarrassed, but happy to be a part of this community so I have good people to help when I make a mistake! Just flipped the plate around and re-torqued. Thanks again! And sorry to anyone who may have made the same mistake because of my pic.

 

[RockyWeasel]

Looks great! Exactly like mine!
I just realized I also had the PDF install instructions for the center / front skid plates.
Just attached them to the OP. This will be the ultimate skid plate forum!

I just noticed your post. It looks like you attached the transfer case skid plate instructions for the LandCruiser which seems to have extra parts. My previous post has the pdf for the 4Runner PT228-35247 (hybrid) and PT228-35248 (non-hybrid) transfer case skid plates if you want to attach them to the OP.

 

[AdFour]

No worries! I installed the bracket on backwards the first time. I’m sure many will run into that too. The instructions should be better / mechanically make it impossible to install it on backwards. A part design that is mechanically keyed is the gold standard.

And thanks Rocky! I’ll update it shortly when I’m on my computer. I took the lazy route on those pdfs and figured close enough.

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