Savvy steering box skid

Eddie Greenlee

Eddie Greenlee

TJ Addict
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2016
Messages
2,613
Location
Mississippi
I am getting a steering box skid plate. I looked at the Savvy one for my TJ and I'm a little worried about the holes to bolt into the bumper. I have an aftermarket bumper that has an angle to it and also it may or may not be the same distance from the steering box as the OEM bumper ( which it attches to ). just getting yalls opinion. I know there are lots of differennt ones out there. if you need a picture ill geti it for ya.
 
I've installed several different steering skids. The Kilby skid was fantastic and severed me well for many years, but it's no longer made. I've now installed the Savvy skid on three different aftermarket bumpers, it worked on them all and is my new favorite. Lightweight, strong, and fairly easy to install.

For the Savvy install, you'll likely need to drill two holes in the bumper, but that's not a big deal. Once you receive the skid, mock everything up and mark where you need to drill, using a center punch. Depending on the bumper, you may or may not be able to get the top nuts on with the bumper installed. Just be sure to check this when putting everything together.

The only real advice I can give it to liberally coat the single bolt that goes up into the steering box mount with anti-seize. Once you put the bolt and nut in the steering box mount, water will accumulate in there. The anti-seize will help make it easier to remove the bolt and nut, should you need to. To help with this, I drilled a small drain hole to allow water to escape.

The only other tip is you don't have much room to work with when dropping the nut in from the hole on top side of the steering box mount. I dropped the nut in and used a magnet to help position it, hand tightened the bolt to start it, then hit it with my electric impact.

DnIfI6R.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Desert Roamer, TJ Starting, Eddie Greenlee and 1 other person
Irun said:
I've installed several different steering skids. The Kilby skid was fantastic and severed me well for many years, but it's no longer made. I've now installed the Savvy skid on three different aftermarket bumpers, it worked on them all and is my new favorite. Lightweight, strong, and fairly easy to install.

For the Savvy install, you'll likely need to drill two holes in the bumper, but that's not a big deal. Once you receive the skid, mock everything up and mark where you need to drill, using a center punch. Depending on the bumper, you may or may not be able to get the top nuts on with the bumper installed. Just be sure to check this when putting everything together.

The only real advice I can give it to liberally coat the single bolt that goes up into the steering box mount with anti-seize. Once you put the bolt and nut in the steering box mount, water will accumulate in there. The anti-seize will help make it easier to remove the bolt and nut, should you need to. To help with this, I drilled a small drain hole to allow water to escape.

The only other tip is you don't have much room to work with when dropping the nut in from the hole on top side of the steering box mount. I dropped the nut in and used a magnet to help position it, hand tightened the bolt to start it, then hit it with my electric impact.

View attachment 157248
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback on this even though I wasn't the OP, looking at that setup there makes me think I could use that on my Right Hand Drive TJ! I'm going to have to take a closer look at this!

-Grant
 
RustyAutoholicGuy said:
Thanks for the feedback on this even though I wasn't the OP, looking at that setup there makes me think I could use that on my Right Hand Drive TJ! I'm going to have to take a closer look at this!

-Grant
Click to expand...

Another big plus for the Savvy skid is it's the only one I saw that will also work with an aftermarket steering box. I just got finished with a PSC install (bigger and stronger steering box) and the Savvy skid, to my surprise, worked with no modifications!

(y)
 
  • Like
Reactions: RustyAutoholicGuy
Irun said:
Another big plus for the Savvy skid is it's the only one I saw that will also work with an aftermarket steering box. I just got finished with a PSC install (bigger and stronger steering box) and the Savvy skid, to my surprise, worked with no modifications!

(y)
Click to expand...
Somehow the washer on the bolt that goes up into the steering box support got altered from spec. It is thinner than the original. That means the end of the bolt will make light contact with the bolt sleeve in the support and smear the lead thread. That makes it almost impossible to remove. Double up the washer, get a thicker one, or take 1/16" off of the end of the bolt.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eddie Greenlee and RustyAutoholicGuy
mrblaine said:
Somehow the washer on the bolt that goes up into the steering box support got altered from spec. It is thinner than the original. That means the end of the bolt will make light contact with the bolt sleeve in the support and smear the lead thread. That makes it almost impossible to remove. Double up the washer, get a thicker one, or take 1/16" off of the end of the bolt.
Click to expand...

You just saved me work! Mine is mocked up, but I haven't installed the nut yet, because I have to remove the antirock arm to get easier access. I'll add an additional washer on the bottom, to slightly shorten the bolt. Thanks!!!
 
Irun said:
I've installed several different steering skids. The Kilby skid was fantastic and severed me well for many years, but it's no longer made. I've now installed the Savvy skid on three different aftermarket bumpers, it worked on them all and is my new favorite. Lightweight, strong, and fairly easy to install.

For the Savvy install, you'll likely need to drill two holes in the bumper, but that's not a big deal. Once you receive the skid, mock everything up and mark where you need to drill, using a center punch. Depending on the bumper, you may or may not be able to get the top nuts on with the bumper installed. Just be sure to check this when putting everything together.

The only real advice I can give it to liberally coat the single bolt that goes up into the steering box mount with anti-seize. Once you put the bolt and nut in the steering box mount, water will accumulate in there. The anti-seize will help make it easier to remove the bolt and nut, should you need to. To help with this, I drilled a small drain hole to allow water to escape.

The only other tip is you don't have much room to work with when dropping the nut in from the hole on top side of the steering box mount. I dropped the nut in and used a magnet to help position it, hand tightened the bolt to start it, then hit it with my electric impact.

View attachment 157248
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for the picture & instructional review !!!
 
Eddie Greenlee said:
Thank you very much for the picture & instructional review !!!
Click to expand...

NP. Just add what Blaine said to the install, i.e. add an additional washer to the bolt that goes up into the steering box support. There's a sleeve inside the support that helps keep it from getting crushed. Based on what Blaine said, the supplied bolt is a tad long and contacts that sleeve when tightened. The result is buggered up threads on the end of the bolt, which can make removing it later a potential problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eddie Greenlee
Eddie Greenlee said:
ya think I can modify the angle of the skid plate? or will I have to add onto my bumper ?
Click to expand...

I dont think modifying the skid plate would accomplish much. I would just have a support piece added to the bumper. You best bet would be to find a local custom offroad shop and talk to them. They can take measurements and tell you exactly what you need to do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CR2 and Eddie Greenlee
well i ordered the one from Curry, same design but its steel and ill have it modified to bolt into the thick flat bar across the frount of my frame. Thanks guys. ill show the install when it gets here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TJ Starting
I got a Warn PS skid and based on this thread I would have rather had the Savvy. The Warn runs a bolt into the frame crossmember tube, and I'm about 75% sure I'm going to have to take it out and shorten it if I ever install an AntiRock.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jamesval035
mrblaine said:
Somehow the washer on the bolt that goes up into the steering box support got altered from spec. It is thinner than the original. That means the end of the bolt will make light contact with the bolt sleeve in the support and smear the lead thread. That makes it almost impossible to remove. Double up the washer, get a thicker one, or take 1/16" off of the end of the bolt.
Click to expand...

Resurrecting an old thread to report that the bolt and washer that came with the Savvy Steering Box Skid kit I recently received did not interfere with the bolt sleeve. The washer was about .080-.100" thick. Seems Savvy has corrected the problem they had a couple years back.
 
  • Like
  • USA Proud
Reactions: ColoJeep, psrivats, freedom_in_4low and 2 others
sab said:
Resurrecting an old thread to report that the bolt and washer that came with the Savvy Steering Box Skid kit I recently received did not interfere with the bolt sleeve. The washer was about .080-.100" thick. Seems Savvy has corrected the problem they had a couple years back.
Click to expand...

I hope mine had the right one because I bought it in 2021 and installed it having completely forgotten about this thread.
 
Irun said:
...The only real advice I can give it to liberally coat the single bolt that goes up into the steering box mount with anti-seize. Once you put the bolt and nut in the steering box mount, water will accumulate in there. The anti-seize will help make it easier to remove the bolt and nut, should you need to. To help with this, I drilled a small drain hole to allow water to escape...
Click to expand...
As this thread has been resurrected, I wondered if you can recall what size hole you drilled to help water escape? And more importantly, has that worked?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Irun
UKTJ said:
As this thread has been resurrected, I wondered if you can recall what size hole you drilled to help water escape? And more importantly, has that worked?
Click to expand...

I drilled a 1/4 inch hole and it is worked fine. I do have to occasionally take a hose and flush out any mud or debris that may get trapped in there and blocks the hole.
 
  • Like
Reactions: UKTJ and RINC
Irun said:
I drilled a 1/4 inch hole and it is worked fine. I do have to occasionally take a hose and flush out any mud or debris that may get trapped in there and blocks the hole.
Click to expand...

Drill the hole just to the rear of where the bolt attaches the skid? Guess I just answered my question with attaching this pic. I see not mush room in front of the bolt.
sterringskid001.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Irun
Top Bottom
Back