Rear Control Arm Skid Plates

[flyby71]

Has anyone had any experience with the Rock Hard 4x4 bolt on rear lower control arm skid plates with the shock mount skid plate attached?

I’m not sure if this is an actual useful item or just something else to drop a $100 on that isn’t really needed. I will be running Currie adjustable track bars.

 

[flyby71]

Here is a link:

https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-9033.htm

 

[jjvw]

Are you dragging the rear mounts?

The lower control arm acts as a ramp to help clear the mount. The shock mount may be vulnerable, but I personally don't think a bolt on solution the makes that stuff bigger is a good way to go.

 

[flyby71]

Are you dragging the rear mounts?

The lower control arm acts as a ramp to help clear the mount. The shock mount may be vulnerable, but I personally don't think a bolt on solution the makes that stuff bigger is a good way to go.

I haven’t been dragging the rear mounts to my knowledge. I don’t do actual rock crawling. My off-road style is more trails and obstacles on trails. I figured one day it could be an issue, but anything can happen off-road.

I was skeptical about bolt on vs a weld on skid. I wasn’t sure if it was a regularly used item that no one really discussed or just something extra to spend money on.

The Currie control arms come with bolts that have grease zerks, and they probably couldn’t be used with the bolt on skids. I’m not sure how important those grease zerk bolts are.

 

[jjvw]

The Currie grease zerks would be no less inconvenient to get to with those skids bolted on.

For some perspective, I ran rear shock relocation brackets for a couple years. They got dragged a fair amount, but I never felt the need to add a bigger skid.

 

[mrblaine]

We see quite a few welded on rear control arm axle end skids. We don't do it and never have. The most we will do is to make a weld washer that is about the diameter of the joint barrel, weld it on both sides of the mount and then trim off everything that sticks out past the edge of the weld on the lower part of the mount. The weld washer works very well. Don't get carried away or you'll be hunting down longer bolts.

 

[Westtown Willy]

I haven’t been dragging the rear mounts to my knowledge.

easy enough to know for sure, roll underneath & look at the mounts & it'll be obvious one way or the other... I've got the front bolt-ons & they've seen a good mount of action and have done their job well, I removed them for the first time to install new control arms & the mounts are in excellent condition. Haven't really considered putting them on the rear & haven't had the need, there's a pretty big difference between the front & rear, the front being the canary in the coal mine

This was what they looked like when I installed them, don't have a current picture but suffice it to say they're not nearly as pretty anymore

 

[flyby71]

The Currie grease zerks would be no less inconvenient to get to with those skids bolted on.

For some perspective, I ran rear shock relocation brackets for a couple years. They got dragged a fair amount, but I never felt the need to add a bigger skid.
View attachment 69902

Ha! I was wondering how much fun it would be to get to those zerks. Those brackets don’t look too beat up. I’ll pass on the bolt on skids!

 

[flyby71]

We see quite a few welded on rear control arm axle end skids. We don't do it and never have. The most we will do is to make a weld washer that is about the diameter of the joint barrel, weld it on both sides of the mount and then trim off everything that sticks out past the edge of the weld on the lower part of the mount. The weld washer works very well. Don't get carried away or you'll be hunting down longer bolts.

Thanks for the advise! That’s a really interesting idea to use the washer. I may look into doing that in the future. I’m gonna pass on the bolt on skids.

 

[flyby71]

easy enough to know for sure, roll underneath & look at the mounts & it'll be obvious one way or the other... I've got the front bolt-ons & they've seen a good mount of action and have done their job well, I removed them for the first time to install new control arms & the mounts are in excellent condition. Haven't really considered putting them on the rear & haven't had the need, there's a pretty big difference between the front & rear, the front being the canary in the coal mine

This was what they looked like when I installed them, don't have a current picture but suffice it to say they're not nearly as pretty anymore

View attachment 69903

I may condsider doing the front skids when I get around to installing adjustable front arms. Good to know you got actual use out of the front ones.

 

[mrblaine]

I may condsider doing the front skids when I get around to installing adjustable front arms. Good to know you got actual use out of the front ones.

I should have mentioned that we always use the Currie weld on mini skids for the front. Just too much potential for damage and a 5 x as difficult installation after they get bent and they will.

 

[flyby71]

I should have mentioned that we always use the Currie weld on mini skids for the front. Just too much potential for damage and a 5 x as difficult installation after they get bent and they will.

Do the Currie front mini skids make it difficult to grease the zerks on the Currie control arms?

I’m not sure if they will work with the factory control arms. If they do, would you recommend welding them on now, or wait until I can get the Currie control arms on there?

 

[mrblaine]

Do the Currie front mini skids make it difficult to grease the zerks on the Currie control arms?

I’m not sure if they will work with the factory control arms. If they do, would you recommend welding them on now, or wait until I can get the Currie control arms on there?

I don't believe they work with stock arms. We don't use the zerks on the Currie arms. We pull them about once a season, take them apart and grease them that way.

 

[flyby71]

I don't believe they work with stock arms. We don't use the zerks on the Currie arms. We pull them about once a season, take them apart and grease them that way.

I understand. I’m a novice when it comes to wrenching. I enjoy it, and was able to install my lift kit, new front end, and a few other parts. I suppose taking the arms off and taking them apart can’t be that difficult. It’s getting everything back exactly perfect that worries me. I may try using the zerks and see what happens. I did see that Zone has the mini skids with a hole in the middle so the zerks can be accessed.

 

[Liv2Ryd]

We see quite a few welded on rear control arm axle end skids. We don't do it and never have. The most we will do is to make a weld washer that is about the diameter of the joint barrel, weld it on both sides of the mount and then trim off everything that sticks out past the edge of the weld on the lower part of the mount. The weld washer works very well. Don't get carried away or you'll be hunting down longer bolts.

@mrblaine, I am interested in doing this washer mod to my TJR. I had one of my rear control arm mounts get folded over on last weeks rock crawl. Would you have any photos or know of any write ups on this mod? It will help with guiding my local fab shop when they attempt to fab this for me. Mucho gracias.

 

[mrblaine]

@mrblaine, I am interested in doing this washer mod to my TJR. I had one of my rear control arm mounts get folded over on last weeks rock crawl. Would you have any photos or know of any write ups on this mod? It will help with guiding my local fab shop when they attempt to fab this for me. Mucho gracias.

If your local fab shop can't cut a weld washer out of 3/16 or 1/4" and weld it to the side of a control arm mount, you need another fab shop.

 

[Liv2Ryd]

If your local fab shop can't cut a weld washer out of 3/16 or 1/4" and weld it to the side of a control arm mount, you need another fab shop.

I'm certain they can handle it but if others have done it before and had some info to share, it would be appreciated.

 

[jjvw]

I'm certain they can handle it but if others have done it before and had some info to share, it would be appreciated.

I did it earlier this year. I found some big thick washers one day at the hardware store, bolted them to the outside of the brackets and welded them on. There isn't much to it. Cleaning the areas to be welded is the hardest part.

 

[Infernicus]

If your local fab shop can't cut a weld washer out of 3/16 or 1/4" and weld it to the side of a control arm mount, you need another fab shop.

And for the people that are still learning, and probably able to do it themselves, that just don't understand what you mean? Lol.

 

[mrblaine]

And for the people that are still learning, and probably able to do it themselves, that just don't understand what you mean? Lol.

A weld washer is a washer fabbed out of thicker steel plate, generally 3/16" to thicker that has a hole the same size as what the bolt needs. The outside diameter is dependent upon the use but in this case, slightly larger than the diameter of the joint barrel if there is room on the control arm mount side plate. That is welded in place after being bolted down tight with a joint bolt sleeve holding the sides apart. After welding, the side plates are trimmed off to the edge of the weld.