Squeaky skid plate

[WilliamWallace]

Just installed the slee off-road full belly skid plate on my 94 fzj80. This replaces the cross member completely as well as spanning about twice the frame as the factory cross member. It uses 4 additional mounting points on the frame. My problem is after a couple days of driving it is squeaking like crazy. I had to shim the skid plate down 3/8" due to transmission clearance so I used full length plates. i noticed that the washers seem to be bending in or dishing so to speak. Retightening of the bolts only works briefly before squeaking starts again. The slots in the skid plate are slightly larger than bolts so there is a little room around bolt. Extremely annoying while driving so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Red Merle]

Could you put some rubber bushings in there?

 

[Oscar Witte]

Use some grade 5 or thicker washers.

 

[inkpot]

Tack weld it on 4 corners. It is easy enough to grind them off to remove the whole thing if you need to.

 

[LINUS]

Tack weld it on 4 corners. It is easy enough to grind them off to remove the whole thing if you need to.

Yup. 4 convienient 1/2" beads will fix that right up.

 

[zonker]

Grade 8 hardened washers solved the same problem on mine. Also make sure the plate is flush with the frame. Put a floor jack under the center.. loosen the bolts enough to let the plate hang free all the way around. Raise the plate up with the jack until it is just about to contact the frame. Check the gap to see if it is fairly consistent all the way around. If not.. something is askew. Frame or plate. If that is the case don't use the bolts to pull the plate up against the frame. You will be trying to bend one to the other. I promise you the washers will pull into the plate holes. Consequently the bolts will not actually be tight.

Push the plate firmly up against the frame on both sides using multiple jacks. Bottle jacks or whatever. Then torque the bolts with the G8 washers. I can say that you should have no other troubles. Ask me how I know this! Of course the welding trick will work as well.

 

[WilliamWallace]

Thanks for the help! I used grade 8 washers yesterday but still squeaked. As I was going through the setup yet again I found 1 small point of contact between the front edge of the slee skid plate and the rear edge of the factory skid plate for the oil pan. A couple small pry bars and I was able to bend the factory skid plate up slightly. Finally silent.
As a bonus I was able to get the ome suspension installed today! About to turn 300,000 miles and still a beast!!