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I
recently installed these
lower
control arm skids made by Skid Row along with a
transfer case
skid and an
engine
skid plate. The first
thing to take note of, just like the
engine skid,
there are two part numbers
for this. I believe that the other part number is for TJ's with high
clearance lower control arms (LCA), but I'm not sure. So check before
you order, you only need a straight edge.
Now, while this install was easy and
straightforward…the instructions
were not. These plates fit Dana 30 and 44 front axles on TJ's, XJ's,
MJ's
and ZJ's, so there was a lot of "IF/THEN/GOTO" statements in the
instructions. I'm just going to outline what I did to get them on the
XJ.
The kit
comes with left and right plates, 2 U-bolts, 4 carriage
bolts, two "Straps" along with the associated nuts and washers. The kit
also came with a 1/4" thick washer, which the instructions said I did
not need for my application (it's supposed to be used on '03 and up
TJ's). I did the drivers side first, but it doesn't really matter which
one you install first.
The first thing that had
to be done was to remove the
nuts at the
LCA's. The bolts themselves should not have to be removed unless the
threads are not facing the wheels (if the threads are facing inward,
you'll have to reverse the bolt). Simply place the skid over the bolt
and reinstall the nut. Do not tighten the nut at this point.
Slide
the U-bolt over the axle on the side of the LCA closest to
the wheel, rotate the skid onto it and secure it loosely with the flat
washers and nuts. On the other side (inboard) install the carriage
bolts through the plate and into the strap on the other (top) side of
the axle. This time secure it with the lock washers and nuts. Now just
tighten up everything making sure that:
A) There is approximately
the same amount of thread
showing at both ends of the u-bolts
B) That the skid plate
lies flat/true on the
axle…you'll have to rotate it around to get it to sit correctly.
Now just tighten up the
LCA bolt to torque
spec. That's it...rinse and
repeat. When I took the pictures,
I still had not cut the bolts' excess off.
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