Construction Zone

$Don\$

AutoShrine · Vive le Prole-le-Ralliat · Donate | Twitter · Facebook

Welcome! Log In Register

Skid plates

Posted by Tom B

Tom B
Tom B
Junior Moderator
Location: Douche Canoe, WA
Join Date: 02/27/2006
Age: Midlife Crisis
Posts: 780

Rally Car:
VW Golf

Tom B

Skid plates
May 23, 2007 09:41PM

Registered: 02/27/2006
Posts: 780

So we have a great 1/4" thick skid plate. Only problem is I continually bend the shit out of it...how do people go about reinforcing these damn things. Funny enough Oregon trail this year is the only rally that I haven't had to re-bend the plate after.

I would love it if my service crew would be able to re-attach the thing after smashing into alot of stuff.

for reference:

bear in mind the car is still about 70 lbs overweight

Please Login or Register to post a reply

Andrew_Frick
Andrew Frick
Godlike Moderator
Location: Greenville, SC
Join Date: 05/18/2007
Age: Midlife Crisis
Posts: 684

Rally Car:
Rally Spec Ford Focus

Andrew_Frick

Re: Skid plates
June 04, 2007 10:16AM

Registered: 05/18/2007
Posts: 684

There are a couple of ways to reinforce the skid plate. The most popular way seems to be build a steel frame that the plate bolts too. I saw a clip of a WRC skid plate at one point and they used some aluminum honeycomb structure that looked like it transfered the forces into a pickup point on the chassis or the transmission housing.

Another option is to just hog out the mounting holes and user large fender washers on the attaching bolts. This way when the plate bends there is plenty slop to reattach it with. I used this technique

Please Login or Register to post a reply

Lurch
Eric Burmeister
Super Moderator
Location: Michigan
Join Date: 02/14/2006
Age: Possibly Wise
Posts: 307

Rally Car:
Mazdaspeed3 and Mazda Protege

Lurch

Re: Skid plates
June 04, 2007 12:37PM

Registered: 02/14/2006
Posts: 307

If you bend up the sides a bit and weld it up into a true "pan" (as opposed to a "skid" winking smiley

, you will add tons of strength to is and probably never bend it again.

That is the only way I'd consider running a 1/4" plate.

Lurch
Eric Burmeister
The west coast...of Michigan

Please Login or Register to post a reply

Tim Taylor
Tim Taylor
Godlike Moderator
Location: Oakland, CA
Join Date: 02/02/2007
Age: Midlife Crisis
Posts: 622

Rally Car:
Mazda 323 GTX

Tim Taylor

Re: Skid plates
June 04, 2007 12:59PM

Registered: 02/02/2007
Posts: 622

These are a really slick way of mounting a skidplate without having to use oversize holes to accommodate the bending.

http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/product.php?productid=1618&cat=506&page=1

Please Login or Register to post a reply

Andrew_Frick
Andrew Frick
Godlike Moderator
Location: Greenville, SC
Join Date: 05/18/2007
Age: Midlife Crisis
Posts: 684

Rally Car:
Rally Spec Ford Focus

Andrew_Frick

Re: Skid plates
June 04, 2007 02:47PM

Registered: 05/18/2007
Posts: 684

Tim,

Those are some nice looking washers. Kinda pricey but would do the trick.

Eric,
Since you mentioned that would be the "only" way you would run a 1/4" plate what thickness do you run on the Mazda?

Please Login or Register to post a reply

hoche
Michel Hoche-Mong
Super Moderator
Location: Campbell, CA
Join Date: 02/28/2006
Age: Possibly Wise
Posts: 1,156

Rally Car:
Golf, Golf, RX-3

hoche

Re: Skid plates
June 04, 2007 04:48PM

Registered: 02/28/2006
Posts: 1,156

I run a 1/2" Al skidplate. Light and strong.

Not cheap tho.

Self-righteous douche canoe

Please Login or Register to post a reply

Lurch
Eric Burmeister
Super Moderator
Location: Michigan
Join Date: 02/14/2006
Age: Possibly Wise
Posts: 307

Rally Car:
Mazdaspeed3 and Mazda Protege

Lurch

Re: Skid plates
June 04, 2007 05:15PM

Registered: 02/14/2006
Posts: 307

1/4", but it is shaped this way and takes a beating. The Protege ran a 5/16" plate.

I'll try to get phoots, but I haven't been real good about that lately.

Try bending a cookie sheet that is just thin metal with the edge turned up. Now try bending a flat steel sheet of the same guage that does not have the edge turned up.

Big difference.

Eric

Lurch
Eric Burmeister
The west coast...of Michigan

Please Login or Register to post a reply

Tom B
Tom B
Junior Moderator
Location: Douche Canoe, WA
Join Date: 02/27/2006
Age: Midlife Crisis
Posts: 780

Rally Car:
VW Golf

Tom B

Re: Skid plates
June 04, 2007 06:32PM

Registered: 02/27/2006
Posts: 780

yeah, but steel is HEAVY and we are already 50lbs overweight

Please Login or Register to post a reply

Lurch
Eric Burmeister
Super Moderator
Location: Michigan
Join Date: 02/14/2006
Age: Possibly Wise
Posts: 307

Rally Car:
Mazdaspeed3 and Mazda Protege

Lurch

Re: Skid plates
June 05, 2007 07:18AM

Registered: 02/14/2006
Posts: 307

........double post

Lurch
Eric Burmeister
The west coast...of Michigan

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2007 07:53AM by Lurch.

Please Login or Register to post a reply

Lurch
Eric Burmeister
Super Moderator
Location: Michigan
Join Date: 02/14/2006
Age: Possibly Wise
Posts: 307

Rally Car:
Mazdaspeed3 and Mazda Protege

Lurch

Re: Skid plates
June 05, 2007 07:18AM

Registered: 02/14/2006
Posts: 307

I was using the steel cookie pan as an example to explain how form can strengthen a sheet of material. My skidplates are made of Al you mini um and my fuel cell guard is Kevlar.