What is the crossmember right after the radius arms?

[Juice0723]

Like I bent this over crossmember right up so it hits the driveshaft. it's the one right after the radius arms. Going front to back of the vehicle. Is it just a skid plate? Can I just remove this part and drive the vehicle without it?

 

[Baddecision93]

I think I know what crossmember you're talking about. It's like two overlapping pieces that run from one side of the frame to the other?

There are 4 bolts or so that hold the two pieces of steel together?

I kind of assumed that either it was a guard for guys w/an auto tranny (I've got a manual) or that maybe it was some sort of "stiffener" to avoid twisting the frame.

Might want to snap a pic if you can so we're on the same page (and so someone who knows more can chime in).

 

[Juice0723]

It's the next one back. From front to rear. Like 4 bolts on each side to the frame.

 

[FIND]

Moving from front to back, there is the engine cradle, then there is the cross-member the ends of the radius arms go into, then there is the transmission mount. The cross-member the radius arms bolt to has 4 bolts on each side.... I can't really think of any other cross-members that should be under your truck, and all those cross-members sit side to side..... do you have a picture?

Honestly, you must be talking about the one the radius arms bolt into, because that should be the only one that could interfere with your front drive shaft, and not be after the transmission, unless of course you are just talking about a skid plate that someone added.

 

[Maniak]

It goes engine cradle, ra bracket, transmission cross member and then skid plate that goes under the transfer case. That is for an auto trans. I dont remember if the manual trans explorer have a real trans cross member But the trans cross member only has bolts on the side of the frame while the ra bracket and xfer case cross member have bolts on the bottom of the frame.

~Mark

 

[DeRocha]

There is a skid plate that is about 10" or so wide that goes under the T-Case and connects to the frame rails on either side (4 bolts). It has ribs in the middle to add some strength.. It is mainly designed to deflect debris (Loose rocks, sticks, etc) from whacking the T-Case and Front Drive shaft.. If you hit a rock then it would definitely dent it as it's not designed to support the vehicles weight. You should be able to simply remove it and bang it back straight with a sledge hammer...

 

[Juice0723]

yea it was the transfer case skid plate. all of these pieces I bent underneath haha. Just had the radius arms replaced. Is it alright to have no skid plate for the transfer case? Or should I put one back on? I need to strengthen all the pieces on the explorer somehow.

 

[DeRocha]

...Is it alright to have no skid plate for the transfer case? Or should I put one back on? I need to strengthen all the pieces on the explorer somehow.

The T-case skid plate is like extra insurance when you wheel. You don't "need" it, but its something you want if you run over stuff that can shoot up and whack your T-Case or Trans.

 

[snoranger]

The T-case skid plate is like extra insurance when you wheel. You don't "need" it, but its something you want if you run over stuff that can shoot up and whack your T-Case or Trans.

I beg to differ on that. If he already bent it, then he probably needs it or a stronger one.

 

[Juice0723]

well yea I was offroading that's how I bent it. But I'm just going to use it for onroad use atm and put the plate on when offroad. Is that ok?

 

[Baddecision93]

There is a skid plate that is about 10" or so wide that goes under the T-Case and connects to the frame rails on either side (4 bolts). It has ribs in the middle to add some strength.. It is mainly designed to deflect debris (Loose rocks, sticks, etc) from whacking the T-Case and Front Drive shaft.. If you hit a rock then it would definitely dent it as it's not designed to support the vehicles weight. You should be able to simply remove it and bang it back straight with a sledge hammer...

I definitely read that as "it is mainly designed to collect debris"

From my experience that seems to be true lol.

 

[Maniak]

We reinforced our xfer case skid plate with same 1/4 plate steel. Haven't had any issues since then. Before we reinforced it we would bend it up into the transfer case often.

Here are some shots.

IMG_1936 by maniak_az, on Flickr

IMG_1941 by maniak_az, on Flickr

~Mark