Grand Vitara gets custom made skid plates

sudev · 26th October 2008, 10:29

Motorcraft is a MASS. Contact Rahul Dutt @+91-99717-33233 If not a Maruti vehicle try Raj Kapoor Performace Sector 2 Noida

sudev · 20th November 2008, 12:51

Finally got chance to take pictures of GV underside after the trip to Leh.
The overall inspection shows that there were some marks (abrasion) on the skid plates due to underbody touching / banging on rocks but there was no de-formation.

Grand Vitara gets custom made skid plates-101_2443.jpg

The front right edge needs to be re-tucked. but this did not cause any problems.

Grand Vitara gets custom made skid plates-101_2444.jpg

Grand Vitara gets custom made skid plates-101_2445.jpg

The CAT chamber has a little dent too. The cross member was not covered and showed some scratch marks too.

Grand Vitara gets custom made skid plates-101_2447.jpg

The over all impact on silencer pipe almost at the rear was maximum. This is also the lowest area and since it is on rubber holders it tends to sway. But this is not critical problem.

Grand Vitara gets custom made skid plates-101_2448.jpg

Shakensoul · 20th November 2008, 15:31

Sudev..how heavy are these aluminium plates ? As per the maruti website, the ground clearance of the GV is 200mm, so by installing these skid plates, the GC gets reduced by abt approx 5 mm ?

Samurai · 20th November 2008, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudev

The over all impact on silencer pipe almost at the rear was maximum. This is also the lowest area and since it is on rubber holders it tends to sway. But this is not critical problem.

Looks like your rear diff was protected by the silencer. This part is between the rear tyres, how did it get battered to much?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shakensoul

Sudev..how heavy are these aluminium plates ? As per the maruti website, the ground clearance of the GV is 200mm, so by installing these skid plates, the GC gets reduced by abt approx 5 mm ?

Not true. The GC on the specs refer to the lowest point in the center of the vehicle. The skid plates are not installed at the lowest point, it is above the exhaust pipe.

MM440 · 20th November 2008, 15:58

What would be the use of skid plate if it were not the lowest part of the vehicle.
In effect your silencer could get pulled if it protruded below the the skid plate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

Looks like your rear diff was protected by the silencer. This part is between the rear tyres, how did it get battered to much?

Not true. The GC on the specs refer to the lowest point in the center of the vehicle. The skid plates are not installed at the lowest point, it is above the exhaust pipe.

Samurai · 20th November 2008, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by MM440

What would be the use of skid plate if it were not the lowest part of the vehicle.
In effect your silencer could get pulled if it protruded below the the skid plate.

Jammy, if you see the first page of this thread, you would see that my skid plates were designed to protect the exhaust pipes. However, that brought down the GC royally. It started scraping even while going over speed bumps. Now I have removed the rear plates completely, no problem of scraping ever since. Sudev obviously learnt from my mistake and put his skid plates above the exhaust pipe which is not a critical part, it can take beating and still keep going.

sudev · 20th November 2008, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by MM440

What would be the use of skid plate if it were not the lowest part of the vehicle.

The intention is not to make end to end cover but to give protection to critical parts. Engine sump/fuel tank etc which if damaged would end up stranding you.

The differential is quite high and silencer tube was damaged earlier also due to usage in last raid and storm without skid plates. Needs a little more investigation/comparison with earlier pictures how damage was caused in this trip.

sudev · 20th November 2008, 23:57

Okay so here are before and after pictures. The first is just after the skid plates were made.

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This is after the trip to Leh.

I need to get under the ramp again and examine if that is a pin hole in the exhaust pipe just before the pipe is deformed.

Ym-enjn · 12th December 2009, 13:45

Starting to get skid plates for my Vitara. I will get it done from the same place as suggested by Sudev. But before starting i would like to get feedback from current users about the points to be taken care based on their expereince.

Samurai · 12th December 2009, 15:11

Sudev's design is lot better. Mine I have only retained the front two plates now. This week I had the opportunity to look under. This is how it looks after two seasons of bad roads. Sorry about the poor mobile camera shot.

Grand Vitara gets custom made skid plates-imag0016.jpg

Ym-enjn · 12th December 2009, 16:59

It has taken quite many beatings, seems to have done its work well.

I would like to know which part will hit first when the break over angle is not enough and is that protected in the design?

About the thickness of the sheet, is the 3mm embossed enough or shall I go for a thicker one?

sudev · 13th December 2009, 22:28

Go with chequered plates and not plain aluminium sheet. Former are much more resistant to bending. IMHO 3mm should be good.

Samurai · 13th December 2009, 23:19

Mine is 6mm thick, with checkered plate even 3mm should do well.

black12rr · 13th December 2009, 23:27

So checkered plate is tougher , then cost wise also it should be costlier ? .Is checkered plate the right technical term ?

MexXxentric · 14th December 2009, 13:58

Skid plates need to have smooth surface to be functional ?
Atleast in desert safari vehicles its like that.
Some longitudinal corrugation is also provided to increase strength(& looks).
i was having a line of thought like that. (something which helps to skid over obstacles

)

correct me if I am wrong.

A Functional Skid plate not only protects the vehicle's underbody, but also makes tow out recovery lot easier.

26th October 2008, 10:29	#91
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,863 Thanked: 3,250 Times	Motorcraft is a MASS. Contact Rahul Dutt @+91-99717-33233 If not a Maruti vehicle try Raj Kapoor Performace Sector 2 Noida Last edited by sudev : 26th October 2008 at 10:31.
	() Thanks

20th November 2008, 12:51	#92
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,863 Thanked: 3,250 Times	Finally got chance to take pictures of GV underside after the trip to Leh. The overall inspection shows that there were some marks (abrasion) on the skid plates due to underbody touching / banging on rocks but there was no de-formation. The front right edge needs to be re-tucked. but this did not cause any problems. The CAT chamber has a little dent too. The cross member was not covered and showed some scratch marks too. The over all impact on silencer pipe almost at the rear was maximum. This is also the lowest area and since it is on rubber holders it tends to sway. But this is not critical problem.
	(2) Thanks

20th November 2008, 15:31	#93
Shakensoul BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: AS01 Posts: 498 Thanked: 241 Times View My Garage	Sudev..how heavy are these aluminium plates ? As per the maruti website, the ground clearance of the GV is 200mm, so by installing these skid plates, the GC gets reduced by abt approx 5 mm ?
	() Thanks

20th November 2008, 23:57	#98
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,863 Thanked: 3,250 Times	Okay so here are before and after pictures. The first is just after the skid plates were made. This is after the trip to Leh. I need to get under the ramp again and examine if that is a pin hole in the exhaust pipe just before the pipe is deformed. Last edited by sudev : 20th November 2008 at 23:58.
	() Thanks

12th December 2009, 13:45	#99
Ym-enjn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Jaipur Posts: 1,039 Thanked: 61 Times	Grand Vitara Skid plates version 3.0 Starting to get skid plates for my Vitara. I will get it done from the same place as suggested by Sudev. But before starting i would like to get feedback from current users about the points to be taken care based on their expereince.
	() Thanks

12th December 2009, 15:11	#100
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 26,002 Thanked: 49,664 Times View My Garage	Sudev's design is lot better. Mine I have only retained the front two plates now. This week I had the opportunity to look under. This is how it looks after two seasons of bad roads. Sorry about the poor mobile camera shot.
	() Thanks

12th December 2009, 16:59	#101
Ym-enjn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Jaipur Posts: 1,039 Thanked: 61 Times	It has taken quite many beatings, seems to have done its work well. I would like to know which part will hit first when the break over angle is not enough and is that protected in the design? About the thickness of the sheet, is the 3mm embossed enough or shall I go for a thicker one?
	() Thanks

13th December 2009, 22:28	#102
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,863 Thanked: 3,250 Times	Go with chequered plates and not plain aluminium sheet. Former are much more resistant to bending. IMHO 3mm should be good.
	() Thanks

13th December 2009, 23:19	#103
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 26,002 Thanked: 49,664 Times View My Garage	Mine is 6mm thick, with checkered plate even 3mm should do well.
	() Thanks

13th December 2009, 23:27	#104
black12rr Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ridin earth now Posts: 1,280 Thanked: 349 Times	So checkered plate is tougher , then cost wise also it should be costlier ? .Is checkered plate the right technical term ?
	() Thanks

14th December 2009, 13:58	#105
MexXxentric BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 248 Thanked: 11 Times	Skid plates need to have smooth surface to be functional ? Atleast in desert safari vehicles its like that. Some longitudinal corrugation is also provided to increase strength(& looks). i was having a line of thought like that. (something which helps to skid over obstacles ) correct me if I am wrong. A Functional Skid plate not only protects the vehicle's underbody, but also makes tow out recovery lot easier.
	() Thanks