Best skid plate? ...opinions wanted!

[loudspl]

I've been neglecting the underside of my car for quite some time. My car is lowered and I have narrowly averted disaster on several occasions. Now I'm getting wise and need to put on some protection!

I'm open to suggestions/comments. I'm not partial to any vendor, etc.

I would like to put these 4 up for comparison based on user experiences:

1. Dieselgeek Panzer aluminum plate
2. Evolution Import aluminum plate
3. Defender-Tech galvanized steel plate
4. OEM European A4 steel plate

 

[pcjr]

Option 1 Have one on my 02 jetta was a breeze to install saved the oil pan several times. Like it so much also put one on my 2010

 

[Souzafone]

I like the Defender. On the plus side, it's made out of galvanized steel, it's very simple, and it's cheaper. The downside---it's made of galvanized steel. It's heavy.

 

[milehighassassin]

I like and have the Dieselgeek Panzer plate. I did a lot of research before I bought one. The mounts were one of the main reasons I bought the DG Panzer. Now with the full metal jacket option to replace the plastic, even better.

 

[mrvermin]

I like the Defender as well, I have hit (unintentionally) some large ice chunks that fell off trucks this past winter and I am really glad I got that plate. just hearing the "TWONG" of that ice hitting the plate and knowing that it caused no damage, not even to the plate is nice.

The downside is that it is the heaviest plate available, however, that is also the upside, almost nothing can put a dent in it.

Well, maybe some rural Quebec roads, but I do not drive there ...

MrVermin

 

[diesel-dave]

dude your chose!!!!!!!! there is also, the evolution....

dieselgeek makes a great product everytime......

have 2 evo's 1 diesel geek all really nice

 

[paramedick]

The OEM plate is the most durable. I can't envision anything destroying that puppy. Downside is it's a PITA to install with the large arms on the front of it. Doing the MOGolf mod to it solves that problem.

The Dieselgeek is a great aluminum plate. It's on the daughter's car. I install a lot of them for customers.

The Evolution is a good plate. I've shied away from them because I didn't like the front mount. With the new front mount Neil is supplying, I have no qualms about recommending it now.

Defender plate is a good plate. It's heavy, but I like the slotted bolt hole on the rear center of it. Makes it easy to slide over bolt and hold in place while starting the other bolts. Only weakness (in my mind) is the single point front mount.

 

[diesel-dave]

okay, yes about evo's new brackets up front...I have them on one car the old on another,
both are strong but , i like the threaded cylinders because of strength very solid

the forward / back strength is handled by the three mounting points in the rear

the front "posts" handle the push up resistance great... like hitting something in the road...


aluminum dont rust and is lightweight

 

[spiceredwagon]

I chose panzer for the excellent mounting system and the engine is all sealed up from underneath. Some other plates let snow in. The road salt is making mine corrode around the mounting washers. I need to invent some kind of dielectric isolation to stop the plate from been the sacrificial anode.
Other than the corrosion I really like it.

 

[coalminer16]

Bottom line. Get a plate. I will say it like I say it to others. How are you a veteran member with out a plate?

 

[Sc0]

I like the Panzer, have 3 VW's and all have the panzer... Lightweight, bolts in solidly, takes a beating! The one problem that I have had with the panzer is that it will bend in if you hit something hard enough, had a problem with the lower pendulum mount bolt vibrating against the pan after a pretty substantial hit. This was solved with a BFH after removing it, easy enough...

I did have the VWMS steel skid plate, PITA, heavy, and it's not as industructable as you think due to the fact that it will bend and is even harder to bend back into shape. (Gladly replaced with a Panzer) Houston roads are brutal...

 

[Camarones]

I had the panzer on my MK4 and it saved it several times. Of course this was after I lost an oil pan without it!

I'm considering OEM for my MK6 if the AC pulley clearance issues can be easily addressed. Failing that, I'll probably go Dieselgeek again.

 

[diesel-dave]

Bottom line. Get a plate. I will say it like I say it to others. How are you a veteran member with out a plate?

amen

 

[diesel-dave]

can not complain about diesel geeks panzer

 

[loudspl]

amen

A cat only has nine lives, right?

The OEM one on World Impex got my attention but the price did too....anyone know which plate is the thickest??

...And what the Rally Golf is using these days?

Apparently a few people out there snatched up the thicker aluminum plates when Evolution did ~5 of them. Too bad they won't make any more!

 

[darkhorse]

My Evo took a hard hit on a chunk of ice a couple of months ago. Solid ice at ~60 mph. Very loud & left a streak on the aluminum but nary a dent.

 

[Rick Blalock]

I once nailed a concrete chunk in the road with my DG Panzer. I looked in my rear view mirror before I pulled over and the chunk was in pieces. The sound was horrible! The Panzer didn't even have a dent!! It was scratched, but its far from new and shiny now. I've hit other stuff too but this was the most notable. It most often hits when driving over steep curbs to get into some parking lots that are poorly maintained.

I chose the Panzer because:
1) Made in the USA.
2) Awesome mounting with those beefy and slightly forward angled front mounts.
3) No rust worries.

But, just get something as they all DO work.

-Rick

 

[Farfromovin]

From a ground clearance point of view, wouldn't you be best off with the OEM steel plate? I mean, it mimics the pos plastic pan to the "T" right?

Obviously all plates have there strengths and weaknesses, but one that is often overlooked is how much further than stock it hangs down. Often times, you will see testimonials from folks who say "just installed brand X plate and boy I'm sure glad I did because I just went over something in the road and heard it scrape!". My point being that maybe they wouldn't have scraped their plastic pan, as it sits 1.00" to 1.75" higher than some of the other plates??? Food for thought.

 

[loudspl]

Which plate reduces ground clearance the most?

Another concern is heat transfer....that may be a one-up for the holey OEM one for "some" ventilation....but then I thought aluminum supposedly transfers heat better than steel....

Also need to add the JSP Performance "Armadillo" 5052 Aluminum Plate to the poll.
Feel free to share your comments on that one if anyone has installed or used it

From a ground clearance point of view, wouldn't you be best off with the OEM steel plate? I mean, it mimics the pos plastic pan to the "T" right?

Obviously all plates have there strengths and weaknesses, but one that is often overlooked is how much further than stock it hangs down. Often times, you will see testimonials from folks who say "just installed brand X plate and boy I'm sure glad I did because I just went over something in the road and heard it scrape!". My point being that maybe they wouldn't have scraped their plastic pan, as it sits 1.00" to 1.75" higher than some of the other plates??? Food for thought.

 

[darkhorse]

Geez, guys, I think some are over analyzing this. None of the plates reduce ground clearance much, if any. All of them offer substantial protection.

 

[milehighassassin]

Heat on a diesel is not a big deal. They don't produce a lot of extra heat. Heat is inefficient. Also considering most cars have an OEM plastic skid plate you are not blocking any more air from coming in or leaving by replacing it with steel or aluminum

 

[Joe Fisher]

AMEN!

Geez, guys, I think some are over analyzing this.

To the OP. don't worry so much about what kind you get. Just GET ONE!

 

[coalminer16]

You could also say that the reduced ground clearance allows for more of a dent in the plate before contacting the oil pan. Remember you still can hit the pan even with a metal plate.

 

[NB_TDi]

I have the Evolution Imports plate. This is my only experience with a plate though.

• It's scratched up a bit, no dents, but also no rust.
• Mounts seem just fine for going around town, I probably will get the new upgrade ones though.
• I had to add in spacers at the rear. The control arms were hitting the plate on some travels. Making a strange noise. Couple of washers fixed that issue though.
• The oil drain hole was a big seller, until my local VW shop started doing top side changes for the sake of oil pans.
• I've taken it off-roading. Hit some big rocks, and asphalt. I've hit very large chunks of ice and rocks on-road too. Still no issue.

That's my experience. If I bought another TDI, I'd probably buy the same again.

 

[diesel-dave]

well lets not wait till a oil pan is in 8 peices before we choose, rock paper scissors? its all opinion...toss a coin, just get one on.

 

[manual_tranny]

Geez, guys, I think some are over analyzing this. None of the plates reduce ground clearance much, if any. All of them offer substantial protection.

As soon as I installed my DG Panzer plate I started hitting things that I normally cleared. Pulling into my driveway too quickly it hits, (approx 10 deg angle), even driving up a 2" tall garage entrance bump too fast and the plate hits.

I am planning a lift very soon, so I don't mind that it is hitting. I'd recommend getting a 1" raise if you have a skid plate, just to keep the clearance close to stock. Either the metalnerd lift or stronger shocks will raise enough to compensate. Stiffening up the shocks by installing the lift kit or by installing European wagon shocks (rear) and VR6 shocks (front) is another good way to get stock clearance back after installing a plate.

My theory is that I'd rather not be bumping the plate every day I drive the car, currently I hit at least once a day on something. My shocks are probably dying/dead too, FYI.

 

[NB_TDi]

its all opinion

Obviously, did you miss the name of the topic?

 

[brownnugen]

I have the Evolution because it is the only company that makes them for the B4. I don't have any complaints about the plate itself. I wish the rear mounting bolts were attached differently.

 

[CNDTDI]

make your own you will cover everything you want and get to decide were to mount it

 

[alnmike]

Here are some pics, im too lazy to transfer em off facebook for a single post
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2036299&id=64203450&l=3f534cfdc2

Ignore the last one, was just taking a picture of watching the last superbowl on my projector.

Anyway, I have the DG plate, and it definitely saved my oil pan. Im sure others would have, DG was the only one that had one for the 09's when I bought my car I believe. Hit some ice chunks a couple days after I installed it (flew down to drive my car up to Alaska), but nothing compares to the ice I hit this January.

Edit: Forgot I had a pic of the rear end damage too. That happened the day before I hit the ice chunk on the road, gdamn snow/ice is doing its best to kill my car.