Anthony, our engineer, installing the rear shock skid plates on a Ford Bronco.

What defines a truly capable off-roader? While a torque-happy engine powering grippy all-terrain tires and a flexible, elevated suspension are critical components, these alone don’t guarantee success on the trail. The real key lies in durability. Nothing dampens the thrill of adventuring through rugged landscapes in your Bronco quite like unexpected trail debris wreaking havoc on your undercarriage. Although many of the Bronco's vital components come with factory protection, the rear suspension remains vulnerable—until now. 

Rendering of the rear shock skid plate.
Rendering of the rear shock skid plate.

Enter Anthony, our resident problem-solver, with a solution to safeguard your Bronco’s rear shocks while keeping them firmly in place for future off-road escapades. His innovation provides the robust protection these shocks deserve. While the concept may sound straightforward, the execution features carefully engineered design elements to ensure optimal defense. 

Prototype of the rear shock skid plate.
With our 3D complete, our fabrication team was able to bring our design to life for preliminary test fits.
The rear shock skid plates installed on the Ford Bronco.
With a physical copy of our shock skid plate in hand we were able to test fit our skid plate on our Badlands Bronco to ensure that our new underbody protection is compatible with the Bilstein suspension package

The rear shock mounting points are inherently strong since they’re critical to connecting the wheels to the chassis. However, their exposed position makes them a weak spot on the trail. Addressing this vulnerability was the first step in Anthony’s plan. To anchor these skid plates securely, he developed a design incorporating flexible tangs that slide through the primary mounting bolt of each strut. This clever attachment method integrates the plate seamlessly into the suspension assembly. 

Anthony, our engineer, installing the rear shock skidplates.

With the mounting resolved, the focus shifted to protection. For this design, 3/16" thick steel provides a formidable shield for the most at-risk areas of the struts. To ward off corrosion, the steel undergoes electro-galvanization before receiving a stealthy black powder-coated finish, ensuring longevity even in the harshest conditions. 

 

Beyond toughness, the skid plates are designed to deflect obstacles rather than catching on them. The tall, angled front wall encourages rocks and debris to glance off instead of snagging on the Bronco. This reinforced barrier wraps around all four sides of the lower strut, delivering full-coverage protection from every angle. 

A front-on shot of the skid plates installed.
The skid plate, coated in black paint, installed on the Ford Bronco.

Ultimately, a successful off-roader is one that gets you back home. While horsepower and tire traction are crucial, they mean little if your rear suspension is left exposed to trail hazards. Equip your Bronco with rear shock skid plates to keep your adventures rolling and your suspension unscathed.

A product image of the rear shock skid plates.