Snow/ice packed in crossmember

[brods]

/webdata/photopost/data/500/medium/Xmember_snow.JPG#ad




Happens often when driving in snow. Problem is it freezes and then the tcase, sensor, driveshaft etc bang on the ice as the engine/trans move on their mounts. Besides being a NVH issue it cannot be good for the sensor. Anybody make their own guard or flap to prevent the build up? Any other solutions?

 

[mwilson]

I've considered moving South when things like that start happening... ...



I've had mine do the same thing, but never had the banging noise. Or it was banging and I did not realize what was causing it.



What if you removed the skid plate just for the winter???



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

Here in Texas we envy you for the precipitation but not the cold.

 

[brods]

Oh it is readily apparent there is something not right as soon as the truck is started. I can feel how rough the engine runs which is normally isolated by the rubber mounts. Think of an exhaust pipe hitting the frame type thing, but a bit worse. Usually goes away when driving (the tcase torques up under load?) but comes back when stopped. The only solution at that point is to find a warm garage to park in so the ice can melt. I've been planning to make rubber ice shields for the front axle knuckles since the ice tends to build up in there the same way, so maybe its time to get it done and make a mud flap type thing for the tcase too.

Harvey, a customer in El Paso said it was 18 there the a few days ago so I guess you get a taste of the cold occasionally. -4 here this morning.

 

[GCroyle]

Good luck finding a solution, not a problem here we haven't seen snow for a few years. How about a mud flap approach before the case to prevent the accumulation or can you drop a big block V-8 and run pipes down each side? Just joking a bit, good luck.

 

[TLane]

I can see a new option coming from Dodge; as well as an aftermarket product:



Heated cross members :-laf :-laf :-laf