Cat plates creaking and noisy

Since all the Valhalla's Shield threads have been shut down I'm starting a new thread with a specific issue/problem... not in any way related to delayed orders or the current state of VS as a vendor.

I've had my Valhalla's Shields installed since sometime in late 2020/early 2021, can't remember when I actually got them. Anyways, they're the aluminum version, front and rear sections. Since installing them I've basically forgotten about them until a couple of months ago when I started hearing a creaking/popping noise when pulling in/out of driveways and turning and flexing the truck. I figured it was the shields so crawled under and tightened every fastener and checked everything else I could think of. The issue remained, so I thought it must be something else. I also have the RAS kit installed on the rear leafs, so thought maybe it was the springs binding or popping and the sound was transferring towards the middle of the frame. Checked that out and all seemed good.

Long story short, I checked everything I could think of and nothing fixed the issue. Yesterday I crawled underneath and removed the cat plates altogether and took it for a test drive and the popping noise is completely gone. So, my big question is, why were they virtually silent for 2+ years and then all of the sudden start sounding like the frame of my truck was cracking every time the body flexed even slightly? Is there a remedy anyone knows of so that I can reinstall them without the noise? Anti-sieze, friction paste, marine grease, anything?

I still want the protection, but I also don't want my truck to sound like its falling apart just pulling into the parking lot. Even though I know its nothing major, its still unsettling and annoying.

 

Loss of having the bolts correctly torqued. There have been many post! (Hundreds) regarding noise coming from underneath shields. Everything from fiberglass to rubber washers have been used with great results, and correctly torquing the bolts.

 

I have Talons Garage Plates (Similar Valhalla's Shields) as well as the TRD Front Plate. The TRD plate is known to have these noises and even has a TSB to address it. Not long after I installed everything I also heard these noises. My first attempt to address the issue was to add structural nylon shims between my TRD plate and the frame. This helped for a while, but the noises came back. My fix was to mark the overlap and metal to metal contact points between the plates as well as to the frame with a sharpie while they were still installed. I then used some scrap rubber roofing membrane and E6000 Glue to adhere the rubber to the areas that had metal to metal contact (Including plate to plate and plate to frame.) As mentioned above, the torque is also important (Especially for the front TRD Plate) Since adding the rubber, I have eliminated all noises associated with the front TRD plate and the cat plates. You could probably talk to a local commercial roofer and he will probably give you some scraps to do this project. You could also use rubber washers in between the plates, but not sure it would solve the issue 100%

 

The plates do flex a little so a full length rubber strip would work better than rubber washers. I still need to do this to mine.

 

I got the Talons on mine for about 3 years now and noticed they are rusting pretty good while doing my oil change the other day. Especially where the bolts meets the plate.

No noises though.

 

I ordered an 1/8" thick rubber sheet from Amazon and made my own washers to fit between the cat plate and TRD skid. So far, that's been the only point to make noises.

 

Lowes has “Keeney 6 inch rubber washers.” Sandwich these between the plates and anywhere’s they bolt up with contact to the frame. I used these on the TRD Skid and it solved the popping issue. BTW: I tried torquing the bolts per spec and that didn’t do shit.

 

Not sure there is a "correct" torque for skid/cat plates, especially when introducing a rubber washer into the equation. Obviously too loose = rattle, but too tight? Not sure my problem arose from my bolts getting tighter on their own over time.

Looks like rubber is the predominant method, I'll give that a shot.

 

Not getting to tight to loose. But you’ll figure it out. It is a simple fix. I never had that problem with any noise, but it happens and there is only two ways to fix it retorque and or some type of a fabricated washer.
And yes there is a correct torque, there was one on the TRD ones so I assume there is for others also

 

Did you remove the small skid plate that is attached to the transfer case? I had a noise with my Vallhala's , removed that and good to go !

 

Yeah, that was removed when I originally installed the plates a few years ago. Just weird that they were silent for years and then all of the sudden they start creaking and popping. Tightening all the fasteners didn't help. I have actual off-road skid plates on my other vehicles and never a sound. Not crazy about the idea of using rubber between the contact points. That may work for a while, but the rubber will depress/degrade over time and the plates will just loosen up. Grease will just wear off pretty quickly. Maybe just a good cleaning of all the contact points and reinstall and see how it goes.

 

this right here

 

I have Talon's plates and had creaking from day 1. It didn't bother me for a while, then it started to. I put some nylon washers in between the cat plates and maybe in between the frame and the plate?
I definitely recommend nylon over rubber. Nylon is more abrasion resistant and durable, and will remove the noise all the same. I also slapped grease on them for good measure.

 

I got my aluminum Valhallas just about Halloween 2021. They've been silent. They also look like they would clean up shiny new if I cared to. I had to take them off recently for a trans flush, and all went well, everything was still tight.
I think there were some improvements made over time that may have eliminated the source of noise. Here is the design I got: