Help! GM SU8 9.5” Skid Plate Options

s10dragracer888 · March 17

Hello all,

I’ve looked high and low for options. I have a 2024 Silverado 1500 Crew cab, 4x4. It’s got the SU8 differential. AEV makes an SU7 skid plate, but nothing is offered anywhere for the GMCH SU8 9.5”. What are my options? Has anyone modified the AEV shield? I’m doing some overlanding this summer and I’m just trying to protect my investment.

VE4ADB · March 21

I recently wondered the Exact same thing. I would love to have one. I wheel the poor truck hard, May just make one when its not all snow and ice here.

s10dragracer888 · March 26

On 3/21/2026 at 12:14 AM, VE4ADB said:

I recently wondered the Exact same thing. I would love to have one. I wheel the poor truck hard, May just make one when its not all snow and ice here.

I went ahead and ordered the AEV plate. I’m going to do some modifying to the plate and the differential this weekend to get it to fit, and I’ll get back to you. Stay tuned.

s10dragracer888 · March 28

On 3/21/2026 at 12:14 AM, VE4ADB said:

I recently wondered the Exact same thing. I would love to have one. I wheel the poor truck hard, May just make one when its not all snow and ice here.

So, I did some modifying. Used pipe straps to hang it and foam under the strapping and the plate to insulate it against rattle. It fits. No cutting or modifying necessary.

HoosierZ · March 29

I like the skid plate, but I wouldn’t trust those straps to hold on if you actually hit the skid plate on anything. Did it come with any mounting brackets or hardware to attach it?

s10dragracer888 · March 30

19 hours ago, HoosierZ said:

I like the skid plate, but I wouldn’t trust those straps to hold on if you actually hit the skid plate on anything. Did it come with any mounting brackets or hardware to attach it?

It did. Problem is, the brackets don’t fit the SU8 diff. It’s a different shape, but the dimensions are all the same. If the U-bolts were about an inch longer and the bracket was a different shape, it would fit perfectly.

I think I might take some time and double up on the straps to ensure a good, sturdy system.

jwhjr · March 30

I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I think it looks awful even if it had the proper brackets. I'm thinking of function in a MN winter as well and all that would collect in it. Not to mention anything that would damage the differential isn't going to protect it with that skid plate.

GETGONE · March 31

15 hours ago, jwhjr said:

I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I think it looks awful even if it had the proper brackets. I'm thinking of function in a MN winter as well and all that would collect in it. Not to mention anything that would damage the differential isn't going to protect it with that skid plate.

You haven't been off roading and hit a rock with that stock steel rear diff cover then. Seen several people who did and peeled it back enough to lose all the diff fluid. It's more to slide over stuff than protect from damage to the diff housing itself since it's cast iron. The big "ears" for bracing to the axle tubes are what will snag as well as the steel diff cover that hangs down below the diff housing. I ended up putting an AFE aluminum diff cover on which doesn't hang below the diff in the center.

s10dragracer888 · March 31

22 hours ago, jwhjr said:

I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I think it looks awful even if it had the proper brackets. I'm thinking of function in a MN winter as well and all that would collect in it. Not to mention anything that would damage the differential isn't going to protect it with that skid plate.

I have to disagree, only because I have shattered a couple of differentials and wish I had installed a skid plate to protect them… I’m doing some over landing this summer on an expeditionary camping trip… And I’m just trying to protect my $50,000 investment. $400 for a skid plate is a lot better than $1500 plus for a new axle assembly. I really really don’t wanna have to go that far. I appreciate your opinion, but I don’t agree.

s10dragracer888 · March 31

7 hours ago, GETGONE said:

You haven't been off roading and hit a rock with that stock steel rear diff cover then. Seen several people who did and peeled it back enough to lose all the diff fluid. It's more to slide over stuff than protect from damage to the diff housing itself since it's cast iron. The big "ears" for bracing to the axle tubes are what will snag as well as the steel diff cover that hangs down below the diff housing. I ended up putting an AFE aluminum diff cover on which doesn't hang below the diff in the center.

I may still do a differential cover, just for extra protective measures… The terrain I’m going over is really rough, I’m even going with shock skid plates. If I lose the plate while sliding over a rock, I have plenty of strapping to replace what came off… That’s why I’m not too terribly worried about it. I’m just trying to protect the differential as much as possible. Unfortunately, they don’t make brackets for the SU8, and I wish they had. I could probably modify these, but it would take quite a bit of time, and I’m not sure that I want to go through all that. I’d rather just use the plumbing strap, and double or triple up on it to make sure it stays on the truck.