MetalCloak Rear Differential Skid Plate for the Ineos Grenadier

The rear differential on the Grenadier hangs low and collects everything the front axle missed: rocks on the way off a ledge, the edges of ruts, logs across the track. The most vulnerable parts are the exposed drain plug and the cover lip with its hardware — one hard scrape is enough to turn a trip into a recovery.

This skid plate covers exactly those areas. Hot rolled steel, 3/16 of an inch thick (about 4.8 mm), protects the differential from the rear all the way to the pinion seal, and it bolts to the existing bosses in the centre casting — no drilling and no draining the diff.

Key benefits

• Covers the exposed drain plug – the most common casualty when the axle is dragged across an obstacle.
• Protects the diff cover lip and hardware – an impact that would normally shear a bolt head or fold the flange hits steel instead.
• Protection right up to the pinion seal – the plate works along the whole length of the differential, not just underneath it.
• 3/16in hot rolled steel – proper structural plate, not a thin cosmetic cover.
• Gold zinc finish – zinc coating for corrosion resistance, which matters on a part permanently exposed to salt and water.
• Installs without draining the differential – the diff cover stays untouched, so there is no oil or gasket change.
• Made in the USA.

What's in the kit

• 1 × rear differential skid plate
• all required hardware

Technical data

• Application: Ineos Grenadier, 2024 and newer
• Position: rear differential, covering the factory diff cover
• Material: 3/16in hot rolled steel (approx. 4.8 mm)
• Coating: gold zinc
• Mounting: to the existing bosses in the centre casting
• Installation difficulty: easy
• Installation time: about 1 hour
• Body modification: none
• Differential fluid change: not required
• Country of manufacture: USA

Who it is for

For Grenadiers that actually see terrain – rocks, ruts and ledges, where the back of the truck regularly touches down coming off obstacles. It also earns its place on loaded expedition builds, where ground clearance drops in practice and anything that hangs low takes the hit first. If you are building full underbody protection, the rear axle is the easy one to forget — until the first hit.

Installation notes

MetalCloak rates the install as easy and quotes about an hour. The plate bolts to the existing bosses in the axle centre casting and needs no drilling, welding or body modification. The differential cover stays in place, so the oil and gasket are untouched.

You can leave the installation and the choice of the remaining underbody protection to us – Szekla4x4.pl is an authorised MetalCloak dealer with its own off-road workshop.

Why it is worth it

• It protects exactly the points that get damaged most often: the drain plug and the diff cover lip.
• Thick 3/16in steel with a corrosion-resistant finish, not a decorative cover.
• Fitted in an hour, with no work on the axle's oil system.

Planning a full set of skid plates for your Grenadier? Get in touch and we will help you decide what to protect first.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to drain the differential before fitting it?

No. MetalCloak states explicitly that the install does not require draining or replacing the differential fluid – the plate does not disturb the diff cover.

Which axle is this for?

The rear differential.

Is any drilling needed?

No. The plate mounts to the existing bosses in the axle centre casting and MetalCloak lists no body modification.

What is it made of?

Hot rolled steel, 3/16 of an inch thick (about 4.8 mm), with a gold zinc finish for corrosion protection.

Which model years does it fit?

The Ineos Grenadier from the 2024 model year to current production.