Traveling off the beaten with your Mazda CX-50 just got a whole lot better with the CorkSport Skid Plate. The new skid plate ensures you make it there and back again with the engine and transmission properly protected for all your on trail adventures.
Featuring an extra thick 5mm aluminum main plate that will withstand substantially more abuse than the factory plastic piece and an optional front plate for complete coverage, provides a substantial improvement to the OEM tray. So, if you plan on venturing off-road or want more on-road protection and peace of mind, keep reading below for more details on the CS Skid Plate for the CX-50.
From the factory, the CX-50 comes with a basic plastic splash shield/aerodynamic cover as found on other Mazda models. They provide the minimum protection needed for everyday street driving, but they are absolutely insufficient when faced with highway debris, through mid to extreme snow conditions, or more adventurous driving on forest roads.
When driving on these less traveled roads and trails, the probability of encountering large rocks or tree limbs is much higher and thus exponentially leading to the probability of damage to the underside of your CX-50. The damage that these objects can do to critical components, such as the oil pan, is a major concern, as it can leave you stranded.
The primary purpose behind the CorkSport Skid Plate is to better protect the engine and transmission from these potential threats. This allows you to traverse trails and forest roads with more confidence and helps ensure that you will get back home safe.
The CorkSport skid plate has multiple options so you can choose how much protection you want for your CX-50. The OEM splash shield is made up of two pieces: (1) a main rear section that covers the underside of the engine, transmission, and transfer case and (2) a front section that sits underneath the front bumper and radiator.
Option 1 of the CS skid plate is a replacement rear section only. The thick 5mm aluminum plate protects the critical drivetrain components while integrating with the plastic OEM front section.*
Option 2 of the CS skid plate replaces both sections of the OEM splash shield. It includes the same thick rear section but also includes a thinner front section (The same 2.25mm material used in our other skid plates). The front section offers much better protection for the radiator and front components than OEM, but the thinner material reduces added weight.
*Don’t worry, though; you can always start with the rear section and upgrade to full front & rear coverage later with our upgrade kit!
The design of the CorkSport Skid Plate is modeled after the factory shape of the OE cover to ensure proper fitment and coverage of the underside of your CX-50.
We changed where the skid plate attaches to the vehicle for sturdier mounting. We use aluminum standoffs in four key locations that allow for M10 hardware to be used instead of the OEM M6 hardware and push clips.
A slight modification is required if you install only the main CS skid plate, as two holes must be drilled in the plastic OEM splash shield to accommodate the new mounting points. This does not cause any issues if you decide to go back to the OEM splash shield at a later date. Good news, though—if you chose both sections of the CS skid plate, no permanent modifications are required for installation!
We were careful to incorporate all of the features of the OEM splash shield as well! This includes an air duct to keep the transfer case at the proper operating temperature when you are out on the trail (just like OEM).
We also designed a recessed oil change access panel to provide protection to your oil pan while allowing for quick oil changes without full skid plate removal. The oil cover is flush with the rest of the skid plate, providing a near-seamless transition between the main plate and the oil cover, so there is little chance it can get snagged on anything that you may drive over.
The 5052 aluminum that we picked for the CX-50 Skid Main Plate is the thickest we have done to date. At 5mm or just over 3/16in, this skid plate is over double the thickness of our other skid plate fitments to ensure that it can withstand extreme conditions.
To get its shape, the CorkSport Skid Plate is laser cut and then precision bent, which provides a quality fit and finish. The optional front plate is made out of our standard thickness of 2.25mm (~0.090in) aluminum, with the same laser cut and bent process.
All necessary hardware is included for installation and our electronic instructions are conveniently located on our our site, so you can discover new trails in no time.
If you are searching for increased underbody protection the CX-50 Skid Plate can provide, head on over to the product listing for additional images and details. As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call!
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