Mabett | New Shipment of Underbody Cavity Shield Covers Just Arrived!

[710-oil-614]

Just a note for those installing this kit. Despite tightening the frame bolts as much as I could (had to use my breaker bar because I couldn't get my torque wrench in there), I found them a bit lose when I checked them after a week's worth of driving. Recommend using some locktite on these bolts (they have thread-locker from the factory - just missed it when I first installed the kit)

Blue thread locker a must.

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[sprubs]

I finally pulled out the bed cubby to take a look on the top side of this install. everything looks fine. a couple of notes:

it doesn't look like the wires that I assume are for the rear brake lights are pinched between the shield and the body. in the image below it looks like maybe one is but I was able to freely move the part of the wire that looks like it's between the body and the plate.

another thing to note is that the top of the shield looks clean relative to the structure that was there before so it seems like its doing its job.

one more thing regarding the folks who want to put foam in there to "seal it up". I'm not so sure that's a good idea because while I was doing this I noticed that the area around the brake light will def allow moisture from the outside in (it's a pretty sizable gap) and possibly to the tops of these shields and it might be better to allow that moisture to drain out instead of getting trapped. unclear if this could happen though.

 

[geenweb]

I installed the Mabett Underbody Cavity Shield Cover in my 2025 today. Very easy to do, and a very high quality kit!. Here is the area prior to installation. The wire support needs to be popped out and the 10mm bolt removed from the areas circled in red.

 

[geenweb]

One of the mounting brackets is attached to the frame using the 10mm bolt that was removed. Not that I put anti-seize in all the nuts / nut plates to make disassembly easier if I ever needed to remove the shield.

 

[geenweb]

The second mounting bracket uses the hole made available by removing the wire support. It's attached with a 10mm bolt supplied in the kit. The 10mm bolts have a dark anti-corrosion coating.

 

[geenweb]

Two 18mm bolts need to be removed that are behind the tailpipe in this photo. They are tight and I used a break bar to loosen them. The first plate uses one of these 18mm bolts (red arrow) and two 19mm bolts that are supplied. The nuts for the 19mm bolts are also supplied. They are in holders that snap into the square holes visible in my first photo. Sorry I didn't take a photo of them, but others in this thread have. Again, I put anti-seize in all nuts / nut plates.

 

[geenweb]

The second plate attaches with 5 supplied 10mm bolts, and the second 18mm bolt behind the tailpipe that was previously removed. This plate "steps down" to allow space for the wires. While it is firmly against the wires, I have no concern. It's not moving, they're not moving. Nothing will rub. They will be protected and kept dry.

 

[geenweb]

The last thing I did was to use clear silicone caulk on the front edge of the front plate. I don't like the idea of the rear tire spraying water into that gap and water running on top of the plate. I got out my can of black rustoleum to slop some paint on the two 19mm bolt heads to protect them, but alas my paint had dried out. I keep a couple bottles of cheap nail polish in the shop to mark bolts that have been torqued, the direction of something for reassembly, etc. I grabbed a bottle and slopped some on for some rust protection. Would have preferred black, but who will ever see it. LOL.

 

[geenweb]

Next, I'm buying Mabett mud flaps.

 

[sprubs]

Nice write up and pics. I have the rokblokz flaps and, while expensive, they are doing a nice job to help keep crud out of this area. I figure between those and the shield I've done a decent job of belt and suspendersing this area.

 

[Bear]

Installed my cavity shield last night. The only issued I had was this bracket (see pic below). I didn't know which way to install it and naturally I bolted it on wrong which made my install take longer than it should have. Wished I had looked at this thread again before I installed the cavity shield, the picture below would have helped & saved me a lot of time. The directions that was provided was a bit wonky for me so I watched a YouTube video on the install which made it a bit easier.

I did used my impact wrench to remove the 2 factory big bolts. I don't think I could have removed them with the tool that came with it

My Maverick was under coated and I did get some dirt dropping on me. The best tip was not to tighten up all bolts until you have everything lined up. I did spray some Fluid Film on everything I touched before I placed all the covers on and on all the bolts I used for this cover.

My only complaint was the orange trim piece they shipped me. Shouldn't it have a notch in it like my blue trim tool so I can slip it behind that plastic wire holder?

The second mounting bracket uses the hole made available by removing the wire support. It's attached with a 10mm bolt supplied in the kit. The 10mm bolts have a dark anti-corrosion coating.

 

[Backin15]

The notch would help, I actually didn't even use the tool, a little wiggling and it popped out.

 

[geenweb]

I don't think I used their tool either. Probably a needle nose pliers.

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