Skid Bar for Wheel Loaders

Product Overview: Essential Wear Protection for Loader Buckets

A Skid Bar (also commonly known as a Wear Bar, Wear Strip, or Bucket Shoe) is a critical, replaceable wear component installed on the bottom surface of wheel loader buckets. Positioned perpendicular to the bucket's cutting edge, these robust bars act as sacrificial wear surfaces, protecting the bucket's structural base plate from direct abrasion and impact during digging, scraping, and ground engagement. Constructed from high-strength abrasion-resistant (AR) steel, they significantly extend bucket life and reduce maintenance costs.

Key Features & Technical Advantages

· Heavy-Duty AR Steel Construction: Typically fabricated from premium AR steel plate (e.g., AR400, AR450, AR500), offering an optimal balance of high surface hardness for abrasion resistance and underlying toughness to withstand impact loads.

· Sacrificial Wear Surface: Designed to absorb the brunt of abrasion from ground contact, shielding the more expensive and complex bucket floor structure.

· Enhanced Bucket Longevity: By preventing premature wear-through of the bucket floor, skid bars drastically extend the overall service life of the bucket assembly.

· Easy Replacement: Bolted or welded design allows for straightforward removal and replacement when worn, minimizing equipment downtime compared to repairing the bucket floor itself.

· Reduced Material Build-Up: Properly spaced skid bars can help minimize the accumulation of sticky materials (like clay or wet soil) on the bucket floor.

· Standard & Custom Sizing: Available in standard lengths and thicknesses, or custom-fabricated to fit specific bucket widths and models.

Primary Industrial Applications

· Mining & Quarrying: Protecting loader buckets handling blasted rock, overburden, ore, and aggregates.

· Construction & Earth-moving: Shielding buckets during site prep, trenching, backfilling, and handling fill materials.

· Waste Management & Recycling: Essential for buckets handling MSW, C&D debris, scrap metal, and abrasive industrial waste.

· Agriculture & Forestry: Used on loaders handling feed, grain, silage, mulch, and logs.

· Snow Removal: Protect bucket floors when pushing and stacking snow, especially when contacting pavement.

· Material Handling: General bulk material handling in stockyards, ports, and industrial facilities.

FAQ

Why is a skid bar necessary if the bucket already has a cutting edge?

The cutting edge protects the front lip of the bucket. The skid bar protects the large, flat bottom surface of the bucket from direct scraping contact with the ground or material pile. They serve complementary but distinct protective functions.

What thickness of skid bar should I use?

Thickness depends on application severity. Common thicknesses range from 1" (25mm) for moderate conditions to 2" (50mm) or more for severe mining and quarrying. Thicker bars last longer but add weight.

Bolted vs. Welded Skid Bars: Which is better?

Bolted: Easier and faster to replace, ideal for harsh environments where frequent replacement is expected. Requires drilling the bucket floor.

Welded: Provides a completely smooth bottom profile, minimizes snag points, and avoids bolt-head wear. Replacement involves cutting and re-welding. Choice depends on operational preferences and bucket design.

How many skid bars does a bucket need, and how should they be spaced?

Typically 2-4 bars are used, spaced evenly across the bucket width. Spacing depends on bucket size and material handled (sticky materials may require closer spacing). Consult manufacturer recommendations or industry standards.

Skid bar is designed to protect and extand life of mining and quarrying heavy buckets for wheel loaders. excavator and dippers.Skid bars are commonly used on most high capacity. heavy duty buckets for wheel loaders, excavators and dippers.