View Poll Results: Radiator support rust repair
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 242. You may not vote on this poll
Poll: Radiator core support rust
11-18-2006, 02:54 PM
#1
Poll: Radiator core support rust
Anyone with a 4th gen either from or living on a snow area knows of this issue. If not, you probably know about it - Corrosion (BAD Rusting) where the engine support bolts to the radiator core support.
I am curious how big of an issue this is. Who knows, maybe we can somehow prove this to Nissan and they can do something about it. I know its a little late, but it never hurts, right?
Better yet, is this an issue with other gens?
PS - My camera is being tempermental with my pc
so I can't post any pics. Anyone that has some, post them if you can so everyone can see the diferent stages and ones from different areas.
I am curious how big of an issue this is. Who knows, maybe we can somehow prove this to Nissan and they can do something about it. I know its a little late, but it never hurts, right?
Better yet, is this an issue with other gens?
PS - My camera is being tempermental with my pc
so I can't post any pics. Anyone that has some, post them if you can so everyone can see the diferent stages and ones from different areas.
11-18-2006, 03:07 PM
#3
Yeah, I tried to fix the same way as was indicated in that thread, but unfortunately mine was to far gone. So I am currently saving up to replace it. No lowering for me until core support is fixed.
11-18-2006, 05:52 PM
#6
I live in NY and you can imagine the snow and salt here!! I have a problem in that area aswell as alot of maxima's. Fortunately mine isn't to bad but got me worried, so I'll just cut that area and weld a nice piece of steel in there. And of course get some rust prevention product around that entire support area.
11-18-2006, 06:55 PM
#7
Supporting Maxima.org Member
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Mine is rusted really bad. I don't even think those bolts holding the cross member up are even doing anything. I'm getting it fixed when I move back home so my friend at a body shop can do it.
11-19-2006, 03:15 AM
#8
my 96 is pretty bad - will need a repair within a few years for sure. it will come down to how long i'm keeping it, its on the list of "restoration" stuff (along with paint) that i will probably do in 1-2 years.
11-19-2006, 10:56 AM
#9
Originally Posted by matrix11229
Are you talking about this ?
So I need to fix it this winter. Or I will be ridin' the VQ to school!
11-20-2006, 06:39 AM
#14
Scary, I don't think mine is rusted there. I still have to double check. I have progressively de-rusted my car. The whole underneath is 'Truck bed coated' and undercoated on top of that. After I wire wheeled the underneath. The front core support is all I have left, and its BAD.
Matty-> When you bought you're core support, Did you have to get a 'lower' piece, or did you just but the whole support?
The body shop is telling me I have to buy the lower part separate, I think they are nuts and want my money. I was just going to buy a whole support off ebay for $100 and take it to a different shop.
Matty-> When you bought you're core support, Did you have to get a 'lower' piece, or did you just but the whole support?
The body shop is telling me I have to buy the lower part separate, I think they are nuts and want my money. I was just going to buy a whole support off ebay for $100 and take it to a different shop.
11-20-2006, 10:10 AM
#16
Supporting Maxima.org Member
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Originally Posted by alcatranz518
Matty-> When you bought you're core support, Did you have to get a 'lower' piece, or did you just but the whole support?
The body shop is telling me I have to buy the lower part separate, I think they are nuts and want my money. I was just going to buy a whole support off ebay for $100 and take it to a different shop.
The body shop is telling me I have to buy the lower part separate, I think they are nuts and want my money. I was just going to buy a whole support off ebay for $100 and take it to a different shop.
-matt
11-21-2006, 06:10 AM
#17
myne is rusting! i havent started working on it yet cause its cold out. anyone have a right up or video to repair - PREVENT - from further damage/rusting.
i was going to just scrape away the rust, and spray on some rustolium or something.
i was going to just scrape away the rust, and spray on some rustolium or something.
11-21-2006, 06:39 AM
#18
Originally Posted by matty
Get just the lower section from Nissan for about $127
-matt
-matt
11-21-2006, 07:42 AM
#19
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 8
Putting the whole new radiator support on is a bigger job and chances are the rest of your radiator support doesn't need to be replaced. Doing just the lower section isn't too big a deal to do by yourself and it'll take care of the problem.
11-21-2006, 03:37 PM
#21
Originally Posted by matty
Get just the lower section from Nissan for about $127
Thats not including the price of the support. So I have been saving. So much for my suspension. Looks like I'm riding dirty for a while. Unless the shop would want significantly less to do just the lower piece.
Do you have a part # or a bill from when you bought the part? (If the shop didn't get it for you) The parts depts. @ the Nissans near me is full of mongoloids, they're useless.
11-23-2006, 06:34 PM
#23
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Originally Posted by alcatranz518
What did the shop charge you? The shop wanted $800 to fix mine with the full support. Thats not including the price of the support. So I have been saving.
So much for my suspension. Looks like I'm riding dirty for a while. Unless the shop would want significantly less to do just the lower piece.
Do you have a part # or a bill from when you bought the part? (If the shop didn't get it for you) The parts depts. @ the Nissans near me is full of mongoloids, they're useless.
Thats not including the price of the support. So I have been saving. So much for my suspension. Looks like I'm riding dirty for a while. Unless the shop would want significantly less to do just the lower piece.
Do you have a part # or a bill from when you bought the part? (If the shop didn't get it for you) The parts depts. @ the Nissans near me is full of mongoloids, they're useless.
-matt
11-25-2006, 01:02 PM
#25
Originally Posted by sagres74
For those of you who have only done the bottom section, can you do a write-up for the rest of us. Mine is in pretty bad shape.
i dont think anyone understands that in order to get to that piece, you have to take off the lights and bumper, radiator and condenser, evacualte and recharge the ac, replace the coolant, partially drop down the engine craddle, take off the old one, prep the new one, weld it on, seam seal it, paint it, and put it all back together. it'll take 8-12 hours to do, times that by your current labor rate, plus an ac charge, coolant, paint, seam sealer and the lower tie bar.....................well over 800 bucks.
12-07-2006, 07:01 PM
#31
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 15
I found the whole piece on www.rockauto.com for about $60+s/h. Has anyone ordered from this site? Any recommendations outside of paying $800.
12-09-2006, 08:33 PM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,327
This probably could be reproduced with quality but if you are going to be the one putting it in then you might as well go for the genuine nissan part.
Granted whatever you buy you could do some additional rust proofing.
800 is approaching the overboard price on this car in my opinion. Too much other things I would rather do with the money like performance upgrades.
Go genuine though. I am suprised that radiator support isn't solid. Seems like it would do better in a crash.
Granted whatever you buy you could do some additional rust proofing.
800 is approaching the overboard price on this car in my opinion. Too much other things I would rather do with the money like performance upgrades.
Go genuine though. I am suprised that radiator support isn't solid. Seems like it would do better in a crash.
12-09-2006, 08:38 PM
#33
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Originally Posted by Armelius
800 is approaching the overboard price on this car in my opinion. Too much other things I would rather do with the money like performance upgrades.
Then $800 isnt too bad to spend, rah ??
-matt
12-10-2006, 06:42 AM
#34
Originally Posted by Armelius
800 is approaching the overboard price on this car in my opinion. Too much other things I would rather do with the money like performance upgrades.
Go genuine though. I am suprised that radiator support isn't solid. Seems like it would do better in a crash.
Go genuine though. I am suprised that radiator support isn't solid. Seems like it would do better in a crash.
what matty said, 800 in mods isnt going to get you anywhere if your engine falls out of the car.
have you ever tried bending a price of round metal bar? alot easier to bent a solid one than a hollow one. besides the fact that that piece if it were solid it would be over 200 lbs. not too many things on a car are built thick. they are engineered to be strong and light.
12-10-2006, 06:27 PM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,327
You would think they could fill the hollow tube with aluminum or build the damn thing out of titanium.
It's inexcusable to pay 28k or 26k or even 24k for a pos that is going to rust out in 10 years.
I hear plenty of people complaining about the paint job but this is way more important.
If someone is selling the same crappy part for 60 bux plus shipping and handling I think Nissan could of made it a lot more thicker or with more rust retardant (paint and primer).
It's inexcusable to pay 28k or 26k or even 24k for a pos that is going to rust out in 10 years.
I hear plenty of people complaining about the paint job but this is way more important.
If someone is selling the same crappy part for 60 bux plus shipping and handling I think Nissan could of made it a lot more thicker or with more rust retardant (paint and primer).
12-11-2006, 08:20 AM
#38
I'm dealing with the same problem right now... I can't even drive the car as my bolts have completely ripped out of the member.
So the general consensus is to leave this work up to a body shop? Thats a lot of friggin money for this work, I was working myself up to do the job on my own. Where's the write-up for this? Stickies?
So the general consensus is to leave this work up to a body shop? Thats a lot of friggin money for this work, I was working myself up to do the job on my own. Where's the write-up for this? Stickies?
12-11-2006, 08:31 AM
#39
Member
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 253
Mine has a hole 1/2" x 3", so I need to get at this soon.
The lower support is $212 CDN (Oakville Nissan) so once again the US rules on prices...
I will be replacing mine in the next few months and will take pics and post how I did it. (I sure an glad that I picked up the MIG welder last year!)
If you have done it:
-How many spot welds did you have to drill out to get the lower support off?
-Was it difficult getting the bumper cover off? (many rusted & broken bolts?)
Thanks,
Frank
95 Maxima w/381,000 Km
The lower support is $212 CDN (Oakville Nissan) so once again the US rules on prices...
I will be replacing mine in the next few months and will take pics and post how I did it. (I sure an glad that I picked up the MIG welder last year!)
If you have done it:
-How many spot welds did you have to drill out to get the lower support off?
-Was it difficult getting the bumper cover off? (many rusted & broken bolts?)
Thanks,
Frank
95 Maxima w/381,000 Km
12-11-2006, 08:58 AM
#40
Originally Posted by alcatranz518
Anyone with a 4th gen either from or living on a snow area knows of this issue. If not, you probably know about it - Corrosion (BAD Rusting) where the engine support bolts to the radiator core support.
I am curious how big of an issue this is. Who knows, maybe we can somehow prove this to Nissan and they can do something about it. I know its a little late, but it never hurts, right?
Better yet, is this an issue with other gens?
.....
I am curious how big of an issue this is. Who knows, maybe we can somehow prove this to Nissan and they can do something about it. I know its a little late, but it never hurts, right?
Better yet, is this an issue with other gens?
.....
It's definitely a problem for 4th gens.
