Rusted lower rad support 03 Maxima plz help
#1
Rusted lower rad support 03 Maxima plz help
Hey guys & gals! I'm new here. Just traded my car for this 03 Maxima. It's got a few things wrong in the front end including a rusted out lower rad support. It's not even connected anymore. My funds are limited so I wondering the cheapest way to repair it to where it's still as reliable as possible. I don't have a great pic so I found one online that resembles pretty much exactly what's going on with mine. Why isn't this recalled? Teh fu**? Thank you for any advice in advance. Also I live in Colombia county, PA if anyone has recommendations for where to get the work done.
#5
Seeing how you want to spend as little money as possible, I'd use like JB-Weld and just slather it all over the seam. Eventually it should build up enough and be good for the time being. Or using Bondo or something.
#6
#7
Remove the Rad. See how much you have for anchorage. Take pics and measurements.
Go to Lowes / Home Depot and carry a creative mind when you enter the hardware section. I surely could fan up something to make it firm for years to come.
You have a older car that maybe exposed to lots of salt during the winter, so don't expect much if any for a recall.
Your shopping venture should cost you less than $10. Drill / screws...
Go to Lowes / Home Depot and carry a creative mind when you enter the hardware section. I surely could fan up something to make it firm for years to come.
You have a older car that maybe exposed to lots of salt during the winter, so don't expect much if any for a recall.
Your shopping venture should cost you less than $10. Drill / screws...
#8
Oh that's a nice rusted out one.
Cheapest method I've seen ppl do that actually works, if you or a friend can weld, is using a thick piece of angle iron. Presuming of course that the other areas aren't as bad as the middle. Search around and you'll find pics and description.
Cheapest method I've seen ppl do that actually works, if you or a friend can weld, is using a thick piece of angle iron. Presuming of course that the other areas aren't as bad as the middle. Search around and you'll find pics and description.
#13
think the cheapest route would be to buy just the lower part from the dealer or find one at a salvage yard. Mine is rusted but not that bad sheesh so im shopping around for different options before it eventually gets worse.
#14
Here's an idea
if you get a thick L shape piece of metal you could screw the front bracket screw into it then screw the bottom two bolts into it the front screw should hold it together somehow
it should all hold together fine
if you get a thick L shape piece of metal you could screw the front bracket screw into it then screw the bottom two bolts into it the front screw should hold it together somehow
it should all hold together fine
Last edited by maximatech12; 01-03-2017 at 07:26 PM.
#15
I was replacing the transmission on my 02 a few weeks ago and once i took the bolt out of the lower rad support for the engine mount, the rad support BROKE IN TWO from rust. I welded a nice thick piece of metal and cut 2 holes in it for the bolts to go through and connect everything. These NEED to be recalled. If that happened on the road, it would have been a serious problem.
#16
Ah that sucks!
The metal is so lightweight you could get away with just popping a dozen rivets.
mine has been rusted all the way through for over six years! Never had any issues but replacing it in a week or two.
Mid my maxima core support held up this rusted for this long I doubt it even does much !
The metal is so lightweight you could get away with just popping a dozen rivets.
mine has been rusted all the way through for over six years! Never had any issues but replacing it in a week or two.
Mid my maxima core support held up this rusted for this long I doubt it even does much !
Last edited by maximatech12; 01-04-2017 at 04:31 PM.
#17
Ah that sucks!
The metal is so lightweight you could get away with just popping a dozen rivets.
mine has been rusted all the way through for over six years! Never had any issues but replacing it in a week or two.
Mid my maxima core support held up this rusted for this long I doubt it even does much !
The metal is so lightweight you could get away with just popping a dozen rivets.
mine has been rusted all the way through for over six years! Never had any issues but replacing it in a week or two.
Mid my maxima core support held up this rusted for this long I doubt it even does much !
#18
I had a small dispute with the dealer over another issue so I decided to just replace it myself.
they tried to say I needed a new ECM again. Found out that was inaccurate.
I don't go there anymore .
they tried to say I needed a new ECM again. Found out that was inaccurate.
I don't go there anymore .
Last edited by maximatech12; 07-27-2017 at 02:56 PM.
#19
why not just just get some angle steel and put some rivets in, like you were recommending?
#21
i think you're going to regret not going OEM on the replacement
#23
when you go to install it can you weigh both pieces just to see what the actual difference is? i don't think i've ever seen those numbers reported
#24
You can stait up drive that with it hanging no issues at all.... I've fixed it on my last maxima haven't done it yet on my current max for $40 I fixed mine I'll show you a pic if I can find one. Your radiators not going anywhere if so just zip tie it to secure the radiator more... the engine support arm coming from the rear mount does practically nothing at all, mine is hanging right now on my car probably more rot in that front radiator support and it's been fine the last 25k miles,I can still rip on the car no issues ever at all from this rot issue on like every maxima ever
#25
This was my previous max 2001 se a/t I gave up on her due to running issues...
Here's what I did:
Jack up the support arm back to desired position.
Measure from toe hook to toe hook.
Buy 1 inch square steel.
Cut to fit in between your toe hooks.
Buy 1/2 threaded rod a few inches longer than the 1 inch square steel bar.
Run the threaded rod through the square steel.
find nuts to fit the threaded rod, use larger washers or brackets.
Lower the engine support arm onto the bar...boom
The weight from the support arm is now on the bar not free floating if yours already broke. On this max I actually did this before it broke and I feel this is the only reason it didn't break on that car.
Here's what I did:
Jack up the support arm back to desired position.
Measure from toe hook to toe hook.
Buy 1 inch square steel.
Cut to fit in between your toe hooks.
Buy 1/2 threaded rod a few inches longer than the 1 inch square steel bar.
Run the threaded rod through the square steel.
find nuts to fit the threaded rod, use larger washers or brackets.
Lower the engine support arm onto the bar...boom
The weight from the support arm is now on the bar not free floating if yours already broke. On this max I actually did this before it broke and I feel this is the only reason it didn't break on that car.
Last edited by Maximakehd; 01-29-2017 at 02:39 PM.
#27
You can stait up drive that with it hanging no issues at all.... I've fixed it on my last maxima haven't done it yet on my current max for $40 I fixed mine I'll show you a pic if I can find one. Your radiators not going anywhere if so just zip tie it to secure the radiator more... the engine support arm coming from the rear mount does practically nothing at all, mine is hanging right now on my car probably more rot in that front radiator support and it's been fine the last 25k miles,I can still rip on the car no issues ever at all from this rot issue on like every maxima ever
The engine is hanging loose and bouncing around, it jumps with the torque of stepping on the gas. It is stressing the hell out of the other mounts and they will also fail.
Get that fixed asap.
#28
Flat tire and loose ball joint wouldn't be the best example because those are both serious safety concerns. Low tire creates excess stress/heat on the sidewalls of the tire creating a possible blowout condition. Loose Balljoint will either pull your car mostly likely from camber being out of spec and/or wear your tires unevenly, worse case scenario the balljoint may be so loose it break on an impact.
only possible safety issue with you rotted radiator support/deattatched engine support arm is the 0-2 inches less of ride height in front of your car now, not a big deal don't off-road...
the mounts will definitely have some sort of extra stress on them from the missing support, my guess their not doing much extra work at all if any.
my mounts are not in the best shape and I have no issues 26,792 miles later...
all im saying is you don't need to look at a maxima as a total loss just because of the radiator support being rotted, they do just fine.
only possible safety issue with you rotted radiator support/deattatched engine support arm is the 0-2 inches less of ride height in front of your car now, not a big deal don't off-road...
the mounts will definitely have some sort of extra stress on them from the missing support, my guess their not doing much extra work at all if any.
my mounts are not in the best shape and I have no issues 26,792 miles later...
all im saying is you don't need to look at a maxima as a total loss just because of the radiator support being rotted, they do just fine.
Last edited by Maximakehd; 02-01-2017 at 10:28 AM.
#30
the oem nissan support is only $140 or $150 if i remember correctly. It is a pain to replace due to the millions of spot welds but I have done it on both of my maximas and its not that hard... just time consuming.
#32
This was my previous max 2001 se a/t I gave up on her due to running issues...
Here's what I did:
Jack up the support arm back to desired position.
Measure from toe hook to toe hook.
Buy 1 inch square steel.
Cut to fit in between your toe hooks.
Buy 1/2 threaded rod a few inches longer than the 1 inch square steel bar.
Run the threaded rod through the square steel.
find nuts to fit the threaded rod, use larger washers or brackets.
Lower the engine support arm onto the bar...boom
The weight from the support arm is now on the bar not free floating if yours already broke. On this max I actually did this before it broke and I feel this is the only reason it didn't break on that car.
Here's what I did:
Jack up the support arm back to desired position.
Measure from toe hook to toe hook.
Buy 1 inch square steel.
Cut to fit in between your toe hooks.
Buy 1/2 threaded rod a few inches longer than the 1 inch square steel bar.
Run the threaded rod through the square steel.
find nuts to fit the threaded rod, use larger washers or brackets.
Lower the engine support arm onto the bar...boom
The weight from the support arm is now on the bar not free floating if yours already broke. On this max I actually did this before it broke and I feel this is the only reason it didn't break on that car.
#33
I went to Lowes and got a 6'x1" boxed steel tube, and a 6'x5/8" threaded rod, some washers, and some nylock nuts. Had to jack the support way up, and bend the tube and rod ever so slightly, but put it all together in less than an hour including cutting everything by hand. The car is definitely firmer and no more hesitation in shifting the auto-trans. We'll see how long it holds up, but for less than $50, if it lasts a year, it's worth it. This car has 231,000 miles on it and this may now be the most structurally sound part....
#35
I will check. I can almost guarantee that it is worn excessively just by the history of the car and the fact that the front mount has been broken for so long.
#36
The hood striker panel welded to the upper support also attaches to the lower. You could have some bad hood vibrations too!
Off topic :
If you ever decide to replace the support I wouldnt expect the cheaper part to line up perfectly! It looks really nice online then also when you recieve it. When you go to line it up it's probably going to be a lousy fit.
Off topic :
If you ever decide to replace the support I wouldnt expect the cheaper part to line up perfectly! It looks really nice online then also when you recieve it. When you go to line it up it's probably going to be a lousy fit.
#37
Hood vibration is terrible and really takes a slam to get it to latch in place. I plan on adding something to anchor the upright where the latch is so that it cuts down on the vibration. I don't ever see myself replacing the radiator support properly. This car was neglected and driven into the dirt, literally, where it was left for two years. I didn't realize how bad it was before I bought it - from a friend... I definitely had some buyer's remorse, but I am slowly shoring up some of the major flaws and making it more solid. I am ALMOST tempted to replace the struts now. I have done the flexpipe, crank pulley, crank seal, belts, rear rotors and pads, front pads, and changed the oil a few times.
The thing about it is that it runs like a top. Engine purrs like a kitten. If I replaced the struts, it would basically be a "really nice beater". Hahaha. That's about the highest status it can get to without a lot of work, time, and money.
The thing about it is that it runs like a top. Engine purrs like a kitten. If I replaced the struts, it would basically be a "really nice beater". Hahaha. That's about the highest status it can get to without a lot of work, time, and money.
#38
Don't go to homedepot, lowes, menards for steel bar. Go to a metal depot store in your town. You have limitless of choices for steel, galvanized, aluminum, sizes, thickness, shapes, bolts. Keep in mind anti rust resistance depends on your selected material. Steel is heavy, aluminum is lighter. You may choose galvanized, zinc-coated, and other per cost, labor, budget constraint for rust resistance. Measure your current lower rad support for detail size and dimension and imagine how you are going to fix it. Drill couple holes to see how thin the oem Nissan put in, 'very thin'. Think engine crossbar support is bolted to that thin stuff. You'll laugh. If you put on heavy metal, it will affect (take away) the steering/feel of the max. Buy stainless steel/zinc/galvanized threaded rod and/or bolts, and drill bits to complete your job.
You can browse here for types but I suggest you visit a local store to see real material.
https://www.discountsteel.com/items/...ize_no=21#skus
This patching approach saves you body work. Rusted bolts will give you headache if you don't possess proper tools. People who works on engine will never face rusted bolts!
You can browse here for types but I suggest you visit a local store to see real material.
https://www.discountsteel.com/items/...ize_no=21#skus
This patching approach saves you body work. Rusted bolts will give you headache if you don't possess proper tools. People who works on engine will never face rusted bolts!
#39
I think I qualify for "Maxima of the Month" now!