165donaldw

I am installing a radiator support from Rock Auto. I have done some searching on here and haven't come up with much info on how to replace it. It looks fairly simple but I was just wondering if there is anything I should pay special attention to or any common issues when replacing it.

AEKnight

My mechanic did mine. He said it was a b!tch cuz of all the spot welds that had to be drilled out.

mclasser

Seems like a PITA job to me. My support is partially rusted out so I'm not looking forward to shelling out the dough to have it fixed in the upcoming future.

ateick

iTrader: (1)

Not sure if you have gone through all the discussions about replacing this support but aftermarket replacements have been prone to problems. I believe the thickness and build quality is lacking and OEM is the way to go. It all depends on your budget and long term plans for the car though.

165donaldw

It cost 57 compared to 356 for the oem one. I don't have the funds for that seeing I just put a alternator, a/c compressor, both serp belts, idler pulley and coils in it. Plus now today I need an O2 sensor. This thing is going to be the death of me.

Slamrod

iTrader: (11)

If you use an aftermarket one, it will break, and you will have to replace it.

Also i think lower rad supports go for ~150$$ directly from nissan, i know 4th gens do at least and if im not mistaken the 2000-2001s use the same piece. Are you sure you were getting the price for just the lower section and not the entire rad support frame?

Regardless of price, get oem. Otherwise youll go through the living hell it is to drill out all those spot welds, or pay upwards of half a grand to have it replaced, only to have it break in less than a year. Sometimes its ok to cut corners here and there but this is not one of those places.

jrod23

I agree use OEM only. I purchased a knock off support and she's rusting again. Don't waste your cash on inferior quality parts for this fix. Good luck!

165donaldw

I'm going to just deal with what I have. I am going to put it in this weekend so I will see how it goes.

Slamrod

iTrader: (11)

It will break, and youll have to do it again. You do NOT want to do this job twice, take my word, it sucks. It will last a little while, yes, but there are countless threads with people who did exactly what youre about to do and saying how much they regret not listening. Learn from others mistakes or be doomed to repeat them. Just trying to steer you in the right direction here.

Cut your loss and buy the correct part. You are literally garanteed to have to buy it anyways when the crap one you plan on installing breaks at the crossmember mating surface and potentially rips your motor mount, creating yet another problem to fix. Theres a reason the aftermarket junk part is so cheap.

Obviously your call here, but dont say you wernt warned.

watkins-mechanic

So you say they break. Well were? I got a cheep one unfortunately because i dont have the funds. But i do have access to square stock and also sheet metal at work. So if i could get some input on were they break i will reinforce the one i bought to prolong its life. 😕

Slamrod

iTrader: (11)

Based on what ive seen posted on this forum, typically they break where the engine cradle beam bolts up. Id imagine if you reinforced the entire bottom of the support you might be ok. If you only reinforced around the area where it bolts up then it would probably just move the stress to the edges of the reinforced area and break there instead.

People have made their own rad supports and have had success. If its cheaper for you to do so or to modify the ebay version, rather than just buy the correct version to begin with, then give it a go. Id certainly recomend using the search bar and do some reading on the subject rather than go into this blindly.

watkins-mechanic

Thanks for the response.
And i have but my search bar doesn't seem to work. This post was the closest i could find to the problem and its not even a 4th gen post. All the other finds in the search results were unrelated.... But thanks anyway. I'll be reinforcing it this week.

Slamrod

iTrader: (11)

Did you search and then click "web & images" located on the grey bar?

watkins-mechanic

Lol i didnt click the use google too search tab. Once i did that a lot of lower radiator posts came up.

L_U_D_I_AMaxima

iTrader: (3)

OEM lower radiator support from Nissan is only about $150. I have done both my 5th gen so far and with all the other parts included, hood support, all new bolts and bushings, I have about $200 in all OEM parts. I would say its not a hard job, just time consuming.