While replacing the transmission on the car, I noticed a ton of rust where the center member attaches to the lower tie bar underneath the radiator. Upon further inspection I found that there were huge holes and it looks like it could break any second! Does anyone know which aftermarket Radiator Core Supports are good (strong, heavy steel) - I don't want to replace it with sheet metal.

Thanks,
- Matt

 

owned by not reading....

 

There is no aftermarket sheet metal part available for that.
You will need to order a lower radiator support from Nissan and have a body shop replace it.

 

This was on my parts car...is yours similar?

 

i once didn't drive my car for a whole winter and like an idiot i decided to store it outside and the same part rusted soo bad. A body shop cut out the rust and welded an "L" shaped plate on it and rebolted the cross member on it. It looks great and does what it's gotta do. I would have changed it, but it's just as good. It's all up to u

 

Yeah, thats pretty much what it looks like. The car has 260K miles on it and has been driven through every winter, guess thats what the salt does. I don't want to drive the car again until its fixed.

 

why a body shop? is that not something you can replace in your garage? or does something need to be welded?

 

I did a little research on this a few months ago too.

I have a rust hole right in the center of the lower tie bar. #5 in the pic. runs about $122 for the part. Or $265 for the whole radiator support assembly.

Not sure what kind of labor would be needed.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...=1&catalogid=2

I think I might just have a body shop cut out the rust and weld a plate to it this summer instead.

 

I just bought a cheap one off ebay, I'll hit it with some anti-rust paint before I put it on.