Should i replace the lower or entire support? Ill let you guys decide.

 

I would replace the whole support,because you already have a hole on the bottom part and It's spreading around on the other parts of the support. It's like cancer It start out small and It get's big and It spreads,It's better to catch It before your car gets pounded this winter and matters will only get worse.

 

I agree. That sux.

 

Change the whole thing. Its actually not that bad a job to do once the whole front end if off....which you appear to have completed already. The rust that you cant see (from the inside) is what you'd have to worry about. Just make sure that you paint the new one....or you'll have rust again in no time.

 

Its not going to see this winter nor another in my possession .


Ill make sure i do.

 

Why not?

 

Yeah mine is just as bad and the bad part is its a common problem.

 

Thats my turbo car. And i do have 2 other cars to drive so no need to drive it in the winter.

 

Ah I understand.

 

replace the whole thing....you will wish you did in the long run

 

you guys are amazing. My car is a 96 with 190k on the clock and I aint got a single rust sot on the car other that paint chips (previous owners have been idiots in parking lots and tailgating).

 

Replace the whole thing. I had my lower replaced last year. I have the feeling that these things rust from the inside out. Water and salt gets trapped in the hollow support and can't get out. Poor design by Nissan.

 

IMO I would replace the whole thing.

 

Yep, a well known problem with these cars.

Too bad you're in MI, Kz (though you appear to be well on your way to replacing the support yourself). Kevin Goodwin (in Middleboro, MA) does an awesome job replacing these supports, and charges a reasonable amount as well. Before Kevin did mine recently, I went to my local Nissan dealer's bodyshop where the manager (whom I know) had no clue what this job entailed and wouldn't even give me a cost estimate.

 

Yea i know Kev good guy. Ill get it done along with my turbo upgrade.

 

replace the whole thing best bet. If you woulda caught it eariler you coulda p14 that *****

 

whats p14?

Make sure you use some antirust primer on new one. i would use at a few coats while your at it

 

wtf is p14?

 

Hey guys. I have the same exact problem. I was driving and bottomed out pretty bad on the highway. When I got to where I was going I checked the underbody and my lower support is all rusted out, and the crossmember in the front is hanging down. How do you replace the whole thing?

 

You car hates you lol. I see you finally got the sawp figured out. Well to replace the whole thing is pretty straight forward. A little harder to do with the motor in the car since you have to support it to undo the crossmember. Then its a matter of drilling out the spot welds.

 

mine rusted right thru like the other guy a couple posts above me im not to mechanical but i do all my own work the the help of the orgers of course i was wondering how hard is it to do and if someone can post in details what to do ive been researching for a while and i havnt got anywere im in the mass area if any one can help that would be awsome the car still drives like a dream to

 

Check my thread. When I got it out, I wrote a little bit of a write up on it. mainly just how many welds there are to get out. but other members linked other pages in there helping me out a TON. It should do ya tho.

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...e-support.html

 

Pay attention - Kevin Goodwin in Middleboro, MA has been recommended a number of times here to do this job for a reasonable price.

(he did mine about 6 months ago)

 

Well some of us arent close to ma so thats out.

 

yeah anyone know anywhere close to cinci ohio?

 

Yeah my car does hate me haha if its not one thing its another. itll be sitting out this winter with that lower radiator support out. As well as the 10 codes pulled from my ecu. Runs like a champ some days and others its crap. The air fuel doesn't know whats its doing and it being a 99 body 96 ecu and harness and 2002 motor its probablly all confused haha, as am i.

 

Im not that far from ya. If ya want you can come up and help me and i can cme down and help you lol.

 

haha sure why not lemme just fix the big hole in the front of my car first and ill be right there haha

 

my friend had the same problem he replaced it with a new one and drilled some holes along the bottom so it could drain properly when it rains also snow and salt will eat that sob alive very easy fix just support the motor with a jack

 

Well ill be dong this with the motor out so no need to support it in my case.

 

You don't really need to support the engine to remove that crossmember. The crossmember is only there to hold the torque mounts for the motor. The transmission is supported by separate mounts and there's one on the front of the engine. Just don't start it or try to go anywhere without the crossmember in place......