hello all, the area around the radiator support that holds the bolts for the cross member has totally rusted out. the cross member is now hanging loose. I went to home depot and bought a couple of 2 inch by 3 ft steel plates and attached it to the support with U clamps now supporting the cross member. I know this is a temporary fix, my question is would a weld shop be able to cut out this rusted section and weld a new piece on? the rest of the support is intact and with no visible rust. I don't have the cash to buy the full support

Also is it safe for me to drive the car now that the cross member is being supported by the steel plates?

 

So common on these cars.. On my old Max I had a shop weld a piece of angle iron in place for a short term fix and it worked fine. For the one I drive now I replaced the whole thing and it probably saved me some money. The part was about $250 from Nissan.. I think they called it a 'lower tie bar?'

 

The motor mounts are going to prevent the engine from going anywhere...it can't just "fall off." However, the crossmember is bolted to the lower radiator support for a reason. Without it, there's most likely more stress on other parts of the car.

Any decent shop should be able to fab a steel plate for you and weld it in. If you don't plan on keeping the car very long, you could go this route. If you do plan on keeping the car, save your money, buy the OEM lower radiator support, replace and be done with it.

 

If they called it a "lower tie bar" I'd be questioning the person for having called it that, seeing as a lower tie bar is an aftermarket component for our cars.
It is literally a radiator core support (lower): http://www.courtesyparts.com/62530m-...-p-126547.html

 

yes you can have a fab shop fab up a new custom lower support. i did this myself. it is MUCH more substantial than the thin stamped steel radiator support. that thing would take 25 years to rust away again now.

 

yea, mine is starting to go probably gonna do it myself and reinforce it

 

ive needed one all year, please save your money and get the oem one. from what ive read on the forum the aftermarket one will rust again very soon and is made with cheaper and thinner steal. you could undercoat it of coarse but this is the maxima we're talking about. spend a few extra dollars, get the oem one and undercoat it. also, if you have a 5 speed, be extra careful cause there is alot of engine movement without that support.

 

Give DaveB call. Or search around, I'm almost sure I saw one lingering around here.

 

I did my lower support repair not to long ago.cost me maby $60 in parts from Lowes.

 

thank you all for the responses so far, lots of good suggestions. I definitely plan to hold on to this car for atleast a couple of more years. I'm more inclined to having a shop weld on a piece of steel, as labor on removing old support and installing new support might add up.

cjandura, your work looks good, what was involved, what did you buy from lowes?

 

3- 1/4"x3"x36 flat steel stock
2- Grade 8.8 14mm Stainless Steel tall Nuts and Washers
1- Can expanding Foam
2- Cans 3m Undercoating(pep boys)
1- Can Eastwood Anti Rust(Eastwood.com)
1- 1lb pack of E7014 3/32" welding rods(just incase)
I totally boxed the lower section and welded in 'H' supports internally.this will outlast the car and its not going to rust and its solid!

 

thanks, i'm going shopping tomorrow

 

Just ordered my lower radiator support from courtesyparts for 166 shipped. Plan on doing this next weekend if it comes in time.

 

if its an aftermarket support, its gonna rust out again faster than you can put it on.

 

I thought courtesy parts was OEM?

 

Haha just checked, it is.

 

oh word yeah they are. i miss read.