Well, I went to refresh the suspension on my wife's 2009 / 125k.
got the front struts all set, moved to the rear to do the shocks and to swap in a stillen rear sway bar and new links.
Couldn't get the links out of the control arms... Just spinning, and tough to get vice grips in there.
I was pondering whether I could sneak an angle grinder or sawzall with a hacksaw blade when I looked up, and noticed this and got to poking it with the screwdriver.
Yay new england weather plus Nissan steel...
I'm thinking maybe driving 30 miles a day isn't the best idea right now.

A southern car subframe from eBay is like 300 bucks, not too bad.

Has anyone swapped one before? Any major gotchas? Am I looking at a weekend of hell and will the subframe bolts even come off the unibody?

The car has already gotten an alternator, battery, brakes, starter, tires, and now suspension in the last 2 years, and I'm also wondering whether I'm chasing good money with bad and the transmission or engine are going to self destruct right after I get this done...


Rusted right subframe, 2009 Maxima

 

If it is just the sub-frame, then I would say go for it as long as the body of the car is fine.

The bolts are heavy duty, so you'll just need a proper breaker bar. Not a cheap one that flexes. I have one rated at 400 ft-lbs. I think I paid $35 for it. Give them a good soaking with PB Blaster, let sit for a bit, then let the games begin. Once you break torque with the breaker bar, then use the impact gun to zip them off.

Also, get new impact sockets for the specific bolts on the sub-frame if yours have seem some proper use. You want them fitting real nice and tight!

 

Wow! Worst case I've ever seen! Time to park it!

 

Wow, that's the worse I've seen on a Maxima. My 2010 has 175k miles and nowhere near that amount of rust. But, I love my car and if yours is in otherwise decent mechanical shape I wouldn't hesitate replacing the subframe, especially if you can do the work yourself. I say go for it.

 

Did you ever get the stillen sway bar on? What issue were you having and what was the fix? Im about to purchase one to top off the suspension