97SE, 149k.

I noticed a bunch of rust last week while lowering the engine support member. It's all bubbled out in the beam that goes across the front of the car, supports the radiator and the front end of the engine support. The rust appears to have 'sprouted' from the holes that the front engine support bolts into.

My question is, does this beam bolt in/out or would I need to take it to a body shop and have the replacement welded in and painted?

Dave

 

I noticed the same on my 96. From what I could see, its a part of the frame but I'm not too clear on this.

Bump for better answers

 

It's called th radiator support & quite commonly rusts out in snowbelt-area cars. Do a search on here, there are lots of info on how it can be fixed. You can actually buy a new support.

 

if its only surface rust at the moment...grind it down....and spray it with a rust inhibiting paint like rustoleum

 

Well it looks like mine is rusting through. I found a couple of good threads:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....r+support+rust

I'll watch it until it starts to fall apart, then buy a new OEM support and get it welded in properly.

I have to laugh at the people who tried all kinds of ghetto welding and saw it break apart again. Just because you can make a bead of weld that attaches two pieces of metal doens't mean that the job is worth a crap. That's why there are welders and weld engineers.

Dave