Lower Radiator Support Replacement Questions...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 21,143
Likes: 41
Lower Radiator Support Replacement Questions...
Working on a 2002 ZO6. I hit a very large armadillo while having a "spirited drive". It hit the lower support and bent it back around a foot. Then it got sucked up in front of the bent radiator and stuck for a while. About 10 miles later the car coughed it up and I ran over it the rest of the way. The support is totally destroyed, as are the radiator and A/C heat exchanger. I think I have all the replacement parts to go into this as a repair...I have a very limited area to lift the car on, about 6 feet wide in front of my garage. I have jacking pucks or am considering some Race Ramps to get the front end up to work on it.
1. Does anybody know if ramps or using jacks gets the car high enough to work on the lower support? Given the damage, I expect to get the car lifted, pull the radiator and A/C out the top and then replace the support before putting the new ones in. The support has nutserts installed already.
2. Are there any other pesky issues I should know about before trying to do this?
Not sure on the timeframe yet, probably a month or so from now to have enough space cleared to work on it all.
1. Does anybody know if ramps or using jacks gets the car high enough to work on the lower support? Given the damage, I expect to get the car lifted, pull the radiator and A/C out the top and then replace the support before putting the new ones in. The support has nutserts installed already.
2. Are there any other pesky issues I should know about before trying to do this?
Not sure on the timeframe yet, probably a month or so from now to have enough space cleared to work on it all.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 233
Likes: 41
From: Clarksville Tennessee
You should be able to get the lower support out the bottom on jack stands or ramps. I replaced my radiator not long ago. Pretty straight foward. I did not take my support out, but it looked like few bolts to get it down. Good luck. Ask any specific questions if needed
Racer
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 352
Likes: 255
From: McKinney, Texas
What everyone else said. Never use hydraulics to hold up a vehicle. I am guessing you caught it and were able to raise the car back up again? Like many, I found out the hard way that when lowering below the first locking point, the jacks have a hard time lifting again until they are completely lowered flat.
I've had my QJ for 2 years and despite the shortcomings, I am quite satisfied. Believe it or not, I use them most often when detailing. Being able to work on the side of the car while sitting on my rolling stool really saves my "old man" back.
I've had my QJ for 2 years and despite the shortcomings, I am quite satisfied. Believe it or not, I use them most often when detailing. Being able to work on the side of the car while sitting on my rolling stool really saves my "old man" back.
Last edited by HobbesTiger; Dec 29, 2020 at 08:44 AM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 289
Likes: 64
From: Edinburgh, Scotland
This is perhaps just me but I recommend taking the front bumper off so as you’ve got full access to everything. It’ll make it easier to work on because otherwise you’ll be working from either the top or bottom and there are other bits to swap for example the air pump.
I took my radiator support off to straighten the lower left to right cross section because it was bent upwards in the middle. With my bumper off everything was better to access. Although taking the bumper off is a bit of work it’s not too tough. I think it will make life easier especially without a lift. This video is quite good for the bumper.
I took my radiator support off to straighten the lower left to right cross section because it was bent upwards in the middle. With my bumper off everything was better to access. Although taking the bumper off is a bit of work it’s not too tough. I think it will make life easier especially without a lift. This video is quite good for the bumper.
Last edited by silver50; Dec 29, 2020 at 12:16 PM.
