2006 MCS

I am trying to replace the plastic core support that everything on the front end mounts to. I hit a large cat a while back and busted up my aero bumper and cracked the core support.

So using the instructions found here to remove the radiator, I've taken off the plastic bumper, the aluminum bumper, drained the radiator, removed the radiator and fan.

Then I found that the core support looks impossible to remove, as some of it is behind the 4 frame ends that jut out from the front, the bottoms being tubular (and look to be removeable, maybe I have to take them off?) and the tops being boxed/bend sheet metal. The threaded bolts that stick out from these frame pieces fit through holes on the core support. I had to finish breaking the old core support just to get it out of there. Now I don't see a way to get the new one on!

I saw a picture on NAM of someones core support off the car and now I can't find that thread.

SOS!!

 

Take the subframe ends off. It's just two bolts on each side going up from the bottom with 16mm heads. I think maybe one more bolt on each side near the lights, 10mm head.

I'm going off the top of my head right now so I could be wrong. Hope this helps!

 

When I looked earlier it's just two bolts on each one feeding from the bottom, and then nuts are on the top. I'll give it a try, thanks for confirming my suspicion! I'll post an update.

 

That sounds about right, but it has been a while since I last took mine off.

 

That was the trick. I got the core support back on loose until I can get the sub frame extensions on good and tight. The one I've put one moves left/right so I'm not sure what that's about yet. I'll reload the antifreeze and make sure there are no leaks before I put everything else back on. I still haven't found the 2nd bleeder valve. I only see the one on the top hose. Hmmmm...

Thanks miniRover38!

 

No problem.

You should be able to see the second bleeder valve with a flashlight when you look straight down behind the oil fill cap, about 3-4 inches back from the thermostat on the driver's side of the cylinder head. It's pretty easy to get to with a long philips screwdriver.

 

The second bleeder is actually to the front of the thermostat housing, and it's an 8mm bolt head...



...that pipe(#1) actually runs under the t-stat housing.

 

I appreciate it.... I'm really no mechanic so I don't know how to identify everything under the hood. I'll compare this pic to what's under there and find it. The car is staying at normal temps and I don't hear any gurgling so I may be in pretty good shape as far as replacing the coolant after installing a new core support. Thanks all.

 

Oh right, I was thinking of the R50 bleeder.