Go back to previous topic
Forum nameInterior/Exterior
Topic subjecthow do i fix a bent rad support?
Topic URLhttps://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=i7&topic_id=35652
35652, how do i fix a bent rad support?
Posted by Amish_Eclipse, Dec-01-02 01:56 PM
it's just the top bar as far as i can tell. how do i go about pulling it out? the rest of the work i would need would be bolting parts on and paint. so this is the only hard part. what do i need to do?
35653, RE: how do i fix a bent rad support?
Posted by Amish_Eclipse, Dec-03-02 10:53 AM
ok back to the top ye goes. maybe i can get at least a view this time
35654, RE: how do i fix a bent rad support?
Posted by chrysler kid, Dec-03-02 12:29 PM
thers no easy way to do it. we have a frame staitening machine at our high school and its just a hook that gets pulled out by heavy duty electric motors. My guess would be to hook up a chain to where you want to un bend, then have either another car pull on it, or wrap it around a pole and put it in reverse. other wise shell out some cash to get it professionally done

35655, RE: how do i fix a bent rad support?
Posted by Amish_Eclipse, Dec-03-02 12:56 PM
i don't need the frame straightened. the metal support stuff in front where the radiator headlights and front fascia all bolt in. the top bar is bent in. i need to pull it out. is there any special procedure to do this?

35656, RE: how do i fix a bent rad support?
Posted by chrysler kid, Dec-03-02 01:46 PM
if you can think of a way to bend some thick metal, i'm pretty sure its my way or the highway. you might want to take off your bumper and check to see if anything else is bent, but thats the extent of my knowledge. I could get it fixed for free cause they do it at my highschool
35657, RE: how do i fix a bent rad support?
Posted by Jeff_99gs, Dec-05-02 05:41 AM
How and where exactly is it bent? Pulling it out I guess would be the best bet unless it is beyond repair. That is some pretty thick metal though, which would make it hard to do without heavy machinery.

If it is bent really bad, you may need to replace the whole upper support. You would have to cut the spot welds that hold it in place and weld a new piece on. I will be doing that with my Talon soon.
35658, RE: how do i fix a bent rad support?
Posted by Amish_Eclipse, Dec-05-02 10:03 AM
the top bar is bent in as far as i can tell. it's smashed the radiator up to the the thermostat about. it's not smashed to nasty. i was thinking of getting a heavy hammer and whacking back in to place.
35659, RE: how do i fix a bent rad support?
Posted by chrysler kid, Dec-05-02 10:16 AM
yes a hammer will work, i forgot about that, if it is a small bend. you wont be able to make it perfect tho, but it should be good enough
35660, RE: how do i fix a bent rad support?
Posted by Amish_Eclipse, Dec-05-02 12:06 PM
it honestly doesn't look bent perse'. it just looks pushed in. doens't look very bad at in my opinion. so i'm gonna take the hammer to it and the bubble in my driver's side floor and see if i can iron out some wrinkles.
35661, RE: how do i fix a bent rad support?
Posted by chrysler kid, Dec-05-02 01:19 PM
it sounds good, at shop we use a flat piece of metal to place on the other side of the dent your hammering to conform the bent metal your hitting. Think of it this way, its like an ironing board for a wrinkled shirt, the flatness or the board is what makes the shirt flat (hope the analogy helped) :)

35662, RE: how do i fix a bent rad support?
Posted by UNSpooled95GS, Dec-05-02 02:18 PM
i work at a body shop, and i can tell you this much.if you wrinkled the unibody of your car as far back as the driver side floor, you have MAJOR structural damage.Have it checked out by a reputable body shop.
35663, RE: how do i fix a bent rad support?
Posted by Chamuko, Dec-05-02 02:40 PM
well you could go to somewhere like harbor freight tools and buy a hydrolic push / pull kit for like 60 , it coems with a lot off acc, and adapters for pulling and pushing cuting sand such.
35664, RE: how do i fix a bent rad support?
Posted by Amish_Eclipse, Dec-21-02 01:29 PM
havent' worked on this yet. but i didn't wrinkle the unibody that was there before i bought it.