Lawn Dart

iTrader: (4)

During a recent examination of my car, I noticed a smashed underbrace. I know that it was caused by the track at an automatic car wash. I was especially concerned because it was chaffing the fuel tank. I went to Sheridan Nissan and was suprised to find that they had it in stock. The part was bout $130.

BTW, the manual calls it a "Tunnel Stay."

This was an easy fix. First, I jacked up the rear of the car and placed it on jackstands. Then, I removed the two air diffusers which had one 10mm bolt and two 10mm nuts in each. Next I removed the 12mm bolts on each end of the brace. Surprisedly, there were little tabs that hold the brace while you take out the 14mm bolts by the driveshaft tunnel. Torque on the 12mm bolts was 20 ft-lbs and the 14mm bolts was 35 ft-lbs.


Fortunately, There was no damage to the fuel tank. I was suprised at how little this brace weighs. Also, it looks like the new brace might be a little wider. I took a lot more pictures, but a lot of them didn't come out the way I wanted them to.

Eazzy

iTrader: (8)

It does look wider, this is a common smash up item.

tmak26b

Is this the brace that the Z has and the G doesn't?

gt3

iTrader: (10)

Did you notice any problems prior to changing the brace?

Lawn Dart

iTrader: (4)

Tell me about it, this is the second one I've put on. :P I'm guessing that it smashes so easily because it is made of a lightweight material. I was truly shocked at how light it was.
I'm not so sure about this brace, but the G doesn't have the heavy steel cross-bar that we have right behind the front engine cradle.
No, I only noticed it when I had the car up on jack stands to adjust the parking brake.

jondimellow

iTrader: (3)

is there any function for this brace. it seems very thin to offer rigidity.

Eazzy

iTrader: (8)

The fact it is really the lowest part of the car is the reason it catchs hell and also, if you hit a bump/obstruction with the front, the car has yet to fully rebound before said bump/obstruction reachs that point.

Structural integrety is not based on weight but on design, and the job it is designed to do, it does very well. Unfortunatly, it is designed to stiffen the ridgidity of the cross section, not a frontal attack.

Eazzy

iTrader: (8)

There again, the sandwich AND W/M design is what gives it it's srength.

There ARE aftermarkets that are even better at doing that job, But u WILL Pay for them.

Lawn Dart

iTrader: (4)

It's purpose is to strengthen the propeller shaft tunnel.

Lawn Dart

iTrader: (4)

I saw a G35 on a lift yesterday, and it did in fact have this brace.

tmak26b

Ok, the Z has the front brace and the G doesn't. The rear brace they both have.