It is a Damper. Here is the original part # 60122CE510 and here is the alternate part # 60122CE51A

 

Where did you get this info?

 

I dunno, that part number looks like the Nismo's style dampner on/around the front bumper support.

 

If you Google "Nissan 60122 Damper" you'll see that there are a number of variations (that's what the last 5 digits are for) on that part. I can't find a picture of that number on anything related to a 350z though.

 

Yea, it keeps showing up for Altima, Sentra and 200SX

 

You don't think I have friends at my local Parts Counter?

It's a damper that supposedly weighs a little over 24lbs. Call your local dealer and give them the part numbers I gave you and see what they tell you.

 

Its part #60122U (bottom right corner) in this picture on the courtesy parts diagrams. I just saved you a phone call to the dealer



http://www.courtesyparts.com/350z-pa...5_824_845.html

 

Alright then, one thing is for sure - Kwame is awesome

Now the question is: What the heck does it dampen?!

 

You are the man!... I even searched there and didn't find it.

 

vibrations

 

 

No problem guys I'm happy to help.

 

All structures have natural resonant vibration frequencies, which are the result of the various loads, material strength, distances between connection points, etc. Sometimes these resonant frequencies cause objectionable noise in a structure.

Adding mass dampers is an easy way to eliminate objectionable resonant vibration. There's one on the trunk lid of my Accord. At least Nissan had the decency to put twenty+ pounds at the bottom of the car. They probably added some welds or changed the thickness of material in later models to eliminate the need for the damper.

 

yeah, winchman is right, just about everything has a frequency that it will naturally resonate at, & when multiple parts become an assembly this can change the natural frequency that it resonates at too, as a structure. the metal itself may not resonate at a particular freq on it's own but as a structure it will change. the frame rails are hollow tubes & can transmit noises through the unibody to the cabin pretty easily. adding a dampener usually lowers the frequency to below the trouble frequency & eliminates the resonation at that particular frequency, eliminating the vibration. vibration is how sound is created. adding this dampener is done for the same reason as you dynamating a car, the 2 ways to eliminate noises are to either block them or dampen the offensive vibration to below the frequency causing the problem.

it is possible that nissan has corrected this particular issue in later models but it is also possible that for cost effectiveness they may just consider this an adequate solution too, there are a lot of places on a lot of cars that will just use a dampener rather than re-engineering the offensive part or structure. bottom line is just leave it there or remove it & see if you can detect any difference... it may be anything from a vibration at idle to a particular pinging sound that occurs when you hit a certain bump to maybe a slight vibration detected at a particular speed... it is also very possible that you may notice nothing at all, nissan is known to fix problems with blanket solutions, meaning if they happen to detect a certain issue on just some cars they will apply the "fix" to all cars just to blanket the situation, it's possible you won't notice any issue at all with it removed too, although it is def put there for a reason. personally unless your a real weight weeny I'd say just leave it alone. it's there because an engineer came up with it as a solution to a problem you didn't even know you had

 

Weight weenies usually don't purchase roadsters. Lord knows what is going on with that car as far as vibrations are concerned when the top is down.