I busted my radiator in a front end collision and had to replace it along with a few other parts. I ordered a new radiator from rockauto.com because I had great past success with this company. When selecting my radiator I chose the more expensive replacement option "Quality - Standard".

Now, here's my issue..

There is a couple of screw studs on top of the radiator that come through holes in the upper radiator support. This allows the radiator to be secured at the top and more than likely vertically centers the radiator. My old radiator had these screw studs in the right spots, the new replacement radiator does not. As a result, I can grab the radiator by the filler neck and move it about 1 inch toward and away from the airbox. Everything else looks and fits fine though compared to the original one.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Should I risk it and let it stay as is, or should I just get ANOTHER radiator?

The "upper radiator support" on my jeep is also a *new* piece, but from a '89. My jeep is a 96' and when I put the two next to each other there wasn't much of a difference in the holes, but it's worth noting it had been changed.

Or I can drill new holes in my upper support and hope for the best with this replacement radiator.

 

i would drill the holes to the proper places to line your screws up. its not going to hurt it or anything but your radiator flopping around while you drive will hurt your radiator

 

Measure the studs to the holes in your radiator support and cut the the ones you do not need,I would not leave it the way it is.

 

I'm wondering now how *quality* this radiator I bought actually is..

I'm reading a lot about replacement radiators going out quickly, so can anyone recommend me a good replacement one that will fit in correctly with a long life?

Can I rule out the upper radiator support as being a possible problem here since it looks nearly identical? The only holes used by these screw studs are the two holes near the filler neck, correct? I can't remember if the passenger side has any holes. It's been a while since i tore it all apart the first time.

 

The person in this thread is having the same issue with the studs on top not lining up. They were told they had to move the upper rubber mounts. Is that these things?

 

Radiator fits fine with the rubber isolator things from that thread above. I found them today at the junkyard.

This issue is resolved, finally. lol.

 

There is a rubber radiator mount that goes on the top. Did you put these two on before you installed it? If you did, you should not be able to move it all and there should be one stud coming up on both sides

 

yeah this was my issue, no rubber top mounts. Once I found out that I needed them I was all set.