So I got into a wreck and the airbags didn't deploy. Fixing it myself, and I'm on to replacing the radiator support. My stock one is metal. Bent but metal none the less. I ordered a new one and it's all plastic. Something is telling me not to install it but I cannot find any info on this issue. All of the replacements I've found are plastic though. Anyone got any insight on what they would do? The plastic one seems like it would break very easily.

 

If you're sure it's the correct part for your car, I would not be too concerned with installing it. Whether it bends (metal) or breaks (plastic) in the future from a collision, it's still going to need to be replaced. The amount of damage sustained by other components probably won't differ much between a radiator core support that bends or breaks.

If you're adamant that you want a metal replacement though, you might try salvage years for a car that was wrecked in the rear. You might even be able to find one in the correct color and it might come with some other goodies still attached to it.

-Rod

 

I was just worried about all the bolts and screws that go into the radiator support. All the holes are threaded. They are threaded on the plastic one too but ive had bad luck with screwing bolts and screws into plastic threads. It just seams cheap and not reliable.

 

If you torque them properly I would expect you'll be fine.

-Rod