Anyone replaced a leaking radiator yet? 2011 leaking coolant from the bottom corner of the radiator .. Looking for pointers before I tackle the task.
Thanks!
TFB

 

I replaced my radiator back in December, same issue had a leak on the bottom drivers side. Anyways, replacement was straightforward. You will need to remove the grill, the rad support, displace all the oil coolers and A/C condenser . Remove the lower radiator fan shroud also. I removed the radiator with the top shroud on and installed the new one with the shroud on as well. The hardest issue I had was installing the shroud, there is absolutely no room.. good luck.

 

Well, I did this by myself last night. A helper would have been nice for reinstalling.
My thoughts.... Remove the trans cooler lines and tie the cooler AND AC condenser together with some zip ties or wire so that they stay in place. The most aggravating part of the removal was all of the "fir tree" wire holding clips that were an absolute pain in my ****. Also, while you have the radiator out, I would replace the 2 O-rings in the upper and lower radiator hose connections. I wasted a full gallon of antifreeze with a leaky bottom O-ring.

 

Yep, same thing happenex to me. Filled it up and top hose started leaking.

 

getting ready to do this myself. Looking at it, is it possiable to leave the shroud together and in the truck? looks like 4 screws holding it onto the radiator

 

I left the shroud together and in the truck. The most difficult part of the job for me was getting all the friction push pins (fir tree) out of the holes in the radiator and surrounding deflectors. Not a bad job though.

 

thanks
yup those things aare a pita.

no special tools? trans line fittings come off easily enough?

 

No specialty tools... 8mm, 10mm should be about all you need. Trans lines are just hose clamped on. You'll need some wire or zip ties to keep the AC condenser and trans cooler raised up in front of the radiator once you remove their screws. That should make sense once you get there.

 

excelllent!

thanks for the info

 

Question - when you did it, were the hoses your typical "clamps" or was there a special type connect on them. I'm getting ready to do the change, and was scoping it out and saw the hoses were connected in a way that I have never seen. (new truck to me).

 

There is a wire keeper that holds the hose onto the radiator nipple Once you remove the wire clip, the hose is secured with a large o-ring to keep it from leaking. Most likely, you will need both new o-ring as your old ones are probably shrunk and hardened

 

Awesome, Thanks - stay by the computer once I dig into this thing I'm sure I'll come up with some more questions... I'm going to try your way and leave the shroud in.

 

2 people should be very easy .. I did it alone... So, you can do it solo, but it sucks .. LOL