Rear Cross Member Assembly

The Rear Cross Member Assembly, identified by Maserati Part Number 673009001, is a fundamental structural backbone of your Maserati Ghibli’s chassis, underpinning its dynamic performance, luxurious ride, and crucial safety features. Positioned at the very rear of the vehicle, it serves as a robust foundation for a complex array of components.

This meticulously engineered assembly plays a pivotal role in the vehicle’s handling characteristics by providing the primary and unyielding mounting points for the independent rear suspension system. This rigid platform ensures that the complex geometry of the suspension components can function precisely as designed, delivering optimal wheel control, exceptional cornering stability, and the refined ride comfort synonymous with a Maserati. Furthermore, it securely cradles the rear differential, effectively managing the immense torque forces and isolating vibrations from the powertrain, contributing to a quieter and smoother cabin environment. Beyond its direct support functions, the rear cross member significantly enhances the overall torsional rigidity of the Ghibli’s rear end. This added stiffness minimizes chassis flex, particularly during demanding driving conditions, translating into a more connected and responsive feel for the driver. In terms of safety, this assembly is a vital component of the vehicle’s rear crash structure. In the event of a rear-end collision, it is engineered to absorb and distribute impact forces away from the passenger compartment and critical components like the fuel tank, thereby protecting occupants and reducing the risk of catastrophic damage.

Given its structural importance and location, the rear cross member assembly can be susceptible to various forms of damage:

• Collision Damage: Rear-end impacts, even seemingly minor ones, can bend, deform, or crack the cross member, compromising its integrity and affecting suspension alignment, handling, and overall safety. This is the most common reason for its replacement.
• Severe Corrosion: Long-term exposure to road salt, moisture, and debris, especially in harsh climates, can lead to significant rust and corrosion, which can weaken the structural integrity of the cross member.
• Fatigue Cracks: Over an extended service life, continuous stress from road imperfections and suspension loads can, in rare cases, lead to fatigue cracks, though this is less common in modern high-strength designs.
• Mount Damage: While the cross member itself may be intact, the rubber bushings or mounts that isolate it from the main chassis can wear out, crack, or delaminate, leading to vibrations, clunks, or looseness.

Symptoms of a damaged rear cross member assembly often include noticeable changes in handling (e.g., vehicle feeling unstable, unusual tire wear), vibrations, clunking noises from the rear suspension, or visible deformation upon inspection after an impact. Replacement of this component is a complex and highly specialized procedure, requiring extensive disassembly of the rear suspension, drivetrain, and potentially exhaust components. Correct installation and precise alignment are absolutely critical to restore the Maserati Ghibli’s original handling characteristics, ride quality, and safety performance.

For your Maserati Ghibli, ensuring the integrity of the Rear Cross Member Assembly (Part Number 673009001) is paramount for maintaining its exceptional dynamic capabilities, superior ride comfort, and occupant safety. Replacing a damaged cross member with a genuine Maserati part and ensuring professional installation is an essential investment to preserve the engineered excellence and uncompromising quality of your Italian luxury sport sedan.