I just replaced my struts and had the wheel alignment. Afterwards I learned what that alignment notch is for in the spring seat. While the notch (and word "OUT") is facing outwards, it is not exactly aligned with the lower bolt flanges. So....if while viewing from the top, the bolt flanges were at 6 o'clock, the notch is at approximately 7 o'clock. The left side seems right on the money. Is this a problem in any way? (My first strut replacement project).

 

Hate to tell you this, but the end of the last coil on the bottom of the spring should be in the notch of the strut. Then the Strut isolator at the top of the spring should be facing "out" to the side of the car when it is bolted up.
Anything different will cause the spring isolator hole to be wallowed out a then it needs to be replaced. Don't ask me how I know this!!!

 

I'm good at the bottom of the spring. I'm more curious about the top....I read a TSB for the 2000's which had a specific note that the little notch in the upper spring seat (not the rubber isolator) "must" be aligned with the lower bolt flanges. The only reference in Chilton's is that the word "OUT" should be facing outward.....nothing exact about it. I'm wondering what happens with the 2000s (or my '96) if the alignment isn't exact.

 

If you're in the notch at the bottom, the top must be aligned properly when the insulator is bolted to the Maxima body and out is facing the wheel.

 

PlumMaxSE....I hate to come back to this again, but I guess I must have an obsessive gene somewhere. The work "OUT" is facing the wheel but more diagonally.....So, if the wheel is at the 6 o'clock position relative to the strut, the work "OUT" (more importantly, the notch in the isolator) is pointing at around 7 or 8 o'clock. Should I get back in there and align it better than that?

 

The bottom of the spring should sit in the strut correctly, the springs end seated nicely at the "notch" in the strut.

The upper spring perch has the word "OUT" stamped on top. The word OUT should face outwards or be in line with the middle of the struts lower mounting flange. Forget about the notches, they mean nothing. Don't worry about where the end point of the top of the spring sits either. I usually rotate the upper rubber perch to give the end point of the spring a nice new position in the rubber regardless of where OUT is. Just make sure OUT lines up correctly with the strut flange.

If the assembly is clocked correctly, the bearing is regreased or replaced and the spring sits evenly in the upper rubber perch, you'll never have any noises from your suspension.

 

Thanks njmaxseltd.....Everything seems fine so far, no noises....But I read a set of instructions for strut replacement on a 2000 (which should be similar to my '96) where they indicate that the notch in the spring isolator should be aligned exactly between the lower flanges. That notch is a little to the right of the "OUT".

Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I assume that if both are facing outward, I'm good.