IRBatman

I've done some searching on replacing struts and all that, should be a very simple job using the quick strut assemblies. I saw 1 mention of a best practice of replacing the nuts on for the lower mount on the rear struts. You guys that have done this job a few times, do you typically replace those nuts? Just called a local dealer and it sounds like those bolts/nuts are getting hard to come by. Does anyone happen to have size information for those so I can at least pick up some bolts/nuts from the hardware store that I can throw in there in case I break one or something? I'm guessing the reason for replacing the nut at least is because it looks like a deformed lock-nut which are supposed to be use once and done, For locking I could just clean it and throw some loctite on it. What do the rest of you guys do?

TIA

ryandaiber

i just did mine a couple weeks ago and used the old mounting hardware. you should be fine unless there is any noticeable damage to the bolt, threads, nut etc.

ShocknAwe

iTrader: (3)

If that bolt ever breaks I would be very surprised

IRBatman

Yeah, I guess breaking one wasn't the right thing to put there, it is a pretty darn stout bolt. I'm more worried about the possibility of too much rust from a few years of hanging down where it does. And, since that nut looks like it has a deformed lock feature sometimes those can damage threads and such. I'm thinking I'll just soak the lower bolts with PB blaster for a couple days, then when I re-install just clean 'em up and throw some loctite at it. Thanks a lot for the input.

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

You don't need to use the loctite. Just torque the nuts to spec and you're good to go.

BigH2119

And does anyone know that torque spec by any chance?

stanltod

iTrader: (2)

Front: 103-117 ft-lb (140-159 N-m)
Rear: 72-87 ft-lb. (98-118 N-m)

95crackedhead

anyone know the size and thread pitch of the lower strut bolt on the rear struts? When I undid mine on one side, the threads on both bolt and nut got all flattened out and cross-threaded.

Tried the hardware store display where you try to thread the bolt into a bunch of different size sockets, but there's too much of an extension on the bottom of the bolt for me to be sure exactly what size it is.

cjanderson3

I ended up having to cut my bolts since they were stripped and so was the stupid little bracket thing. I just brought what I had to the farm supply store and got grade 10.9 bolts the same size/length, works great.

95crackedhead

lucky me I found some old suspension nuts kicking around that fit the bolt. also used a flat washer and lock washer just in case.

sanford7575

I'm about to do this job as soon as it warms up here in philly. I swapped in FCS Struts all the way around this past summer, and I stripped the rear left strut pin and nut in that bracket thing. I got the pin and stripped nut back in, but not tight enough so now there is a little rattle in the back when driving over a bump or uneven pavement. Got my replacement pin and nut from nissanpartszone.com.

deezo

iTrader: (3)

So I went to replace my rear struts and these damn bolts won't break. My impact wrench tried to round the head of the bolt itself so what is a relatively easy job just got harder for me. I may need to take it to a shop to have them broken. I even added heat with a torch and the bolt started to turn but the damn nut started turning with it to.

I may need a shop to weld than nut so it doesn't move, then try to break the bolts free. Damn New England winters I tell ya......

cjandura

iTrader: (3)

If you notice the "nut" in the back is staked to retain the bolt its a sob to get loose just juice it up and hit it with the propane/map torch.

deezo

iTrader: (3)

My issue at this point is that it's spinning with the bolt now. I was using a MAP to hit it because it gets hotter than propane.

cjandura

iTrader: (3)

Time to cut and replace ot then pita or you can have the nut welded in place but i think it going to be a loosing battle.

deezo

iTrader: (3)

Well, I don't think that will be a bad thing since I had to cut and replace my cat bolts a couple weekends ago. The only issue is that the lower strut bolts are going to be too big for a dremel to get thru so I'll have to invest in a real cutter.

cjandura

iTrader: (3)

No just get the reinforced cutoff wheels for the dremel and cut 2 slots thru the nut.i use those wheels all the time or goto HF and get a $20 grinder and a $5 pack of 4" wheels

deezo

iTrader: (3)

I'm an HF head so I plan to just get a cutter from them, get the warranty and swap it when it breaks. It will do the job much faster than the dremel. My air hammer helped to finish the job when I did the cat bolts thought so I didn't have to cut all the way thru with the dremel.

bloodthirstyemu

Anybody have the specs on the bolt and nut? I have to cut mine since my impact driver rounded it off.

Daniel VQ30life

iTrader: (2)

Take the remains to a hardware store

bloodthirstyemu

good luck finding it.. i got the specs but nobody caries it especially with that particular shoulder. Its 12m-1.25x70 with a 10.9 grading. Your best bet is ordering it through Nissan for like $3. Ace hardware doesn't carry it and neither does any of the nut and bolt specialty shops around here either.