When i did my suspension not to long ago, i realized that on the rear struts, there are two orange gasket looking things that go on the top of the strut where it meets the underside of the trunk. My impression is that it is a gasket that prevent water leaks into the trunk. Well, one of them is bent all out of shape and i want to get a new one when i redo my suspension in the next week or so. Im concerned about getting a new one because my stock strut was rusted where the gasket was bent at and i dont want my illuminas to get rusted. These orange things are also on the front struts also.

-- My question is: what exactly is this "gasket" called? Ima go to the Nissan Stealership to get some, but i dont want to sound like an idiot

 

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That's the noise insulator, it has nothing to do with water leaks or keeping water out.

 

yea mine were messed up when i lowered my car. I tossed them.
Havent missed em

 

It's the "Shock Absorber Mounting Seal", #3 in the diagram. I wouldn't worry about finding a new one...

 

Thanks everyone for the help and that diagram. I guess my struts were rusted just from being a lil old?

 

Go to your local auto parts store and buy a sheet of headder gasket material to make new, thicker gaskets. They isolate the car's suspension from the body of the car better and actually help reduce suspension and road noise transmitted into the body of the car.

 

Works great!

I called AutoZone to ask if they had gasket material and they actually asked me what kind of car I was going to use it on Holy crap, it doesn't matter! Just tell me if you have it!

 

So you reccomend getting a new one, or just leave it be.

 

Aren't the original gaskets made of poly? Isn't header gasket material more likely to retain moisture? Just wondering if that's why the originals were made of a non-porous material.