Can someone please tell how one would tighten the middle nut when installing rear struts? I did it the last time and I used a vise grip to put around the strut and I then read that wasn't the correct way and then my struts eventually failed.
Fastforward to today and I take my car to a shop to get them installed. Ride off and it is rattling like crazy so I turn around and go back and I say the rear is rattling. The first thing the dumba$$ says is your car's lowered isn't it? I said oh no don't give me that, it doesn't matter if it is lowered or not, it shouldn't rattle!! It was late and they say come back in the morning. So I get to looking at it and they didn't put some bushings back on the one thats rattling and the other the bushings are on in the wrong order. I also noticed that they gripped the strut with vice grips also. I thought if they had air tools they shouldn't have to do that!?
Besides make the damn thing stop rattling, what else should I tell these fools to do? As far as I know its only the rear that is wrong. Needless to say I'm very frustrated.

 

Find out who the manager is and show him the garbage work they did and ask him what the better business bureau would think if he showed them the pics of their work. It's their job to rectify it. The only difference between lowered and stock cars with struts basically is the spring and the bumpstop. Tell them to fix asap. Hopefully you paid with a credit card, if you did, put the payment in dispute for shotty workmanship.

 

You are correct about not holding the piston, and sort of marred up surface will likely damage the seal and cause the strut to fail (as is on warning labels many struts come with). With an impact, they should've been able to just zip the center nut on without holding the piston at all.

Have them replace the rear struts, is all that really can be done. They could try to clean up the marks on the piston, but it likely won't help any.

 

if the piston has ANY MARKS on it, its bad.. the fluid will leak out and destroy the seal

go to the owner right away.. have him see what the retards did and have him get you new struts and install them free... AND give you a full refund....

 

MAKE SURE YOU TAKE PICS BEFORE YOU GO. DO NOT LET THEM SAY YOU DID IT. Idiots at shops, they ruin your suspension then tell you lowered cars rattle....

 

Thanks for the replies!
If the piston doesn't need to touched at all, then these are already screwed. The reason it's so aggrevating is b/c I took it there so I could save myself some aggrevation and now all this crap happens.
I will take some pics. I thought about that earlier but almost forgot. I'll let you all know what happens.

 

Did you go back there yet??????

 

that really stinks...
but to answer your question about tightening the nuts, ive always took some pliers and grabbed onto the center shaft, rod, bolt (whatever you call it) at the very top where the nut bolts on and then tighten it, it requires a little patience until you get the hang of it then its not too diffucult.

 

I went back yesterday and they installed the correct bushings. I asked them about the marks on the pistons and they said if I have any problems to come back. So, unless I'm luck, I'm sure I'll be back. They were nice about it and didn't question me or anything. Wish it was right the first time but they pretty much said they will make it right. So if the struts blow again, which by my past experiences they will, I'll have to go another round with them.

MaximaSpd85 - I think I know what your talking about. You mean after you get the bolt started, grip the top where the threads are? If that is it, I really wish I could have thought of that.

 

I'd get it in writing but i guess your alright. it was free right? I'm pretty sure you'll be back there. Good luck

Oh yeah, you guys should break the bolt loose BEFORE you even raise the car. Its in one of the writes ups. makes life easier

 

wow....that is exactly why i don't let shatty shops do work like that on my car, especially aftermarket products...

 

If there were nicks on the shafts, they should have replaced the sturt, not just told you it'd be ok. It's not too late, go back and tell them, you don't want a "fix" you want it done right, and that means replacing the damaged products! Don't settle man ... too many people do that and get screwged on the deal. In wrighting is the ONLY way you could possible hold them to anything, but with it being so fresh, you can get them to do the job right, or pay another shop to do it right, your call at this point. There job is to take care of you, the customer. If they can do that by smoozing you over in the office and cut corners on doing the job, why not? Don't let that be the case mate .... put your foot in there **** and get the results you need and deserve.

end rant

 

wow you guys need to calm down a bit. Going back to this place and makeing a big scene is no way to get anything done. He went back and they handled the situation. The struts should be fine, I agree they did not do it the correct way but no biggie, whats done is done. Just keep an eye on them for a while thats all. Keep a copy of the bill so you have the date and mileage the repair was done and enjoy your new struts. I mean damn guys people make mistakes. sucks when it happens but we all know......things dont always go smooth.

 

"whats done is done"???? Who said it was done? If it were me, I'd make them replace the strut if it had marks on the shaft. I pay someone to do a job, forgive me, but I demand it be done RIGHT. This wasn't, in a few ways. I see his grievence and I own a small bussiness. If it were a shop and I owned it - ran it, it'd be replaced.

No biggie? I guess you like replacing your struts more offten than you should have too and paying for it. Most of us don't. Do you understand what happens when you grab the shaft with vise grips and it bites into it? It causes the seal to go bad and allow the pressure to be released, causing a bad strut.

"sucks when it happens"??? Now, let's say this is your lowered Maxima, how do you feel then? Things don't go smooth because people F up. When they F up, they should fix it to be right, not just good for the moment.


Sorry for the rant, but it earks me that this type thing happens. If people let it happen, what's to stop the shop from doing it EVERY chance they get? Some do ... no doubt ... I've seen shadddddddyyyyy crap happen at shops. Sad, but true. Sorry to go off on your post like that, but you aren't helping anyone with that.

 

I'm not helping anyone by giving the other side of this arguement? Yes there are some shady shops out there but it is people that are jerks about situations like this that give all customers that come into our shops a potential threat. You're one of those guys that no matter how far somebody will go to help you with a repair, you have to nitpick and search over every inch of where the work was performed. I like the owners of the cars I work on the trust my work and not second guess that I know what I am doing.
I've seen some real silly complaints come threw my shop for instance, "Ever since you put the engine in my altima my aftermarket sunroof doesnt work. It must be something you did and I want it taken care of now." or "This noise in my 07 pathfinder is not normal, I dont care that we just went for a ride in 3 brand new ones and they all make that noise, its not right and I want it fixed or I'm calling Nissan!". People who keep complaining have less people who would like to help them as oppose to someone who addresses the situation calm and understanding. Sorry for the rant back, customers that are jerks just really get under my skin.

 

how can you mess up a simple thing like that... ill tell ya how if you dont speak a lick of english and you cant read a damn manual....

 

So ... let me get this right, you're saying that if the job was not done right, it's still ok? How is that right? If you have customers complain, that is your problem, we don't work at your shop. Reverse the role .... you take your baby to a shop and they F somthing up, how would YOU feel, what would YOU do?????

 

this is a straight up suspension install. there shouldnt be a hard rattling or noise unless it was to be found before installation. and how can you say being nitpicky?? there were vicegrip claw marks on the strut piston rod. that tends to lead to strut failure if it goes past the seal. and how do you not put the assembly completely back together? and the other assembly isnt even in the right order... thats really bad workmanship. nevertheless, he went back and had things taken care of. in all seroiusness, they should have done it right the first time for something so simple.

no ones being an ******* here. they are giving him advice as to what to do if things go south. yes ******* customers are a pita to deal with but you know, deal with it. its called customer service.

 

What?? They nearly destroyed his struts and put them on wrong..... how is that nitpicking. They are in the business of FIXING cars, they should actually pay for the strut to be replaced in all honest. IT COMES WITH A STICKER THAT SAYS DO NOT USE TOOLS ON ME !!!! I would say thats pretty straight forward