Right Front Strut Not Secure (appariently)

[VN Commy]

Hey guys,

I took my VR for a warrant of fitness today (NZ) and the guy failed it and said something with the front strut needed to be tightened (I can't remember exactly what he said, I figured it would be obvious).

All he wrote on the form was "secure R/F Strut as marked." I've had a good look at both struts and can't see any markings.

The section he marked as failed was "Vehicle Raised" but I checked the two bolts which connect the bottom of the strut to the hub and they were tight. The impression I got when we was explaining it was that some of those 13mm bolts securing the top of the strut inside the engine bay were loose so I checked those first and they were tight.

So I figure he must mean the large nut in the center of the top of the strut (gland nut?). On the left hand strut the thread at the top of the strut is visible past the nut but on the right hand side no thread is visible (see the photos, sorry they're a bit shaky). Does this mean this nut needs to be tightened? Can it be done with the strut still in the car? Will I need spring compressors?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: The first photo is of the front left strut, the second of the front right.

[axemurderer101]

you could try to tighten it up, you need i think a 15"16 ring spanner on the big nut then you need a 10mm socket or another spanner on the end of the thread so the 10mm stops the shock from turning while you tighten the big nut

[acarmody]

Just take it too a good honest (good luck) suspension shop, and just ask them, they will probably tell you in 10 seconds, and may even tighten it for free.

[deanos70]

Dont know if its just the angle of the camera

but in the 2nd pic the thread doesnt look to be as far out from the top of the nut as in the 1st pic

so im guessing it just needs to be tightened up a bit

seems pretty picky to me to worry about that

[202injected]

i had this problem on my ute, and couldn't tighten it, in the end the upper strut bush let go, and all the bearings came out, could have been messy, but got it home,

try replacing this bush, nolathane do one cost about 180 bucks or you could put in the more expensive adjustable, pillowball, strut tops, if NZ law allows them to be fitted NSW doesn't

HINT: replace both at the same time,

[Andrew426]

seems pretty picky to me to worry about that

Hardly, if that nut unwinds anymore and falls off it will cause all manner of interesting and exciting shit to happen.

See if you can get a rattle gun on it mate, i think its about a 19mm 6 sided long socket youll need. Spinning the insert isnt great for it, but is unlikely to kill it (unless its near buggered already).

[202injected]

[QUOTE=Andrew426;1623493]Hardly, if that nut unwinds anymore and falls off it will cause all manner of interesting and exciting shit to happen.

yeah trust me, doing 110kph and the whole front end strat shuddering and the car sways side to side viloently, it aint fun, trust me, been there, and thrown out the underwear after

[VN Commy]

Thanks guys. I'll have a proper go at tightening it when I get a chance. I gave it a quick go when I was checking and it seemed hell tight, that's why I thought the springs might need to be held with compressors. I started to round the 10mm strut holding it in place with a spanner so I'll put a socket on it.

[deanos70]

Hardly, if that nut unwinds anymore and falls off it will cause all manner of interesting and exciting shit to happen.

oops my bad
sorry didnt realise that could happen