Lower Strut Nut

[J5hort]

Hi All, Spending some quality garage time with the 2008 XLT and installing a front strut. All went well with removal until I got to the lower strut nut located inside the lower control arm. Nut was a completely round and as I remember (from the last time I replaced the struts) it probably had a tab on it so it would not spin when removing the bolt. The tab is long gone (I got 238K miles on this one and it is no stranger to rust). So the bolt and nut would spin together when I tried to remove. Vice Grip on the round nut to no avail. Finally got it of by grabbing with a pipe wrench and using a breaker bar and pipe extension for leverage. Really stuck on there even my Milwaukee M18 impact would not budge it.

Needless to say during reinstall I did not use the old round nut. I was able to reuse the bolt which is a grade 10.9 but could only find a grade 8 nut and lock washer to get it all back together. A quick search at Ford parts tells me the nut is discontinued. My question is two-fold. First, would it be ok to keep the grade 8 nut on there or second, does anyone have a source for an OEM nut for this (I am assuming OEM is also a grade 10.9). Thoughts?

 

[Blackhawkxx]

While I'm not a metallurgist, I wouldn't have a problem using the grade 8 nut. One would think the grade issue would be more important for the bolt than the nut.

 

[J5hort]

While I'm not a metallurgist, I wouldn't have a problem using the grade 8 nut. One would think the grade issue would be more important for the bolt than the nut.

I was thinking the same thing. Guessing the bolt probably takes most of the pressure. This is far from a concours restoration so not using OEM nut for aesthetics does not bother me.

 

[m j]

10.9 is metric, grade 8 is not. so what did you actual put on there? also it will be fine, as it has pretty much no load on it.

 

[J5hort]

I just picked up a 3/4-10 grade 8 nut at the local hardware store as I needed to get it out of the garage. May look to replace it with the OEM nut with the flag on it. Appears 10.9 and grade 8 are compatible. I'd be interested on thoughts of keeping the mismatch and any source for the OEM nut. Attaching pics of the old nut and package from new nut.

 

[Fbird]

The bolt in question is a METRIC BOLT. If you get that 3/4-10 on there it aint coming off...ever, or will fall offdue to lack of thread engagement. Agood ole ACE hardware should be able to hook you up with a correct fitting nut. Now finding one with the locking tab...thats going to be a junkyard item.

 

[J5hort]

The bolt in question is a METRIC BOLT. If you get that 3/4-10 on there it aint coming off...ever, or will fall offdue to lack of thread engagement. Agood ole ACE hardware should be able to hook you up with a correct fitting nut. Now finding one with the locking tab...thats going to be a junkyard item.

Think I may have found an OEM one on Ebay. I think I will go that route.

 

[m j]

Fastenal will have that or McMaster if you are in US. both of those are difficult to deal with In Canada. you don't need ford oem bolts you just need to ID thread pitch and length

 

[J5hort]

Fastenal will have that or McMaster if you are in US. both of those are difficult to deal with In Canada. you don't need ford oem bolts you just need to ID thread pitch and length

Got a Fastenall down the street. Guessing they do not have one with the locking tab/flag on it, but I get it about the proper thread specs