1 NuT stopped it all.

[Henderson Stephen]

After putting down about two months rebuilding a 200000 mile 95 sho with 5-speed we are now unable to locate strut Bolt the one that goes on the top into the engine bay. Tried automotive supply stores but these are special order strut. I cannot even use for a size reference does anyone know the size of the nut and are they a crush nut. Thanks

 

[luigisho]

Are you talking about the big nut that holds the strut to the rubber mount, or the nuts that attach the strut mount to the body metallic surface? Unless you have a more custom setup

 

[Henderson Stephen]

Yes correct the big one on top

 

[Henderson Stephen]

Pictures

 

[Henderson Stephen]

The bolt dead center this picture was taken before I put things back together normally there is a stud sticking out of this hole. Have been through a 5 gallon bucket on used bolts found nothing seemed to have an aggressive spreads

 

[luigisho]

That's the washer. Where is the strut? What brand? I would guess brands are about the same but you never know.

If it is a big aftermarket supplier you can go to a chain store that carries that brand and see if a regular taurus replacement is around and measure the one that comes in the box. Or..I would take the strut unit to a store with a large fastener selection and get a grade 8 of whatever size nut and make sure you have a washer to go with it or better to reuse the one it came with.

 

[luigisho]

I always attached the mount, spring, and strut and installed it as a whole unit. The stud sticks out of the hole because the spring has been compressed, the strut is fastened to the mount, and shortens the entire assembly.

 

[BaySHO Performance]

Stephen do you mean strut nut, not bolt? I've never heard of a strut that takes a bolt at the top.

 

[BaySHO Performance]

If you are looking for a nut, it's M14 x 2.0. If you have to remove the strut to get it on, be very careful when removing the pinch bolt near the bottom of the strut. Expect the knuckle to suddenly shoot down an inch or two as the top nut is no longer keeping the normally compressed spring in place.

 

[NoSlo]

That nut doesn't just disappear, maybe you broke the top threaded area of the strut piston rod? The three outer bolts are how you remove the strut assembly.

Here's the Ford nut for $5.50 (not for Koni). https://www.fordpartsgiant.com/parts/ford-hardware-miscellaneous_-n804608-s150.html

Here's a whole new strut with a nut, also for $5.50. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=6907&cc=1138968&jsn=549&jsn=549


Actually, expect to have to remove the lower control arm from the inner pivot, because the strut will be too long to get the knuckle out of the ball joint. Then to remove the strut with the knuckle attached (because you won't be able to get the knuckle off with the strut hanging in pieces), and then use a spring compressor to get the strut parts back together. Off comes the 30mm axle nut, tie rod end, sway bar end link, brake caliper, ball joint bolt, maybe strut rod bolt, etc....

If the bolt was deliberately taken off in error, you might be able to guide the threaded part of the strut back into the mount in-car, by slowly jacking up the knuckle and guiding the rod under the bellows back in place. You'll need to make sure the spring coil ends are oriented correctly in the strut and mount end as they go back together.



The nut is "tighten to 40-53 ft/lb"; it's tempting to go tighter. While holding the top of the rod with a small wrench to prevent the whole rod from turning, again to prevent breaking the rod.

I might have free nuts in about a week (off old KYBs) if my new-to-me Tokicos get the bugs worked out. Don't think it will matter, though, user last seen when he made this post.

 

[BaySHO Performance]

All good stuff in the previous post, but I'd go with the Monroe Spectrum 71780 rather than Gabriel:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/ford,1995,taurus,3.0l+v6+dohc,1138957,suspension,strut,7584

The Motorcraft struts listed are for the Taurus, not the SHO.