Can I use grade 5 titanium for strut top-nut?

[myotis1134]

Just to get it out of the way - I know it's dumb. I don't want to do it, I'd much rather use stainless. Unfortunately after an hour of searching, I have not found a nylock flanged nut M14-1.50 for sale locally, or on a US-based website. Oh there are lots of them with serrated ****** bottoms, or minus the nylon-lock, but nothing that matches the specifications of the nuts that come with the struts - except for grade 5 titanium here, or on amazon here.

The backstory is that I ordered a set of KYBs from shosource, and the delivery people were not gentle with the boxes. Upon delivery, I discovered that both boxes had multiple holes poked through them from the shaft portion of the strut, and one of the top nuts was missing from a box.

I spent today hitting every automotive store that was open, looking for a replacement nut, but no flanged ones with a non-serrated undercarriage. I could just get a nut with a washer, but I'm feeling defiant at this point - because how hard should it be to get a damn nut?

The local hardware stores carry sizes up to M12 and no further. I would go to the local Grainger tomorrow and see what they have, except that I've already looked over their online catalog, and they don't have exactly what I want.

In fact, the only smooth-bottom flanged nylock M14-1.50 I could find online is in grade 5 titanium, and apparently is meant for motorcycle sprockets, which don't see as much stress as struts do. However, I busted out the calipers and confirmed that at least the amazon nut is a bit larger and thicker than my remaining steel nut. Thus, I'm leaning towards the amazon one.

Can anyone give me a compelling reason to NOT use titanium nuts on the struts? I know it's more brittle than steel, but after some searching I found that it's not unheard of to use titanium for suspension, and apparently the USA is having a shortage of regular steel.

Thoughts please?

 

[Texas Marauder]

 

[luigisho]

Have you reached out to KYB to see if a replacement nut is available through them? I would use a washer if I had a SS nylon lock nut correct size

 

[Irish Pride]

If you are not in a big hurry I can look in my nut bin tomorrow. I'm sure that I have 2 or 20 of those. I don't throw anything away. If so, I could drop them in the mail.

-Chad

 

[rubydist]

The titanium nuts will be just fine in that application.

 

[myotis1134]

Thanks for rubbing my nose in it TX. I did attempt to order four nuts from McMaster-Carr, but shipping cost more than the nuts, by a fair margin.

I have not contacted KYB since I have a hard time imagining them coughing up an individual nut after hearing my sob story. I'm in a hurry to get this project done before it snows here, which historically happens in the next two weeks. I also have not bitched to the delivery service since I have a feeling the result will be the same as with KYB.

Irish, you're awesome for offering me your personal stock, and I appreciate the gesture. If the titanium nuts shatter while I'm driving on the freeway and the car survives, I'll ask you about digging some out of the ol' nut bin.

Thanks for the confirmation ruby.