Hey,

I just noticed that I'm getting a tapping noise from my front shock. There are 3 upper nuts and 1 in the middle (#2 in pic). It seems the middle nut/bolt is tapping against the upper housing and making noise. What's the middle nut/hex end for? When I try to tighten it, nothing happens, looks like it's turning the whole thing? Some sort of adjustment thing?

Thanks.

 

that's the nut that attaches the strut to the strut tower. If you turn it, the entire shaft of the strut will turn. No adjustments. As long as it's tight, I wouldn't touch it. I don't know why it would be tapping against anything.

 

That can't be it..

Are you certain?? that should move at all. Once the strut is locked in place...there shouldn't be any movement in its mount. Don't mess with the center nut, that is essentially for disasembling the strut, and should have nothing to do with your problem.

Your tapping noise has to be coming from somewhere else.

 

Shouldn't move at all? One side doesn't move at all but the other does (the one making the noise). It was hitting the top of the housing after the strut uncompressed. If I bounced up and down I could hear it and see it. The middle nut was the culprit.

 

So should the center nut be tight? How would I tighten it if the shaft moves? I think this is the issue. It's not tight and hitting the strut mate bearing plate (905913 as seen on monroe). I don't see any mention of this in the dodge tech manual.

 

You are going to need to get a crescent wrench's, One on the nut, one on the top of the shaft to keep it from shaft from spinning (top of #2 in your picture) I do not recall the torque spec but its gonna be impossible to torque it.

So get your arm torque out and do not forget to make the click noise.

 

I'm finding it difficult to get a wrench in there. I tried many things but I can't get the nut to budge. Come to find out a special tool is used (STRUT ROD NUT WRENCH 9362). I may have to take the whole thing apart to tighten up the middle nut. FYI, looks like 66 FT-LBS is the torque spec (found under spring section of tech manual).

 

first off, dont mess with that nut, your strut is blown, thats why there is movement, time to replace them

 

They are new monroe struts just replaced in June '09. I really just think the nut needs to be tightened down unless there is something wrong with the strut mate bearing plate. Other side is solid and does NOT spin at all.

See the silver metal lip in the middle of the strut bearing plate in attached pic. I assume the nut should be tight against this lip. In my case, the strut shaft bounces up and down and makes noise when the nut hits the lip.

So I can't seem to tighten the nut (and I've tried everything) w/out the shaft turning (or w/out the special tool) so I'm not sure what to do? Guess time to take it in.

 

Can I pull the front shock off w/out a spring compressor? Does the spring just stay attached?