[Matrolla]

Hey all I own a 2004 base matrix that my wife bought off her best friend's parents for 2k with 80k miles . I love to tinker and noticed struts were bad . So I was doing the front driver side strut . KYB shocks , they 12mm nut they sent didn't fit on the thread , so I was forced to use the original nut. Upon tightening one of them kinda of snapped and now I am at a crossroads as to what I should do ? I drove it home from work fine and did a kinda crazy test drive . They felt fine but haven't done a highway drive. Do I have to replace the whole strut? Does Kyb owe me a strut or nah ?

 

[Gigili]

Doesn't seem safe to drive with only two bolts up top. If it fails it would be catastrophic. Why don't you return it and get a new one if you can?

 

[Esso]

It depends. Usually when people say shock they could mean the actual shock itself or the whole strut assembly. If you purchased a quick strut or assembly, yeah sure you could try to get them to replace it. However, if you did just the shock itself... shocks usually do not come with a top hat. The top hat pivots the shock shaft and is the component that houses the stud you mentioned.

I think the original nuts are better in general just because of the amount of thread engagement you get is typically more than aftermarket for the most part. Also, torque wrenches are good to have to get things into spec.


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[Matrolla]

Doesn't seem safe to drive with only two bolts up top. If it fails it would be catastrophic. Why don't you return it and get a new one if you can?

Damn I already threw out old ones so I would have to get another one before I replaced it .

 

[Matrolla]

It depends. Usually when people say shock they could mean the actual shock itself or the whole strut assembly. If you purchased a quick strut or assembly, yeah sure you could try to get them to replace it. However, if you did just the shock itself... shocks usually do not come with a top hat. The top hat pivots the shock shaft and is the component that houses the stud you mentioned.

I think the original nuts are better in general just because of the amount of thread engagement you get is typically more than aftermarket for the most part. Also, torque wrenches are good to have to get things into spec.


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It is a quick strut . So where the bolt threads onto went bye bye. So I'm only 2 are holding it now.

 

[TedL]

What snapped? Your words are kinda' confusing, maybe send a pic?

Or are you saying that a new bolt, an integrel part of the quickstut unit, snapped when you tightened the nut down on it?

What torque setting were you using and how long was the wrench/breaker bar? Really damn tight with a 24" bar will snap stuff.

 

[Matrolla]

What snapped? Your words are kinda' confusing, maybe send a pic?

Or are you saying that a new bolt, an integrel part of the quickstut unit, snapped when you tightened the nut down on it?

What torque setting were you using and how long was the wrench/breaker bar? Really damn tight with a 24" bar will snap stuff.

I had to use the old nut to tighten at the top because the new ones that came with it were falling straight through and not catching . When I went to torque it at 29ft lbs . It just kept spinning then finally snapped , and after that I just left the rest and didn't trust the torque wrench . Only 1 other bolt clicked into 29 ft lbs the others I just left tight because I'm scared to snap them . I did it with the weight of the vehicle , I hoping thats not what messed me up

 

[Matrolla]

What snapped? Your words are kinda' confusing, maybe send a pic?

Or are you saying that a new bolt, an integrel part of the quickstut unit, snapped when you tightened the nut down on it?

What torque setting were you using and how long was the wrench/breaker bar? Really damn tight with a 24" bar will snap stuff.

 

[XtRaSlo]

Can you press the old stud out and press a new one in? Other options may be get new tophats and replace just that part, or new quickstrut

 

[Gigili]

If you can return it, the best way is to return and get a new one. Otherwise, you might be able to fix it. I stripped the thread on mine when I had my nissan altima. I managed to push the stud out (grabbed it with vise grip, wiggled and twisted it until it came lose) and replaced it with a regular bolt. I am not sure if it is doable in struts on the corolla.

 

[TedL]

I did it with the weight of the vehicle , I hoping thats not what messed me up .

I have no idea what you did with the weight of the vehicle, but if you were doing it with a torque wrench, it should never snap.

You have a defective part. I hope you have a reliable supplier who will send you a new one and issue a refund when you return the defective.

 

[JohnGD]

If you tried to torque to 29 lb/ft and the bolt snapped, then RETURN the whole assembly and get another one. I would not be driving with only two holding the mount.

Another problem might be with your torque wrench. My primary torque wrenches are the cheap $9.99 Harbor Freight ones (I do have US-made Danaher Craftsmans). HFT ones have been fine. One time I warrantied a 3/8" with a broken ratchet and got one that was made in China, which slowly stopped clicking. I ended up warranty exchanged a Taiwan one weeks later and it's been fine since. HFT has batches of Taiwan, China and Vietnam torque wrenches depending on when you check them.

Since I don't know which one is your real problem, I'd just get a replacement assembly and a replacement torque wrench. Some members like Tekton on Amazon, if you think HFT is too much of a crapshoot. Or you can check out HFT's Icon line of torque wrenches too.

Do I have to replace the whole strut?

 

[RunXsb]

I have similar problem, fortunately I have old ones for bolt and nut, I haven't thought about the danger

 

[RunXsb]

One other thing is my tail lights and dashboard are not working at all I checked fuses, bulbs I see nothing wrong.Please assist where else can I look fault

 

[Matrolla]

One other thing is my tail lights and dashboard are not working at all I checked fuses, bulbs I see nothing wrong.Please assist where else can I look fault

look for the electrical schematic sound slike theres no power going to the instrument panel .

 

[Matrolla]

I have similar problem, fortunately I have old ones for bolt and nut, I haven't thought about the danger

how many miles you been driving with 2 bolts?

 

[Matrolla]

If you tried to torque to 29 lb/ft and the bolt snapped, then RETURN the whole assembly and get another one. I would not be driving with only two holding the mount.

Another problem might be with your torque wrench. My primary torque wrenches are the cheap $9.99 Harbor Freight ones (I do have US-made Danaher Craftsmans). HFT ones have been fine. One time I warrantied a 3/8" with a broken ratchet and got one that was made in China, which slowly stopped clicking. I ended up warranty exchanged a Taiwan one weeks later and it's been fine since. HFT has batches of Taiwan, China and Vietnam torque wrenches depending on when you check them.

Since I don't know which one is your real problem, I'd just get a replacement assembly and a replacement torque wrench. Some members like Tekton on Amazon, if you think HFT is too much of a crapshoot. Or you can check out HFT's Icon line of torque wrenches too.

I head back in the shop on monday ill try some things out, last thing i want to do is have to deal with rockauto customer service and try to get another strut, but if i have to I will , thanks .

 

[JohnGD]

You can select defective part and warranty it that way with Rockauto. I'm not sure if the warehouse is going to whine about a broken stud.

If you used PayPal then they offer return shipping charge refund. So if all goes smooth you'll just be out some time in between and no money out of pocket.

I head back in the shop on monday ill try some things out, last thing i want to do is have to deal with rockauto customer service and try to get another strut, but if i have to I will , thanks .

 

[Matrolla]

You can select defective part and warranty it that way with Rockauto. I'm not sure if the warehouse is going to whine about a broken stud.

If you used PayPal then they offer return shipping charge refund. So if all goes smooth you'll just be out some time in between and no money out of pocket.

Hey brother thanks, did the return they sent me the strut I just replaced it . Drove about a week or 2 with 2 bolts. But I made it .

 

[JohnGD]

Glad it all worked out!