Strut Top threads and nut rusting on passenger side

[12rogue]

I have noticed that when i take my car through the drive through car wash or in a heavy rain i end up with water sitting in the passenger side top strut mount. The driver side strut threads and nut still look bright and shiny like new but the passenger side is really rusted. My rogue is only a year old and it looks like removing that strut nut would be a tough job without a ton of PB Blaster. I would hate to see how it looks in a few years when the struts need to be replaced.

It looks like the nissan juke guys have it worse. They get water in both side strut mounts. They came up with a solution that looks like it would work.
LINK REMOVED- read our user rules you agreed to! -imstricken

I think the problem might be that water is dripping off the washer nozzle hose that hangs right over top of the passenger side strut mount, the driver side has nothing over top of it. Can anyone post a picture of how your washer nozzle supply hose hangs on the passenger side?

Have any of you guys noticed this?
Is this even something worth trying to do something about?
Do you think the strut mounts from the juke are the same size as the rogue? Part number 54330-ED000 for the juke strut mount caps. Anyway to cross reference this to the rogue?


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[12rogue]

Here are some pictures of what I'm talking about

Passenger Side:
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Passenger Side:
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Driver Side:
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[darylzero]

Interesting I will have to check mine.

According to nissanpartszone.com that part doesn't even fit the Juke lol. So it's possible that fits the Rogue

[zengshengliu]

My driver side is not as new as yours but definitely there is a differences between the passenger side and driver side(more rust on passenger side)

[mac1183]

I'm confused how going through a car wash is related to the washer fluid supply line?

[12rogue]

I'm confused how going through a car wash is related to the washer fluid supply line?

The washer nozzle supply line is underneath the honeycomb cowl below the windshield. This is where water goes when it drains off the windshield.

I think water is getting onto the washer fluid supply line which is under the honeycomb cowl and is running down the hose and then dripping off the hose and puddling in the strut mount.

I drew a picture:
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The water could be coming in another way too but i don't know from where.

[mac1183]

ok, i follow.

zip tie it out of the way?

[ImStricken06]

its a strut mount. whats the big deal if it rusts? its a super thick rod of steel. its NOT going to rust through and snap. it could last 200,000miles (if the strut itself would). your front axle bolts and axle are also exposed to the elements.

i never understood people and their fight to fight rust on things that dont need to be rust proofed. struts are to be replaced every 30k-60k anyway. your struts will blow waaaaaaaaaaaay before that rust ruins anything. an airgun will remove that bolt, no problem.

if you guys insist to keep it away from water: spray it with flex-seal or plasti-dip.

and if you are that anal, what are you doing taking your car through a car wash?? recycled water that could have petroleum in it from cars before you. you dont know what soap they use. their so called "wax" clogs your paint job. etc etc etc

[12rogue]

Stricken,

I didn't realize i couldn't post links, sorry about that in the original post.

I'm not so much concerned about the rust itself, more that the nut will rust to the threads and seize making it difficult or impossible to remove without rounding the nut off when the struts need to be replaced.

One of my original questions was is this even something to bother with? The juke guys found those strut mount caps and thought maybe $20 for those would save some trouble down the road when the struts get replaced.

[ImStricken06]

its not even worth touching. if anything the rust will act like thread-lock and help. its rather it need to be cut off, than be so perfectly clean that it could loosen itself lol

[mac1183]

its not even worth touching. if anything the rust will act like thread-lock and help. its rather it need to be cut off, than be so perfectly clean that it could loosen itself lol

I'd be way more concerned about it not coming off when you want it to, than it coming off when you don't want it to. Those strut top nuts can be a PITA if they get oxidation/corrosion on them as the whole strut shaft will spin when you try to turn that nut off. Then you are in a hell of a spot.

The top of the shaft has a provision for putting an allen wrench in to counter-hold but that rarely works out, and you need a socket with a pass through. I've had to use a spark plug socket with a hex on the outside bottom where a wrench could be used so I could fit an allen through the center opening. And cutting it off is very difficult since the nut is recessed.

Yes, he's perfectly validated in his concern of that nut becoming frozen. It happens all the time.

[ImStricken06]

there are many nuts that are get "frozen". to go around and babysit everyone with caps, sprays, etc = not worth the effort. worst case scenario you take a cutting wheel to it, and its cut in half both ways in a matter of minutes. exhaust bolts are KNOWN for never to come off normally. they all rust, and heat cycle into never coming off. its so bad, its not even worth to try. cut them in half, install new parts.

hitting the strut bolts with some flex-seal isnt a bad idea. buying caps, etc = kinda a waste of money if you ask me.