Phantom Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 Always on the search for little ways to dress up my car I found that True value carries chromed metric fasteners. Among them were M10x1.5 Acorn nuts. I bought 6 each of them,and matching flat and lock washers and proceeded to replace the M10 nuts on the top of my front strut towers - only to have the nut gall as I was wrenching it on and then have the stud break loose in the strut so I couldn't get the acorn nut off. This was on the first one and I took it for what it was - an indication that something was terribly wrong. I took the nut I had removed to True Value and, sure enough, it threaded right on to one of their M10 bolts. When I tried to thread one of the acorn nuts on, it got tight after about 1/2 of a turn. At that point I went to the manager. While he was trying every M10 acorn nut he had on his M10 bolt - unsuccessfully - I had one of those rare moments of clarity and went and got a 3/8-16 bolt. You guessed it, someone had put 3/8-16 nuts in the M10x1.5 drawer. The manager was very apologetic and refunded me my money - for the five sets of nuts and washers I hadn't used - he still charged me for the one that is seized on my strut in the car! A real customer relations expert! Now I just need to find the customer complaint hotline for Tru Value. maybe this is my excuse to upgrade to the new adjustable Tokico's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patzky1 Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 All I have to say is: D'OH!! Yeah, I bet those Tokico's sound pretty good now. Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks280zt Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 *plug* hey bill i have a brand new set of illuminas un opened for sale on ebay right now, check the classifieds *eng plug* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsommer Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 Will those fit a 240Z???? I'm interested, PM sent. david Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 Buy your nuts and bolts from an Industrial Hardware store. Avoid Home Depot, Lowes, True Value, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillZ260 Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 What JohnC said, they are made of some sort of pot turd metal. I get most of mine from NAPA... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spotfitz Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 I guess a trip to Jerrys' will be in order, for another strut hat. Can you still grab the stud or will you need to cut the nut off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted October 5, 2005 Author Share Posted October 5, 2005 Spot, I'll probably have to cut it off. In the meantime I'm going to make sure the remaining two are locked down tight and keep driving. I got some of the correct nuts today so at least my oopsie won't stick out like a sore thumb until I get it fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Juday Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 Sounds like a good excuse for camber plates to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted October 6, 2005 Author Share Posted October 6, 2005 Dan, That thought had also crossed my mind - but then I'd have to come up with another 4-pt. strut tower brace as mine is non-adjustable. Ahhh - the domino effect - always there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spotfitz Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 Phantom, I may be willing to help off set the cost of the new rear strut tower brace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Here comes trouble Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 Phantom...The local True Value has a great fastener collection. I wound up with a defective wing nut and an excess of cad plated fasteners I did not need in a similar situation as your's. 2 clerks and a part time manager were putting the "screwz" to me. I was on the shortend of a stick for an exchange and adjustment.. well I took the loss !!!!! and applied a lttle recognition technology. Keep in mind True Value has stainless steel fastners very similar in appearance to the cad plated fastners I was screwed on in the exchange. I was still charged for the defective wing nut and lost about 40 cents in the exchage for the cadium plated fastners but for some reason I walked out of the store satisfied with a paper bag of all stainless steel fastners in my firm grip. Initial 40 cent loss escalated to about a 4 dollar gain and upgrade to stainless steel...Self service is great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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