I am replacing the struts on my 04 RX330. I dropped a top mount nut inside the rear cargo area. It fell down inside the covering over the rear top mount and is inside. What part(s) do I need to remove to retrieve the nut? Thanks in advance.

 

Honestly friend, I would simply go buy a replacement nut. Take one with you and match it. You have to remove a lot of the interior panels and cargo covers etc. lots of trouble for a simple nut.

 

Yep, did that. I figure that nut will make a lot of rattles. After two long test drives, no rattles yet. I figure I may as well get in there and retrieve the nut as I get to know my RX.
I did all four struts with KYB's. Also, replaced the front sway bar end links with Moog parts, nice parts with grease nipples. Really improved ride now.

 

Be sure to come back and let us know about your experiences with the KYB parts once you have a few miles on them. There was a previous thread where the owner had new struts installed and was not very happy afterwards.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...er-ensues.html

 

Just read that thread, not my experience thus far. The KYB's are nice but not like a truck ride at all, nice and smooth.

 

I am not sure how deep it fell. May be a pickup tool with magnetic head can be used? In the past I worked on another car and one nuts fell into the intake and I used a flexible pickup tool with magnetic head for picking it up. If I remember it correct, the tool I used was about 2 ft long.

 

I have a flexible tool with a magnetic end and tried that but could not get the not out of the area where the nut fell.

 

I believe this is a perfect example of Murphy's Law in action. Something about the dropped part will fall to the most inaccessible location of the vehicle.