Hello, I need some advice because I am trying to change the bushes on the above said rod and on removal I found the following:
The strut was replaced with a repaired one by the previous owner's mechanic and they have obviously used a cutting disc to square-off the bolt-heads for ease of removal. Funny cos a flipping 53 year old with backache managed to do the other side non-destructively with only molegrips and spanners, duh. The cuts are about 2 - 3 mm deep from eyeballing them. Could a welder fill in the cuts or is it not necessary? Bit perplexed.

Anyhow, what thinks thou?

I personally would get them filled in for piece of mind and those cuts will make a weak point so a big pot hole could cause damage.

Either replace them or get them welded up.
But leaving them as is is a big nono for me as the cut weaken the entire rod.

Cool, thanks both.

Ill swap you for a good'un

Gosh - sorry. I took it to the welder just now. He'll do it for a beer ;-§

and how many years had it functioned like that for?

I think not many - I can check in the history if you're interested. It was the one you supplied to colin340 in Shropshire a couple of years ago, I think, from memory. The strut itself is great, bar the mechanic's efforts to remove the tie bar ;-0 and I painted your strut in black hammerite - thought it was better than leaving it in primer ;-0
It now has new calipers from the Macster.

Cool, repaired....

Looks much better now

Thanks for the rock and Merry Crimbers!