Filed the flat spot down to the stop. Took about 20 minutes of filing on each front shock with a flat file in front of the TV.
If anyone else goes my route they'll need to thread the nut before they start filing to be able to chase the threads later and be careful to clean the filings off the rod so they don't wear out the seals. Then coat the threaded section with grease. There's a good chance what I did cost some of the anti-rust finish. Thought about dremeling the half moon into a circle but then thought there might be a good reason Nissan doesn't want the shaft rotating. I just don't know what that reason is.
