I am also baffled how easily you took the strut out. what the hell. It took me all day literally and i still have not finish. I needed to compress the spring almost all the way to get it out of the assembly with very little clearance left. I unbolted the sstrut screw and nut, the endlink nut, and also the A arm screw, pulled down as hard as i can and it had such little clearance still. I manage to get it out and thought the worst has passed but no. Getting it back in was tougher.
Reminder to anyone attempting this. The orientation of the top of the strut where the 3 12mm nuts screw into, it has to be a certain sequence to the bottom of the strut that attaches to the control arm (the bottom of my strut fits the control arm but the 3 screws on the top of the strut did not aligned with the holes. Also the screw you unscrew from the A arm, you have to bolt this back before you attach the strut into the assembly or else it is impossible to put back on.
Going into this DIY i thought the toughest thing would be rusted in bolts and nuts but i was wrong. For those bolts especially the struts and endlink just pb blast it get the ratchet at a good angle, lie down and kick it. It should come free no prob.

i had to take out both a-arm base bolts by the top of the strut. it was a puzzle to tighten but it worked! drop is sooooo nice. thanks for the help guys.

The trick ( I used) to getting the strut to drop down far enough to snake it out was this: Take an old lug nut, thread it on a few turns, then rotate to the bottom and stand on that beyotch.... bounce if you have to. LOL. I was able to apply a little pressure and use my other hand to snake it out.

I've put on the springs and it looks amazing. I use this DIY and it is really helpful. Just a warning though the vid just make the strut looks like it falls out.. It doesnt, You will need some grease some muscles and rice (which by the way taste so much sweeter when doing this ahaha). Also installing everything back sounds easier than it really is.

does anyone know if 40 ft lbs of torque too each of the bolts you have to put back is the right amount? I put on sway bars the other day and that's what the manual said to do for them, but i couldnt find one for the springs, thanks.

Thanks DieselX! I changed out mine with ZSprings (struts too on front) today. Took about 2 hours thanks to your guide! Oh, and of course my hubby too. He didn't NEED to read it, but I did as I went, just to be sure. Oh, and I dropped a DREADED NUT in the engine bay. LMAO - THEN read....don't drop it. After about 20 mins we got it out.
Great instructions! Thanks again!!

i might need the incredible hulk to help me get the bolts out. The 3 under the hood and the bolts holding the bottom of the strut is impossible. I gave up after about 3~4 hours....

Soak them with penetrant and let them sit for 24 hrs. Be sure you are using a 6 point socket.

That was one of the main things hubby came in handy for. He's a great supervisor too. getting the strut OFF was our dilemma. we had to jack it up a few times until it hit just right. He used his foot to break the bolts on the bottom of the strut.

A woman working on her own car is sooooooo Sexy!

Awww thanks Texas! It's extremely satisfying too, so see how good my drop looks, and I did that! ok, with some help. I have always thought seeing a man working on a car was sexy, so I guess I can see what you mean.
I'm not great, but I'm learning and giving it my best shot. I started small, on my ATV. I can do just about anything on that! Shocked every guy on the trail when I sucked a grass seed into my petcock, so I took it apart, cleaned it and about fell out with the looks on their faces. Priceless.
Looking forward to knowing my G that way.

Oh lawd, I nearly hurt myself...

But srsly, great job, A.

That's what I have been trying to tell the people that want to pay someone to do things like that. Do it yourself! You will feel so much pride of ownership. I look forward to your next project. Try a DIY for the group too!

I'm gonna try again on the weekend and i'll be better prepared... I already got PB blaster and I'm gonna go over to my friend's garage and use an impact wrench.

Random question but would installing aftermarket shock/strut lower the car any? I have H&R springs and Tokico HP shocks but I dont want my car to be too low..

Shouldn't make any diff.