My bolts were pretty tight too, but my buddy let me borrow his snap-on battery powered impact gun. Took those bolts right out. I've been told that on a full charge the electric impact guns have more torque than an air impact. I had my doubts but it works like a champ. Once i have extra funds I'll be adding a cordless impact gun to my toolbox.

 

Now that I have it all apart I can't get the Eibach spring on the strut. I have been using spring compressor and can't get it low enough to go on.

Anyone else have this issue as well

 

IMHO, compressing the spring afterwards is the hardest part. With the extra coils from the progressive springs, it makes it much more difficult to find a place to put the compressors on and still get enough compression. That said, it is tricky but possible. You kind of have to play with the positioning and also orientation of the spring compressors and you should barely have enough room to get the nut on.

 

It shouldn't be an issue. I had no problem with mine. Just make sure you put the compressor clamps on the second to last coil on each end of the spring so they are at least 3 or 4 coils apart. If you start with them too close together then you won't be able to compress them enough to get them back on. Also, make sure that the damper shaft is fully extended and stays that way when you reassemble. I had troubel with my shaft trying to push back in when I was reinstally the nut on the upper spring plate. I actually used a set of vice grips at the bas of the shock shaft where it enters the body.. I also used a shop towel wrapped around the shaft so the teeth on the vice grips didn't damage it. Good luck!

 

You can also put the bottom clamp of the spring compressor under the lip of the strut. Thats how I do mine.

 

^ I can see how that could work, but I wouldn't recommend it myself. Could be pretty dangerous if the clamp was to slip off the lip of the spring seat. These springs can pack quite a punch when compressed. Just to give you an idea, I had a friend years ago that tried to rig a series of wrenches together with some threaded rob to make a spring compressor tool... well, the thing broke when he had the spring partial compressed and the spring ended up blasting right through the ceiling of his garage and even damaged the under side of the roof. He had to go up into his attack to get the spring... luckily no one was hurt and the spring was undamaged, but I can't imagine what would have happened if one of our faces was in-line with that spring when it let go.

 

Been there done that. Don't do it! I am lucky the spring wasn't pointed at me. It will work just compressing the springs. Be safe.

 

I dont know wht but this was a cake job for me... all the bolts were easy to remove and the spring compressor worked great... make sure you are using as far separated on the spring as possible to compress it!

 

So last night with 4 bruises and nice cut to my shin and a bump on the head I finally nailed it. Winning!!

I hammered both of the spring compressor holders all the way to the top of the spring and the other side at the bottom. Used an air gun and went to town. After I did that it was cake but definately a pain in the A$$ to get back off after the spring was on. Car beat me twice but I won the war. Hopefully not everything will go this way on the car.

Thanks for the help.....I appreciate it. I will post pics soon