Just in case someone wants to know how to do it here are the steps of what i did. the total time is ~5 hrs. This includes my trip to and from the shop and waiting for them to remove the strut assembly and replacing it with the Bilsteins shocks.
Tools: Power tool if you have them. The 3 bolt on top of the struts are 14mm and the big one on the bottom is 3/4 (thats what i have to use for my power tool)
- jack up the car on both sides using jack stands
- remove tires
-put a small jack under the control arm (a trick i learned a long time ago lowering cars ) see pictures. I use the jack to hold the control arm so it wouldnt drop when i remove the big bolt and the 3 nut on top. The jack also help push up the top wishbone so i can loosen the nut with a socket wrench. when i remove the big bolt and the 3 nut i lower the jack until the strut is fully extended.
-push down on the rotor so you can squeeze the strut out.
-once out take it the shop and have them replace it with the new Bilstein shock.
-to install push the rotor down and insert the strut assembly top in first. I put the two top nuts on so I dont have to keep on holding it. I tap the bottom in. Once in I use the jack to raise the control arm up so the strut are flush on top and the bottom hole wouldnt be crooked. Put in the big bolt,tighten it and tighten the 3 nut on top
-put tire back on and lower.
Hope this help at least 1 person.
Tools: Power tool if you have them. The 3 bolt on top of the struts are 14mm and the big one on the bottom is 3/4 (thats what i have to use for my power tool)
- jack up the car on both sides using jack stands
- remove tires
-put a small jack under the control arm (a trick i learned a long time ago lowering cars ) see pictures. I use the jack to hold the control arm so it wouldnt drop when i remove the big bolt and the 3 nut on top. The jack also help push up the top wishbone so i can loosen the nut with a socket wrench. when i remove the big bolt and the 3 nut i lower the jack until the strut is fully extended.
-push down on the rotor so you can squeeze the strut out.
-once out take it the shop and have them replace it with the new Bilstein shock.
-to install push the rotor down and insert the strut assembly top in first. I put the two top nuts on so I dont have to keep on holding it. I tap the bottom in. Once in I use the jack to raise the control arm up so the strut are flush on top and the bottom hole wouldnt be crooked. Put in the big bolt,tighten it and tighten the 3 nut on top
-put tire back on and lower.
Hope this help at least 1 person.