Well, I went to install my eibach pro kit this weekend, and ran into one big annoying problem. I got the fronts installed and the rear drivers side installed. I pulled out the passanger side rear strut and could not get metal conical piece with the shaft that slides over the threads on the strut off. They were fused to the strut bacically, leaving me no way to get the stock spring off. I tried absolutely everything to get it off including heating it up red hot with a torch and putting a 2 jaw crank gear puller on it and reaming it down. It's like that piece is welded on there... I haven't worked with shocks/struts before, so if there is a trick to getting that thing out, please fill me in. I ordered a set of KYB AGX shocks for the rear and 2 upper mount kits. I assume that the upper mount comes with the pieces that I mentioned above... If someone could re-assure me on this, I would feel a lot better.

hey matt...i had the same problem with my stuff when i did coilovers. its a b*tch but just heat them up and beat em off. and the upper mount you're talkin bout has the lil metal sleeve over the shaft too right?

Yea, I got the new stuff today, and the upper mount came with the sleeve that I needed, but not the metal piece that the rubber sleeve (that covers the shaft) slides over to hold it in place. Looks like all i need is a NAPA run and I'll have it together easily. I'm pumped to tinker with the new KYB's.

B.T.W. I heated that thing up red hot 4 times and torqued and beat the shit out of it... that thing is not coming off... ever :rolleyes. All of the other ones came off like nothing... makes no sense to me. The only reason that I can think of for it is that at some point that area of the strut got slightly bent where that steel shaft slides on. Thats the only thing that I can think of that would keep it on there so good.

I just went through the same $hit 2 weeks ago, make sure when you heat up the sleeve, you heat it as fast as you can so you dont get the shock shaft hot. I had a two pairs of vise grips, one on the end of the shaft and one on the sleeve and worked them in opposite directions a tiny bit at a time. I twisted the top of the shaft off because it was so tight, so I had to grip it on the threads, then they came apart. and when i tried the beating it off method, i bent the shaft all to hell. Just be carefull because the shock can blow up on you if you get the shaft to hot.:wary

Which piece?

http://www.2gnt.com/CAPS/main33/main33sub110.html

Its the metal sleeve that slides over the strut just above where the bump stop is. It comes with an upper mount kit. What I wound up doing is taking an angle grinder to the stock spring, then took the angle grinder and cut just above where the metal piece is that the rubber shaft cover slides over. Once I made that cut, I was able to get the rubber sleeve and that metal mounting piece for it off to use with the new struts. I got it all together yesterday and the drop looks good and the ride with the KYB AGX struts is very nice. The $15 rear camber mod brought the rears to what looks to be the perfect amount of camber. The fronts are just a hair off, but they should be fine with only a 1.5" drop I would imagine.

My 95's did the same thing. I think the drivers side rear was the hardest but the passenger rear was also hard. I think we eneded up using a big ass hamer. Good luck.