What are the Requirments for changing my struts, New KYB's and S-Techs in the mail Options

[k-weaver]

Ok, so I have been wanting to change my suspension ever since I got my car and the time is finally coming. I just purchased and received some KYB GR-2's and my teins are in the mail. I just had a couple of questions on what is needed for the install.

1.) Can I use the orignal stock mounts that are at the top of the strut? (I'm refering to the piece that holds the spring on from the top end)

2.) I noticed that someone else recently did an install of the same set up and he used what appeared to be a rubber piece on the strut. Right where the spring would sit on the strut (bottom of strut), are these necessary?

3.) How hard are these bolts going to be to get off?

4.) Is there a certain way you need to place the spring onto the strut? Or can you just slap it on there?

[Galcobar]

1) Possibly (depends on condition, strut mounts can be literally falling apart). About $55 each to replace.

2) Spring seat isolators are required. You may also need an isolator for the upper spring seat (dealer items).

3) Easy if they're not rusted, aside from a few set with over 100 ft-lbs of torque. Rusted or seized bolts between the strut and the knuckle/axle carrier cracked a socket (not a cheap one either).

4) Groove on the bottom, and you have to ensure the spring seats are correctly positioned before tightening up the strut mount to chassis bolts.

Actually, found the Haynes manual to be fairly useful for this job and it has the necessary torque specs.