ok so i got the old strut out fine, but then i went to install the new one, put the spring over the new strut, made sure its in the right spot. i get it in there, bottem part is over the part where the bolts line up but the holes wont line up. and i cant get the strut throught the tower either. i tightened the compressors a lot and still cant. so i kept tightening em and then all of a sudden one slid down next to the other. so i was like ok that sucks but i can fix it. took one off, loosened the other, put em both back on tightening equally. happened again. wtf? i cant get the struts in if i dont tighten the springs more?? gah i hate these damn autozone strut compressors...the machine is sooo much easier

 

firts off you are right. compress the spring and make sure that the bold on the top is screwed in AAAAAALLLLLLLL the way then you can let the sping go and it will be tensioned. ... the other thing is: your strut will only go in one way even tho there are 3 bolts on top which look exactly the same and it looks like it does not matter which goes where. wrong. the easiest way to know if it is properly aligned is to get the piece with two holes for the large bolts on the bottom of the strut itself to face toward you. put the top end of the strut in first. then connect the bottom. i am not sure what exactly were you talking about when you refered to "the part" in three different way. so i got a lil confused. hope this helps you. good luck

 

It sounds like your saying you can't get the struts in the car, as they won't fit? If thats the case, make sure your a arms are not sitting on jack stands and they will take some finess to get them back in

 

not sure what you mean by this? i never undid the three bolts on the strut tower, i just got the 2 off from the bottem, compressed spring, and then undid the bolt from top of strut.

and:

the 'part' #1 refers to bottem of the strut where u put the 2 big bolts through, the 'part' # 2 refers to the part #1 slides over thats right behind the rotor.

and to motocross: nope. jacks are on pinch welds.

 

those three bolts were supposed to come off and the two off the bottom of the strut. thats it. THE ONE bolt on the top that holds the compressed spring is only used to litteraly Hold the spring compressed. three bolts on top which u apparently left, are holding the top of the spring assembly. Which is why it is so hard to get the spring back in.
suggestion: take that top piece off and put your spring on the new strut and put it back together outside your car. whenever you get that done, the strut should have a tensioned spring on it, and you can then put it in your car.

this link will show you the top pieces that should come out with the strut assembly
http://www.autopartsauthority.com/sp...trut-mount.jpg

 

ohhhhh ok! i gotcha now. i was wondering why when i helped my friend with his Vdub he took those off as well lol. damn knowing that would have caused so much less frustration and a toe without pain! (i kicked a door.) i guess its adjustable wrech time cause i dont have a socket/combination wrench that big.