I'm trying to install my Eibachs. Rears were a piece of cake but I can't get the front stuts out. I've got the Service Manual
instructions and they make it sound like a piece of cake. So do the fellow owners that have already done this by themselves. What am I missing here

I've removed the following: upper and lower bolts, stabilizer rod between sway bar and transverse link. The strut is free but there still isn't enough room to get the strut fork off the transverse link. Need about another 2" of space.

Do you need to crack the upper ball joint, remove the transverse link at the back/frame mounting point or compress the strut?

Any tips are greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

There's only 1 nut to remove in order to get that 2" of space. It's facing the front of the car and attached to a bolt which is attached to the front stabilizer bar. Remove it, and then the entire arm is free to move down. It takes some force, but you can push it down enough (used my foot) to get the space for the fork to come free. I tried compressing the spring and it took too long.

 

I popped my upper arm loose along with everything else you said...... Takes about 1 minute to do...

gives you lots more room to fish out the strut. You'll need a new cotter pin when reinstalling.

 

Thanks for the tips. I'll most likely pop the upper arm. Makes the most sense and easy to do.