well i have enlisted the esteemed whunter to look into my installation dilema which makes me hopeful. I did, however, come across an additional snafu (not to mention expense) today when I realized the Ball Joints on the base of the used struts I pulled need to be replaced before I install them. In addition to $100 per side for the kit it seems that special tools are needed to get these on and off (a 19mm open end wrench and a pin spanner?) and the piston rod has to be heated to 80-100 deg/C so the locking compound used on the threads of the Ball Joint turn to liquid enabling me to loosen it. this is never ending. Any help on this job would be appreciated as well.
Bottom line: rear struts are expensive (new strut plus upper bushing kit plus ball joint can get up close to the $500 range PER SIDE!) and people that know nothing of these systems or simply don't want to deal with them anymore and switch them out for shocks have no business owning these vehicles in the first place. AAARghh. There isn't a smile face that describes the headache this all is giving me.