Let the PB soak in over 24 hours. Spray it every couple of hours.

I'll do that and try to break the nut free again tomorrow, if there is not anything I need from the old ones I'll just replace the strut mounts since I already ordered them, I hope there are no spacers or anything I need from the old struts, if there are any hopefully they come with the rear strut mount kit, from looking at the old mount, and the new strut, I don't think there is anything I need from the old struts.

Here is a pic of the supposed access hole, it is not like I expected it to be, the access hole that is there for that strut tower nut seems like it is not real access hole, as if it was the socket would have fit through it, if that socket would have fit through I am sure I could have broke that nut free before I removed the strut to knuckle bolts, and the strut.
Hopefully you can see enough to understand what I am explaining, that hole was not a true circular hole, so I had to remove the strut with the strut mount attached.



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usually the strut comes with the new nut. and the only way i could get that nut off was to put the strut in my vise and use the impact, its like alts and others you dont have to be able to hold it that tight for the impact to work. that wasent even the hardest part for me was getting the spindle bolts out they were corroded in place and i had to torch the heck out of it and get out my 8lb'er

There looks like there may be 2 spacers or something on the strut mount, one is definitely on top, and I guess one is below under the strut mount also, those are what I really hope comes with the kit, if not I'll have too try to see if I can order them from GM.

Fought the nut with all I had, and I got the old nut off of the old strut, and got my spacer and strut mount attached to the new strut, got it up in there, and can get one bolt in the hole, and the second bolt 3/4 of the way lined up to go in, but it just refuses to go in when I jack the knuckle back up a little, so since it got dark on me I accept temporary defeat, but I'll get it somehow tomorrow.

Side note, when I got the new strut mount to 70 ft lbs the torx head started stripping, so I hope the struts last the life of the car, if not I'll need new spaces next time for sure.

i think you have to get the top in first because that mount could be twisted a little then its easier to twist the body to get it to line up with the spindle

Thanks, I'll give that a try and see if I can get it.

After watching your struggles, I am really glad I opted for the quick struts. They just popped out and popped in.

You just jack the car up, jack stands under the spring cups, unbolt the back knuckles, and the top of the struts. Clap off, clap on. You jack the car back up, get the wheels back on it, air the struts sky high, and drop the car back on the ground.

Oh, and crack a beer as the car settles back down.

Alignment afterwards is good too.

I could not find a quick strut for the rear, I'm not sure they make them.
For my front struts when I can afford to get them I'll go KYB or Monroe Quick Struts.

I unbolted the knuckle and then getting the strut attached to the body was much easier.
Was I supposed to add air to my struts before lowering the car?
I was under the assumption I put them on as is and they'd adjust via the compressor.
I know I had my car on a lift a while back and the guy was asking about a switch to cut off the compressor or something, he said he was supposed to do something with it, but he found on my car that it did not have the switch he was looking for, so he just lowered the lift and the car seemed fine.

It seems to be right so far, but I have not cross referenced my right height specs on a level road yet.

The reason to fire the compressor is so that the bag lays properly. If you just extend the strut, the airbag could get pinched when the car gets put back down. I had that issue, and you can ruin new struts. Pinched airbag is immediately obvious by a complete lack of suspension movement, usually resulting in rattling of your teeth.

If it went down fine, you will prolly be fine. Maybe throw a bunch of weight back in the trunk when done to make it resettle the airbags.