I finally have the time to do this project(just the front for now :D ).
Fast Times Bavauto Newsletter Summer 2006.
1. Raise the front wheels off the ground by jacking up and supporting the front of the vehicle using
appropriate jack stands. Remove the wheels. I placed another 2Ton jack under the engine jacking point for added safety.
Put chocks on the rear wheel.
Attachment 89873

2 Disconnect and set aside the ABS sender and brake pad wear sensor wires. Open plastic box and take cables out
(there are 2 on driver's side, one on the passenger side). Unlatched wires from the spindle bracket.
Attachment 89874

3 Loosen the 2 strut-to-spindle bolts (18mm and 16mm).
Attachment 89875

4 Place a floor jack under the strut & control arm assembly and raise it slightly. Remove the 3 upper strut mount nuts.
Attachment 89876

5 Lower the floor jack. Remove the 2 strut to spindle bolts that were loosened in step 3. Separate the strut from the spindle
and lift the strut assembly out of the vehicle.
Attachment 89879

Trick: I used a Brake pad Spreader to push strut assembly out of the spindle.
Attachment 89883
Attachment 89880

6 Using a spring compressor, compress the spring and remove the shock-to-mount nut.
Attachment 89881

7 Disassemble the upper mount, washers, spring perch, spring perch isolator, compressed spring, lower spring seat isolator, compression absorber
and dust tube from the old shock.

8 Assemble all of the parts from step 7 onto the new shock.
Attachment 89885

9 Install the strut assembly into the vehicle in the reverse procedure from removal. Reconnect the ABS and brake pad wear sensor wires. Install the
wheels and lower the vehicle.
Attachment 89886

Attachment 89887

Whew! I'm going to take a good rest and postpone the rear install. Thanks to Allen AKA e6t.lab.rat for the advice on using a rachet strap.
It made the install quicker. I will continue this DIY another day(give this 50 year old guy a break :P ). Oh, BTW, the ride is great, even with just the front
with new shocks and old shocks at the rear.

Great DIY. Please continue...

Great DIY Joe!! I knew you could do it. Just be sure to fully recover before you take on the rears, especially the passenger side. :thumbsup:

good stuff Joe :)

Great DIY :thumbsup:

Thanks guys. Now that I've done it I could tell how the mechanic at TrueLine Wheel Alignment messed up the last job. They lost one bolt and put a different size, luckilly, I have an assortment of sockets. The spring was not seated properly on the rubber pads(upper and lower). And both cover caps were missing :angry: .

:twoup: Thank you Joe *Bookmarked*