Front Strut/Spring Replacement (w/ Eibach)

Courtesy of elfhearse on Mazds247
Link: http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123791648-DIY-FRONT-Eibach-strut-springs

A simple view at the replacement of the Mazda2 Front Strut

1. Jack up the front end, place on stands, remove front wheels.
2. Unbolt 2 lower bolts securing wheel/brake assy. to strut, wheel assy. This will drop away so make sure to support it on some wooden blocks, remove brake line and upper tie rod (?) connector per picture below
   
   
3. Upper strut bolts - mark a strut bolt so you reinstall it in the same location. 14MM socket to remove the 3 strut nuts (Hint: You can unbolted the brake fluid reservoir and moved it out of the way)
   
   
4. Remove the strut assembly. Secure the strut assembly in a vise or suitable device and completely compress the struts using "approved strut spring compressor device"
5. After the strut springs are compressed completely, you have to remove the upper strut nut off the rod......in lieu of special tool, instead use a 17mm deep air socket with vise grip and 8mm allen wrench. (At first a chromed socket was used but couldn't get enough grip on the socket so switched to the "iron" socket.) Hold rod with the allen wrench and loosen the upper rod nut, remove nut, remove hat and spring.
   
   
6. Eibach spring shown with stock strut spring. Eibach spring has thin plastic cover/bumper ... The heavy grey OEM spring cover from stock spring and placed it in same top location on the Eibach (Assumtion is that it acts as a bump-stop when the strut bottoms out)
   
   
7. Reinstall spring on strut, install top "hat" and reinstall rod nut (Due to space this was only hand tighten and used Blue Loctiteto avoid problems) Make sure the lower spring fits into the notch on the strut assembly as shown in pic below
   
   
8. Release strut spring compressors (slowly) and make sure lower spring end stays in the strut notch. Re-install on car/ make sure upper strut bolts/hat go back to the original location using the paint alignment markings you put on prior to removing.
9. Install top strut nuts but don't tighten them completely until job is finished and car is back on the ground. Reinstall brake line, tie rod(?) connector, brake assembly, and wheel.
10. SLOWLY lower the car to the ground and keep an eye on the strut spring as it compresses....you may have to turn the spring slightly to keep it in the lower strut notch.
11. Tighten upper strut nuts when car is on the ground and settled.
12. DONE!