First...the car is a 2002, not a 2001...I apparently can't edit the thread title....

Now...I successfully removed the passenger side strut, and have removed all bolts except the top one holding the driver side strut to the stub axle...it's apparently a camber bolt - the other bolt and the two from the right side are 18 mm bolt head and nut - this bolt has a 14mm head and a 15 mm nut and has a lobe on it...it rotates freely, but it only pulls out about 1/2 inch or so. Hard whacks with a soft mallet doesn't help.

There's also a tabbed washer under the bolt head...the replacement strut from AutoZone doesn't have an indentation for the tab...

Help!!!!!

 

when removing struts from the hubs, I start with the sway bar end link by jacking both wheels off the ground to take all the stress off the end link. When removing the two bolts holding the strut bracket to the hub, I use a bottle jack to also take any weight off the bolts, loosen the top 3 nuts (but don't remove) and wiggle the strut to help them slide when tapping with a hammer. Finally I remove the nuts on top to get the strut out. Dunno about a 14/15 mm nut on my 2000 except for the end link.

 

Thanks for the reply! Does the top bolt holding the left strut bracket to the hub have a lobe on it, or are both bolts identical?

 

Never mind...after rotating the bolt through minute angle changes while whacking the other end with the mallet the bolt finally came out.

 

nice job. Exactly what I meant by "wiggle". with nothing pressing on the bolts you can line up the holes.