Originally Posted by quikmni

Rally@stancedesign has it correct. Remove the big bolt on the bottom of shock and the three top bolts, in the engine compartment, on the strut tower. For the front you will also need to unbolt the sway bar end link from the strut. It takes an allen wrench to hold the bolt end link both while you remove the nut with a wrench. For the rear, if you have both rear tires off the ground and fairly even, you do not need to remove the sway bar end links because there will not be much twisting force being applied. If you just do one side at a time, you will need to unbolt the rear sway bar end link due to the force applied from the twisting.

As stated you will need a spring compressor, to add the plate at the top of the strut. After the struct is out of the car, you will also need to be able to remove the top shock nut. On the front the nut is recessed into the top strut mount so a regualr wrench will not work. You need an allen wrench to hold the shock shaft from turning and a deep well socket (with hex top) to turn the nut. You use a wrench to turn the socket with the allen wrench going through the socket (where the rachet would attach) to hold the shaft. I use a spark plug socket because it has a hex head at the top. The rear is not so recessed so a regular wrench can be used. An impact wrench can be used to remove the shock nut (without the allen wrench and socket) but the impact is not a good way to install the nut because it is too easy to overtighten the nut or for the nut to torque-up before it is really tight enough on te shaft (which will cause a klunking noise).

Originally Posted by AliceCooperWA

I don't see how the IE fixed plates will not raise the car slightly...they are considerably taller than stock. I have had them for a long time now and have no problems whatsoever with them, but I don't see how it could not change the ride height, even if it is only 1/4" or so.