People find their own preferred way of doing this job, this is the procedure I use...
Whilst the car is still on its wheels, loosen the strut top nut but don't remove it.
Remove the wheel centre cap and remove the big hub retaining nut, for this you need a decent breaker bar or rattle gun.
Jack up car and remove the wheel. Secure on axle stands or similar.
Remove the arch liner .
Disconnect the ABS sensor up under the wing.
Remove the brake caliper and tie up out of the way.
Remove the drop link.
Split the track rod end ball joint from the hub knuckle.
Remove the wishbone (yes, the bolts may be a pig to remove but may as well do them)
Pull the knuckle outwards and tap the drive shaft through with a lump hammer.
This will leave the strut swinging free, tap a big screwdriver or something into the gap where the pinch bolt came from.
A few will directed hits down on the knuckle with a decent lump hammer will remove it. Doing it this way, its own weight helps to remove it, and you are not fighting against the upward resistance of the wishbone as it's not there.
Remove the top nut and remove the strut.
The knuckle can be easily fitted to the new strut by turning the strut upside down and tapping the knuckle on, then the whole unit can be put back as one and everything re-assembled in reverse order.
It may seem like a lot of work but it gives you the chance to check/replace other things as required, and it really does make the removal of the knuckle from the strut much easier.
Paul
