After a failed try to replace the front strut inserts last weekend, I am planning to do it again in the coming weekend.

The top nuts for both struts did not give me too much trouble -- I was able to loosen them with two big adjustable wrenches, and turn toward opposit directions. The big 'gland nut' that holds the strut inserts in the tube, however, were solidly rusted. Before removing anything else, I tried to break them loose with a 3lb sledge hammer and a punch. No amount of banging seemed to be able to make them budge. I sprayed some PB Blaster on them from time to time, hoping they may seep in with the banging. Next time, I am planning to grab the nut with a sliding joint plyer and pull really hard. My first question is, if I pull really hard (without detaching anything yet) on the gland nut, will I break anything, such as the spring seats, strut mounts, or anything I am not even aware of?

Assuming I could break it loose, all instructions said pry the top of the struts out of the wheel well. The instructions also said remove a mounting pad of the brake hose to give it more room of play. But after checking the mounting plate, I found it is where the rubber brake hose meets the metal line, which means even if I loosen the mounting plate, the metal brake line will still be stretched and twisted. Did I get the instructions wrong somewhere?

Thanks in advance.
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1994 944NA 100K miles