The shock absorber on my 245 1990 in the front passenger side is leaking fluid badly and the accordion rubber boot as well as the rubber damper at the top are torn.I have as a parts car a 1986 of the same model and there is only 25 000 miles on the strut inserts and rubber goodies . Would it be just as easy to remove from the parst car the whole McPherson strut assembly complete with coil springs from the ball joint up and install it than extract the strut insert from the parts car, remove the bad strut from the running car and install the good strut insert with the good rubber goodies on the running car ?

Along the way I will keep the best of the ball joints or if none is good put a new one on. Currently I drive no more than 6000 miles a year and would expect that the strut from the parts car would be good for another 3 to 4 years of usage.

Both cars have run approximately 150 000 miles.I know that I can remove the whole assembly from a 1986 245 since I have done so 13 years ago but I have never put one on. I suppose that there is a need to compress the coil spring and expect that the car will need a front wheel alignment.If all goes well I might do both sides Any opinion or advice ?