After much time spent reading the FAQ and posts here about struts and much time spent putting the job off for dread of doing it, its finally done. I used my Bentley 240 manual, an IPD catalog, and printed FAQ material while doing it. Mostly I used the writeup from the FAQ because it was the most complete and comprehensive. The others were used mostly for pictures and reference.

I purchased a pneumatic impact wrench with this task as the excuse for purchasing it. WOW! My life is so much better now. Its fun to break stuff loose now, and quick.

I may be doing it again because I think my new bearings are starting to creak already. If this turns out to be the case, I'll post here so that you know at least one person had a bad experience with Brand X strut bearings.

I believe the strut cartridges were original. They don't rebound at all. They resist movement some but if you compress or expand them, they just stay where you left them. That explains the ridiculous impacts I was feeling on rough roads (like the one I live on). Much better now.
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92 745T 125K; 83 242Ti 188K - Brick on blocks for now.