I did use the spring compressors. When I re-assembled everything and was lining up the strut to the pinch bolt is when the cap randomly shot off, guess it wasn't on there quite enough. Either way, after a shitload of hunting and the Autozone guy telling me to buy another strut(?), I found a nut that fits but it doesn't have the nylon lock on it, they didnt have the r ight size in those... Anyway, in case anyone screws this up somehow too, its a 10mm w/ a 1.25 pitch and mine was dirty as all hell and took a wire brush and a die set to get anything on there.

 

Vice grips and spring compressors are the same thing, but spring compressors are easier to use.