I started hearing noises from my back tire when I hit a bump. I brought it into a trusted mechanic. He saw that one of the brackets on the bottom of the rear strut was broken so he tried to take it off and broke the bold that goes thru the bracket and the end of the strut. So now half the bolt is rusted stuck in the strut and the other bracket. He wants cut the strut to release it from the other bracket. He said he tried everything to get it out but thinks the only way is to cut the part of the strut that's around the broken bolt and replace the strut.

Two questions,
1) is there any other way to get the bolt out so I don't have to replace the entire strut?

2) If I were to need a new strut (Tokico) is it a good idea to replace both of them or is it OK to just replace one?

Thanks
C