Yes, the "fused" problem i was talking about did prevent me from getting the new struts then. The guy doing the work was a local repair shop and i dont think he wanted to do the job in the first place so i wasnt surprised when he said there was nothing he could do about the fused bits. He didnt say there was nothing that could be done just taht there was nothing he could do. As for your ideas the one about the suspension bushing being fused to the control arm bolt seems to ring a bell a little bit, still not sure though. I dont have anything non stock on my car so i dont think its the thing you mentioned about ebay bargains.

By the way the best any shop could offer me for oem struts was 109 a piece which works out to $440 total for all four. So i am thinking those on ebay, the gr-2s are the way to go for me since they are only 200 and you guys say they will go nice with my stock springs. That sound right?