I read the service manual and found something here as well, but nobody prepared me for the wing nut from hell.

I had the front-end squeaks due to that rubber spring support failing. It's only 56k - the dealer said "It's not a common thing..." and a very nice (and pricey) mechanic also said "We don't see that much on those..."

Anyway - dealer price - $240 plus they wanted to do an alignment after...

I picked up the replacement supports at the dealer $70+. I stopped at AutoZone and rented spring compressors ($40, but you get it all back upon return). It's 5:30 EST and I figure I can get one done in an hour... [note: I've never done suspension work before - I have a habit of being over-confident with this stuff...]

I had it planned in my head...
1) loosen the lugs
2) raise the car
3) remove the tire
4) loosen the 2 bolts on the knuckle... these are where the strut attaches to the wheel area
5) well, it's not in the book, but how about I loosen that 15mm nut that is attached to the link between something and the strut (see I never did this before... I know you are cringing thinking of me and a spring compressor)
6) remmove wire attached to strut... abs or brake sensor leads?
7) wiggle it... twist it... wiggle it again...
8) attach one spring compressor and get a little "slack" in the strut
9) loosen the three bolts that hold the strut mount (bearing) to the body
9) wiggle the strut free from the wheel knuckle - that wasn't fun and I'm not liking the idea of putting it back
10) completely lossen 3 bolts that hold to body...
11) spring compressor! crank em down some
12) remove the strut retaining nut... hmmm that wasn't so bad (I used an electric impact wrench so how could it be - very little spin in that center shaft (this may be easier than I thought!) remove dust cap
13) hmmm... I need to get a better angle on that wing nut... compress some more - hey the bearing just fell over the wing nut! hmmm... compress some more
14) it's getting dark, I'm going in and I've wrestled with this wing nut longer than I thought the whole job would take. I sort of started rounding the center shaft of the strut a little with a 3/8 wrench. hmmmm...
15) it's 8:20! Back to AutoZone. Call Advance Auto no the phone - do they have that shock absorber tool $12.99 online? No - they have no clue...
16)AutoZone... "WOW that thing is compressed" They may have never seen my issue, but the one guy is more than willing to pull the AutoZone Pipe wrench pair out... With the help of another customer we bust the wing nut free!!! Yeah!
17) go back home... maybe I'll jsut put the strut together with the new support... sure... not too bad
18) hmmm... this was that part I wasn't so sure about... the spring has the strut out at full length. I can get two bolts through and tight, but dropped the third while playing around getting things lined up right...
19) 30 minnutes of turning the drivers wheel, lifting the wheel turning the strut, putting one spring compressor on... what a pain, but YES! it's on!
20) tighten the three top and two lower bolts. put the brake sensor wires back on...
21) hmmm... that link just isn't going to get back on is it? I put the wheel back on and lower the car... it's a bit uneven where I'm doing this, so it ends up tkaing two tries, but I get the nut on the link thread...
22) jack the car up again... remove the wheel... WHERE IS MY 15mm??? 5/8 works - not the box end though, just be careful - it's sloppy
23) tighten lugs, lower car, and tighten the 15mm blindly behind the wheel... check all bolts for tight...
24) I was making sure all along, but one more time with the flashlight - are there any parts left over???
25) hmmmmm... moment of truth... slowly back out of the spot (I did this in my apartment parking lot) no weird noises - no squeaks... slowly start pulling... ok you get what happens... successful QUIET test drive

now my back is a pain, but I will sleep very well...
it took 5 hours - most of that time was wasted on that wing nut and driving to autozone for their pipewrench special. now I can wax philosophical - so what, I saved $170... it took 5 hours... 5*25 = 125 - oh don't forget picking up parts and 3 trips to autozone... I basically saved about $10, but learned a bunch... the other one will go far more smoothly. If anyone has any hints on how to make getting the strut in or out easier, let me know.