Sorry been busy and forget to stop by the site.

Anywhoo the upper strut mount does make a poping kind of noise. I need to change mine. I really don't know how to tell if they are bad though. I know mine are making noise because everything else in my front end is good. I'm putting lowering springs on in the next few days and I'm gonna get the upper mounts while I'm at it. I know the mount has a bearing in it that goes bad and thats what makes noise.

To remove the springs, do you need a special tool? or do they simply bolt on and off?