[Wildcat]

Having done the struts last summer on both '09s, I'm looking at the service manual and the torque values you give are correct. However, the bolts should all be snug, and the bolts not torqued until you use a jack to support the vehicle's weight with the suspension. The manual says:

"Place the front suspension with a floor jack to load the suspension with the vehicle's weight. NOTE: Do not place the jack against the ball joint of the lower arm." And they do the pinch bolts first, followed by the five nuts on top.

Depending on the amount of rust on the stabilizer bar links, you may want to have two new ones on hand. My '09's links were reusable, but I had to sacrifice them on the other '09 since they were too rusted on. I used a carbide reciprocating saw to get those off of there.

Some of the aftermarket stabilizer bar links have other means to hold the stud in place while you torque it down, such as a hex on the stud so you can hold it with a box wrench. The allen/hex wrench in the end of the OEM stud is a silly idea IMHO, not so much for installation but for eventual removal. If they are rusted, they will only strip out, and rather easily at that. And if that is the case, cutting it off is the only sane way to continue with the job.

I found out how to do the rear struts without undoing the stabilizer bar link--unfasten the two bushings holding the rear stabilizer bar to the body. It will drop down and allow the suspension to move adequately.

 

[Wildcat]

I have only used aftermarket, and a few different brands over the years. They seem to hold up just fine. In fact, I was in a pinch and had to use one from Auto Zone and had no issues with it. Even the OEM links will eventually pop out of their sockets from age and wear.

 

[Wildcat]

Looks like you took good care of it!

If you are doing the rears, I deviated a little from what the service manual's procedure told me to do. I disconnected the control arm, or whatever it's called (I'm too tired to look it up*), and it allowed the suspension to swing down further. I also used a jack under the suspension to move things around and line them up. And I also removed the rear stabilizer bar bushing brackets so the sway bar just hung there, saving me the trouble of undoing the rear stabilizer bar links.

For one of the '09s, the front left strut was making a heck of a racket, and the right wasn't far behind. On the other (mine), the left rear strut was leaking a little, and got worse after a trip out to Colorado and Utah where I went on a couple of bumpy unpaved roads.

* I just wrestled the starter...my arms and neck are beat.