This is for the Mk4 XR3i which i did this on but should be the same with most Ford models.

Ok want rid of those horrible ageing strut tops and want to fit nice shiney stainless ones as sods law has it one side will always come off easy then when you come to loosen off the lock nut on the other strut it wont budge no matter how much brute force you use and shouting rude words at it or it just goes round and round. Well fear not and dont waste your effort trying to snap your spanners in the process i've got a simple solution.

Ok what you need is a 19mm Ring Spanner, a 6mm or 5mm depending on model Allan Key or 6mm or 5mm Allan Key Socket bit the later is the better as you can get more grip with it and an ordinary heat gun. Now this is the good bit heat up the lock nut that holds the strut top on with some kind of invisible super force that man has not yet come across untill now lol heat it for about a minute with the heat gun as in Fig.1

Then just simply unsrew the nut all the way off and lift off the old strut tops always a good idea to hang on to these in case you want to sell your car later.Now put your new shiney strut tops on and tighten the lock nuts back up, there you go job done and no scraped knuckles and you have an engine bay to be proud of well almost.