if the weight of the vehicle is on it, the cannon can't fire. Loosening it at ride level actually can help to keep it from spinning on you. Just loosen. Do not remove.

 

Judging by his pi, the strut is already on the bench. The problem seems to be he does not have a thin wall socket.

But I don't know why anyone would be lowering a car and using shocks that are , at least, 7 years old.

 

I will second that. Don't re-use the OEM shocks or struts.