I've watched a few YT videos and have the service manual, but have a question about what looks to be a shortcut: The FSM says to remove the toe control link to make room for removing the shock. From what it looks like, and from one of the youtube videos that I watched, you can avoid this by just compressing the shock by hand when removing/installing. Sure, you have to be somewhat fast to get it in before the shaft rebounds, but looks like there's time. If this works, all you have to remove are the upper mount nuts and the lower bolt. Has anybody done this?

Also, I've seen a few people that have had the back of the car sit an inch or two high after the install. What causes this? It's not some marginal "new shocks sit higher" situation. Something is obviously wrong. This is for a base '14 RWD, if that matters. Thanks.

 

Anybody done this?