Okay guys...here's where I need some expert advice.
I put a set of Bilstien struts on my 04 today (along with the Eibachs) and everything went well...until I drove off. There was a loud clatter from the front end so I pulled over and checked it out - the top of the struts pushed right through the top of the CC plates and they are lose/rolling around in the mount.
What did I miss/do wrong.???? It sounds horrble and every little bump in the road rattles the he[[ out of the struts....

 

Since the struts were bought from a private owner, there were no instructions...so after much agony and research I discovered that ALL of the hardware/fittings/spacers need to be transfered to the new pieces.
I simply removed the struts and placed the inner cylinder tube/cover back in place and that was it! The tube has a rubber coated steel washer that supports the inner cylinder of the strut to the bottom of the CC plates.
I didn't put them on because the new struts already had pretty blue boots on them. They pushed right through and the pretty blue boots were chewed up pretty well....I trashed 'em. So next time either A- get instructions or B- get instructions.
Gotta LOVE backyard mechanic-ing!