It's been so long since I had the front shocks out of the car I can't remember: isn't the bottom spring plate pressed on to the strut, i.e. non-removable? I bought new ones today and the new ones don't have any bottom spring plates on them. They should, shouldn't they? Wrong part?

 

The lower spring seat is just pressed onto the stock shock barrel, and comes off fairly easily. Just tap it lightly with a hammer.

 

Thanks for the pic.