Forthe nut that holds the strut on the chassis, I made my own socket up, by cutting the top of a socket in a bench grinder, so that I could get a spanner on it. I can then drop an allen key through top of it and hold the strut steady with pliers on the allen key.
when the shock is off, you can tap the one side of the slot, by putting a screwdriver in it and wacking it first (to loosen it) with a hammer in an anti clock wise direction. Then just tap it round lightly until it's loose enough for your fingers. A bit of WD40 might help too.