i just finished installing springs and struts into my hatch. Have you tried putting the socket on the lug side and the wrench on the bolt side? This helped a lot. Oh yeah, the rears are a pita... Took some pulling to remove the strut from the lca.

 

ok, so i got the fronts on, now the rears, i can't get that bolt loose, im using a 17 but it keeps slipping off