LS4 Performance - My strut bad?

I'm getting some play kind of creaking sound while braking accelerating from the front left. I have new control arm and tie rods. I was thinking maybe mount so I removed. Strut can be pushed down by hand kind of easy. Takes 10 sec to fully come back up. This sound good? Also I thought stock was blisteins but they are not yellow or blue. They are black with no name visible. what can I get

What make/year car do you have? I know the GXP's came with Bilstein struts but I don't think the Imps or Monte's did.

Its a 06 monte ss just would like a stock our similar strut

What make/year car do you have? I know the GXP's came with Bilstein struts but I don't think the Imps or Monte's did.

correct. the imp/mcss didnt get the bilsteins, the gxp/laxsuper did.