[s-cars] Bad Tire Wear...Blown Strut?

[Calvin & Diana Craig]

In changing my brake pads today I jacked up the car passenger side, changed
the pads, noticed a little bit of excessive wear on the inner side of the
tire...in need of an alignment sort of thing and let the car back down.  I
then went to the driver's side and jacked the car up...and jacked the car
up....and jacked the car up some more, at about 10 inches of clearance
between the fender and the tire the front wheel was still not off the
ground.  I jacked the suspension up with one jack and the body with another
so I could finish the brake job and noticed REALLY BAD inner side tire wear
on the driver's side.  Could this be a blown strut cartridge causing this
"jacking forever" syndrome, as well as the really excessive tire wear?  I
checked everything else on the suspension and all looked good.  Assuming it
is a blown strut what is a good strut cartridege to complement the stock '92
S4 suspension?  Thanks!
--Calvin Craig