I'm doing the struts on my 87 brat and when I put them back together the "top hat"/strut mount will not turn. I've tried it dry and packed with grease. Is there a brearing or something thats supposed to go in between the strut mount and the top spring carrier? Or are you not able to turn them by hand like the ej struts

They should spin, that's what allows the front wheels to turn on a McPherson strut suspension.  I can't picture it in my mind on an EA81, but on an Impreza, there is a cone washer that goes between the upper spring perch and the inner race of the top hat's bearing.