The teardown of my replacement frame is nearing completion.
Removing the front end is always fun.
4lb sledge to the spindle to shock the ball joints loose, few gentle taps nothing... another half dozen full swings did the trick.
Using the deep socket trick to break shock tower, aided the process.
Onto the fun part, removing the spring without the use of a spring compressor.
I managed to get the upper ball joint castle nut off without losing any fingers when the upper control arm popped up.
Having the shock still attached to the lower control arm with rusty spinning nuts.
I figured I try removing the lower control arm with the shock and spring intact.
put the floor jack under the control arm on the bolt end to help support it, removed the two bolts, lowered the jack, had to pry the control arm down and out it came spring shock and all.
The best part, I still have all my fingers. (R/R front springs always make me nervous)

 

I tried using a spring compressor once and it was more of a pain than not using it. Now I put a chain through the center of the spring (for safety) and use a floor jack to lower the control arm until the spring falls out. Much easier than using a spring compressor.

 

Even better is cutting the spring with a torch before removing the shock. Obviously that isn’t an option if you plan to reuse the spring.


Either put a chain thru the spring as suggested, or use a spring tool. To reinstall the spring, wrap a chain from the bottom of floor jack, over the frame, and then hook it to the bottom of the floor jack on the opposite side. This works well if you don’t have the engine/sheet metal/etc to keep the jack from raising the car instead of collapsing the spring

 

So long as there's an engine in the frame.