All the instructions I can find for installing springs tell you how to remove them, take them apart, put them back together, then to actually install them, nothing, or just "do the removal in reverse". Well, it isn't that easy! How can the springs be compressed in the wheel well to get the steering knuckle bolts to line up? PITA!!!

 

you want to line them back up.. get the spring compressor.. compress it and spin it around.. or pull it all down again

 

If the car is lifted and the wheels are in the 'dropped' position... You won't have any problems for the fronts or rears (the rear you need someone to put on the nuts from the trunk area). You will need the use of a spring compressor and make sure you put all the parts back together in the proper position.

 

I had the car lifted ... the McPherson unit was a assembled, and I did give it a try with the compressors in the wheel well. Not a lot of room in there, is there? Enough for one day. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor ...

 

So are you trying to compress the spring while on the car? remove the shock with the spring and then once you get all that off the car then compress the spring while is off the car, trying to do that while on the is going to take you hours. I hope that helps. If not then drop both sides at the same time and take one apart then put it together and look at the other while your putting it back together, spring installation is not hard just a bit time consuming.,

 

After you got the strut/spring assembled, take the spring compressor off. You can not install it on the car with it on.

 

Yep, I meant use the spring compressor to disassemble/reassemble the strut assembly only.

You shouldn't need to use it to put the assembly back onto the car (or taking it out). If both sides are lifted there should be more than enough room as the lower arms drop giving you the clearance. Have a friend give you a hand the 1st installation.

 

Take the whole assembly (spring+shock) out. And then compress the spring and separate it from the shock.. Got it?

 

Push the steering knuckle down, not the strut up! Make sure both wheels are off the gound or the front stabalizer bar will work against you. There's plenty of play there, you should not be having any problems installing the strut/spring assembly back into your car. Something doesn't make sense. It's as straight forward as putting butter on bread.

 

AHA! NOW I think I understand the problem. I only jacked up the side I was working on, so I could not push down the steering knuckle as far as I thought it should go. Trying to get the strut/spring unit to compress into place does not seem the right way to go about it!

 

Sounds like the front anti-sway bar is the problem. Since it is attached to both lower control arms and you have one arm up, it tends to keep the other arm up also. There is only one nut that you have to remove on the end link to relieve the tension.