Is it possible to jack the frame up, let the suspension sag enough to get the strut to drop? Will this give me enough room to swap the coils?

Or should I just pull the front end apart and slide the strut off?

Gonna use 2 ratchet straps to compress the coils.

 

I guess it'd work,but maybe I worked on em too long to get that innovative.To me sounds the same as needing to pull a tooth,but going through your rear end to do it.. Guess I was spoiled by having a lift and too many shop tools with in easy reach..

 

I'm open to suggestions.

 

I guess I did it the hard way or cheated as air tools make this a fairly easy job.I removed the tire,tie rod,then I clamped the cartridge shaft with a shop towel and vice grips to hold it steady,loosened the top strut nut with an air ratchet or wrench if I couldn't get the ratchet on it.Lowered the strut assy down slowly,impacted the cartridge nut off and removed the spring retainer plate,removed the old spring. Some people used straps,spring compressors,etc,but I just used the vice grips again after the new spring was on,ramped the vice grips up a rung or so just enough to compress the spring,got the retainer cap and nut started. I impacted the nut tight,replace the lower plastic pivot,shoved the strut up in place,replaced the top pivot,rubber and steel washer and nut and I was through.Hard part is to make sure you don't pull the cv joint apart at the strut when working the spring off and on! Air tools make work a lot easier if you have to do this day in day out.

 

Thanks OPT. We do have air tools, there are many things we do that would be harder without.

Will post an update once done.