Shock Replacement - Do I Need A Spring Compressor?

No, you do not need a spring compressor to take out the shocks.
Mark

The shock will unbolt from the car with the springs as an assembly.

You need to compress the springs to release the locks and remove the shocks from the springs.

You could do it with a spring compressor...maybe?

I do it in a hydraulic press. It's much easier that way.

Thanks, but I must be doing it wrong...

Is perhaps my suspension too tight (or bound up) and not "drooping enough" when the car is jacked up? I've got a floor jack on the frame jack point, and a jackstand under the sway bar mount. There is nothing pushing up on the end of the A-Arm.

My drivers front shock was compressed into the top and bottom brackets by spring tension - I had to push down on the top with a prybar and compress the spring to get the bolts to slide out.

I got the bolts out, but was not able to swing the shock down at the top, or lift it up and out to free it at the bottom. This is because the spring is still compressed.

If I put a jack under the front wheel by the rotor and lift up, I would only compress the spring more, so that wouldn't help.

Thanks -

Rocky

Do you have both front wheels in the air or just one? The sway bar will keep one side from completely drooping if the other wheel is still touching the ground.

Also, you will need to pop one ball joint to get the STOCK FRONT shocks out because they are so big. Aftermarket shocks will go in and come out without breaking loose the ball joints...

That's probably my problem, I only had one side up.

Also, when you say "pop one ball joint", you obviously mean to unbolt the bolts that go through the upper or lower arm, right?

Sorry, don't mean to be a moron, but I want to make sure I understand what you are saying.

Thanks -

Rocky

On the fronts, you may have to unbolt the lower ball joint bolts as well to allow you to swing the coil over up and out. Have the car jacked up entirely in the front. Not just one wheel. Have a small curved pry bar to assist (like a brake tool). The rears are easier since there is no ball joint involved. Just takes same patience and a like muscle. Good luck.

chuck , i have a spring compressor to remove the spring from the shock when you need it. also try unbolting sway bar from lower arm on both sides will let suspension droop.

Be careful when you unbolt and separate the lower ball joint from the lower a-arm, as the suspension components will be free to "fall" on their own. Put a support under the brake rotor. If it falls, it can really hurt you, as well as damage the brake hose.

John