rear coil spring removal

[grey3800]

Help!
Im in the middle of replacing all 4 springs and struts. Got the front done (yay!).

Im a bit confused on the order of removal to get to the rear spring,

Here is what the book says:

Tire/wheel
rear sway
Jack to support control arm
loop a safety chain through spring
remove rear control arm bolt
relieve tension in jack
remove front control arm bolt
release tension in jack
lower control arm and spring assembly

Im not sure if the strut is supposed to be out of the way or installed for the spring removal process.....

Do I need to have the new strut in place before I try to remove the coil spring?

Should I bother putting the spring compressor on for the rear springs? (seems like it will be difficult to compress the spring while trying to align it to the control arm holes for the bolts....)

thanks.

[willwren]

Don't use a safety chain. Use spring compressors. Remove the strut first. Put it back last.

[Jrs3800]

Curious as to why you are going to remove the rear springs? Are you replacing them?

[grey3800]

Will, Ill go for the compressors, I wonder why the service manual doesn't call for them...

If I do the compressors, I likely will not need to remove the control arm bolts correct? I would prefer not to if I don't have to.

Jr, I am replacing the springs and struts, my bonne has the original suspension, 18yrs and 250k miles, she has a case of serious saggyness in back. So far the two rear struts in back are completely dead, front were very weak.

thanks again guys, I'm glad we have this site and helpful people as a resource!