This proved to be challenging. The first side took way longer than the second. An interesting note was the replacement of tie rod end nuts. I got new ones from the dealer as was suggested and they would not go on with a normal wrench once the threads met the nylon. The shaft would rotate along with the fastner and I got nowhere. That issue was overcome with my now trusty electric impact gun. I finished the job with a torque wrench.

I also found that trying to get the strut nut back on with the strut in the wheel well is more difficult than compressing the spring assembly a little more and putting it on outside the wheel well.

On using the spring compressors, it looked deceptively simple. Depending on the type, make sure that you compress such that the threaded rod does not interfere with the wheel well. I found that if I compressed 4 coils starting from the bottom (just above the lower seat), I could get the strut back inside. Make sure you can access the compressor wrench flats from within the well or use vise grips to turn from the bottom. Mine have an unthreaded protrusion at the bottom so I could grab on without damaging the threads. Have patience, there is a lot of energy to release in those compressed springs.
--
Michel Garcia - 1986 240 DL Manual Sedan - Ottawa, Canada