Okay, bonehead question here. I read through the Haynes manual on rear spring removal. They say to drop the entire rear axle. This seems a little excessive - I removed springs once about 2 years ago and don't remember it being all that much work.

Any shortcuts anyone? Can I unbolt the bottom shock bolt, upper arm and pull the spring out?

heheheh, BTW, I'm oiver halfway to 100 posts I think that's the cutoff for a custom avatar pic, no? eheheh

 

I've done it with just unbolting the shocks, a couple largish prybars, and patience. There's a certain way to pry the spring up and over the hump on the bottom spring perch.

 

I unbolted the shocky and both rear trailing-arm links but there's definiately no need to unbolt the watts linkage like it says in the manual. With lowering springs it can be done easily just by unbolting the shock.

 

Xlnt, thank you both for the good info. I am taking out stock springs and putting in some lowering springs. Got the fronts done last week. That was fun! had to take the struts into work to use the air compressor there

 

i didnt even have to unbolt my shocks when i put in my lowering springs,
when i put in my new ones i did,
just unbolted them from the top,
and they went right in

 

well finally got it done. i just unbolted the shocks as you all said and used a prybar. my lowering springs were actually taller than the stock springs, but look like they are progressive, and much easier to compress by hand. I dunno what brand they are cause I got them from a friend cheap, who also wasn't sure They are coated red tho.