[MiniE]

Just to add to the info,
my friend from the garage install both front and back spring in my MCS with out a spring compressor, adding to that he did it with in 1.5 hr

i am not sure about other car out there but the mini seem to be able to install lowering spring with out the spring compressor

[el blue]

Randy's approach uses ratcheting tie downs to compress the springs enough to do the job. I would call him.

[TonyB]

THANK YOU!!! I will indeed try Randy again to get the full scoop. Much obliged.

[Ken NYC]

The only time I replaced some springs myself was about 15 years ago in my old MGB, one of the front springs just cracked.

I ordered spring compressors, but I couldn't figure out how to use them! So looking in one of my other books, they suggested using a jack (or two) and the weight of the car to get the old spring out and the new one in.

I haven't really looked under my MCS to see what's going on under there, but on the MGB there was a little "pan" that the bottom of the spring sat in that would unbolt. This pan supported the bottom of the spring in action and could act as the gate for removing or installing a spring.

I put a little bottle jack under this pan and lifted the car about a 1/2", and could now safely unbolt the pan, with the spring tension held by the weight of the car and the jack under it.

SLOWLY I let out the bottle jack and the spring safely expanded and could be removed.

The installation of the new spring was the exact opposite...line everything up and raise the jack until the weight of the car compressed it enough to replace the bolts.

Maybe I just got lucky, and was very foolish at the time, but it seemed safe and easy.

[TonyB]

Funny how this thread has gone or evolved from one extreme to nearly the other: ie, very dangerous, to maybe safe, and possibly no special tools required. It's all good feedback and much appreciated!

FWIW, removing the rear "assembly" is a quite easy. I loosened the 2 top 13mm bolts for each, pushed her down with minimal force and was able to swing it back and out of the way for rear sway bar removal/install. The whole unit could have been removed simply by unbolting a 21 mm below. This was with the rear end on jacks and the rear wheels off...

[bluesmini]

you can rent spring compressors at auto zone for a $40 dollar deposit. they give it back minus the tax when you return them. i could see taking the springs off without compressors but not putting them back on. i'm not sure there's that much travel in the front to allow the uncompressed springs to fit.