You do not have to remove the strut. You have to take the pressure off the spring. To do this put a jack under the lower control arm and lift until the spring compress's then under the hood on top of the strut is a nut remove the nut and then carefully and slowly let the jack down , this will relieve the pressure on the strut and spring alowing you to remove the control arm safely. And always use jack stands to support the car.
I have a '96 and I know they changed some things, but to my knowledge it's not necessary. I've completely removed my upper control arms without touching the coil springs. The coil spring goes from the lower arm to the frame, and the upper only connects to the steering knuckle.
You buy or rent, if possible, coil spring compression tools. They are long all-thread hardened bolts with a part at each end that slips over the coil. Turning the bolt will bring the end pieces together and compress the spring to allow it's removal. As a rule, if this is the front end of a vehicle, you will also have to remove either the upper or lower ball joint.
UNDERNEATH THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ON YOUR BIRD YOU WILL FIND THREE NUTS. REMOVE THESE AND THE SHOCK WILL BE ABLE TO BE REMOVED THROUGH THE TOP OF THE SHOCK TOWER. ONCE THE SHOCK IS OUT, YOU CAN REMOVE THE LOWER SHOCK BOLT FROM THE BRACKET.
replace the upper control arm and take it to aligment shop it will be the right process
Rear shocks- you just have to unbolt and bolt in the new ones. The front suspension has Struts- to change those you need to: AT home: with vehicle on jack stands, remove-wheel, disconnect swaybar end links, unbolt upper control arm, install a set of strut compressors(avail. at auto stores or habor frieght) on coil spring. With the spring compressed, unbolt the upper than lower strut mounts. The strut should drop down enough for you to tilt it out toward you. You might have to use a prybar to push the lower control arm down to get more clearance. leave strut compressor on, remove upper spring pearch and SLOWLY release the compressor so that you don't get hurt by a flying spring. put spring on new strut and reverse procedure.
compress the brachial artery in the upper arm.
Support the car on jack stands. remove disc, support control arm with a floor jack. Release control arm from upper ball joint then lower control arm from ball joint . Lower jack completely away so that lower control arm is fully extended. Stand to the side with a pry bar (3-4 foot bar) and pry bottom of spring. It will pop out about 4 feet when it comes loose. Springs must be compressed to installation height to reinstall be very careful.
You jack up the one corner of the vehicle and place it on a jack stand. then you remove the tire. Then remove the upper balljoint castle nut and split the ball joint. Then all that's left is to remove the two bolts securing the control arm to the frame and you should be able to pull the control arm out.
Remove cotter pin and nut from tie rod end Remove caliper from spindle and hang on the frame out of the way with some wire Remove sway bar end bolts from lower control arm Remove upper and lower ball joint nuts, smack the flat spot on the control arms when doing this or use a ball joint spreader, but be ready cause when it comes lose it can drop. At this point i normally put a piece of chain through the spring and around the control arm as a precaution although not normally necessary. Once this is complete remove the upper shock nut and two lower shock bolts in the lower control arm to drop the shock out. Now simply press down on the already loose lower control arm, once you have confirmed there is no tension on the spring you can take the chain off and pull the spring from the vehicle. To install new springs you made need a pry bar or spring compressor depending on the size of your drop spring, but once installed simply reverse procedure above. This is also a great time to check for any worn items in the suspension or brake lines since everything is already out of the way.
Compress the springs and lock them down. You best check on all the front end compomets while you are doing this job.
Remove two lower strut bolts holding bottom of strut to the spindle. Remove the bolt holding the brake flex hose to the strut Some model years have the outer tie rod attached to the housing, separate the tie rod from the strut if you have to (can't remember on a 1992) Remove the 3 top nuts in the engine compartment ond the whole assembly will come out Put the strut in a spring compressor and compress the spring Undo the top center nut in the center of the upper mount/bearing plate The strut will fall out of the spring. Extend the piston fulley on the new strut and slide it back into the mount/ spring assembly Tighten the top nut in the center of the upper mount (new one comes with new strut) Make sure the spring is in the correct position when you put it back together and reverse the instructions to install. You will need an alignment!! Check the upper mount bearing before reusing