I need to replace the rear struts on the wifes car, and my Haynes manual says I need a special tool to compress the rear leaf spring.

Anyone know what the special tool is and what it looks like.

Also I can't see why you would need to compress it, Looking at it I would think you just need to support the knuckle with say a jack.

Thanks

you need the tool definately, and I don't think you can obtain one, due to the risk of injury when compressing that spring, you're better off just having it done at a shop, it's not cheap either, luckily I had a well equipped mechanic friend that did mine for $100.

if you live in canada, you can borrow the tool from canadian tire for free.

You don't need the special tool to compress the leaf spring. C-Clamps will work just fine. Although, as I recall, you don't need to compress the spring to change the rear struts. Search the forums at this site: www.w-body.com for instructions/tips on changing rear struts.

Jack it up under the control arm to keep the suspension compressed. A Problem you may run into is that on the rear arms (some don't have them some do ) you might see a plastic piece on there that has an upper metel plate that is held on with the lower strut bolts. If that comes apart it is a real pain the reinstall it. In the center of that upper plate there is a hole. Monroe struts give you the bolts to put in there the lower plate is threaded to keep that plastic spring from coming apart.