Is it worth it to have a spring compressor?

[Wolfsbrg8v@aol.com (Wolfsbrg8v@aol.com)]

i can vouch, it's possible for one person to reinstall a front strut using 
the car's weight to compress it.  at least, i did it.  (once.)  i used the vw 
side jack, next to the wheel well where i could crank it and at the same time 
peer up at the strut bearing, having also put a droplight in the engine 
compartment to backlight the bearing hole.  then it's, you know, wrestle 
away.  expect pain.  when it finally seated, i do remember thinking that a 
miracle had occured.  :)   heh heh   good feeling though, when a harebrained 
idea actually works. 

leo
84 wolfsburg 8v stock

Al wrote:

> its relaly not necessary if you have some type of progressive/lowering 
> spring, as they only take like 25-50 lbs of force to compress enough to get 
> the bolt on. if you are removing stock struts, unbolt the center bolt 
first, 
> then lift the car, staying clear of the wheel well. the resulting 
'sproing!' 
> isnt as violent as you may think. it is possible to put stock springs back 
on 
> doing the reverse of this, but its quite difficult (someone has to center 
the 
> strut with the center of the upper strut bearing as someone else lowers the 
> car to compress the spring).
>  Al