So the other day I fought with AutoZone’s “new safer”spring compression tool, with no luck. Then it got cold again and I had plans.
So today I tackled it with a tie-down strap and a little modification to the lower spring isolator ... and kept my head as far off to the side as I could while jacking up the control arm and had it swapped out in minutes. Just goes to show, sometimes the “right” way isn’t always right. The tie-down hooked to the second-up spring coil and wrapped around the control arm, and then was hooked tight to the tie rod end. Worked like a charm! 1.5” lower is so much better!