I might not be able to make it to the tech session :'(
 

While working on the brakes of my 300D the head of one of the bolts that holds the caliper to the car snapped off. If i can work some magic with an easy out i might be able to make it. otherwise this could be a nasty project involving a spring compressor and some junkyard parts.... I would be getting new ball joints though :-)

nah, tow it to the session and let whunter fix it for you... bring parts though... and maybe ask for his help in advance...

eek, wouldn't he charge for that though.... i dunno if i can afford him!

From what I understand, the point of the meeting is to show diy'ers how to do standard repairs. ask him if this is something he wants to tackle at the GTG... it's worth a try!
of course, then you have to trailer your car to the event...

you don't need a spring compressor to remove the spindle...

How am i going to support the spring then? put a jack stand under it? That sounds rather dangerous...

oooh good catch your excellency, duh on my part... yeah, it's really simple to pull the spindle. you do need a set of jack stands, and a floor jack to support the lower control arm... but the spindle should come out just fine if it has to come out. but unless there is significant rust, you should be able to get the bolt out with patience and some PB blaster.
it is possible that the previous tech to work on your brakes used green or red locktite to hold the bolts in, in that case you will need a torch to loosen the locktite.

actually.. no need to support the LCA.. when we rebuilt my front end we put the car on jack stands and simply removed the spindle.The spring was held in by the shock.. but if you want to put a jack stand under it.. do so.. just don't compress the spring because it will make reinstalling the spindle that more fun...

a tip

you do not have to remove the tie rod, take note where it bolts to.. it bolts to like an Arm that is bolted to the spindle.. so unbolt that arm from the spindle, thus not throwing off your aligment

when i looked at the snapped bolt 75% of it was corroded and 25% was shiny. This bold had been cracked for a long time.

I wish i had an oxy torch, its gonna take FOREVER with my mapp gas handheld!

Isnt the spring held in tension by the lower control arm which is held in place by the spindle?

not all of it... we had my car with both front spindles remove on jack stands for half a day and nothing happened.But maybe we were doing it wrong and got lucky?

What keeps the control arm from rotating all the way down and buckling the spring, causing it to kill whoever is standing in front of it?

as mentioned above by theDon... the shock has a limit on travels. but if you don't trust the shock to keep the spring in check, a floor jack with a Slight amount of lift on it will keep everything in line.