I'm going to replace the spring set on my 85' 380SE and going by the CD repair manual, I cannot for the life of me understand how to take the rear springs out. It states that I need to take loosen the upper shock nuts but not remove fully. It then states that I should not jack the car up and this procedure must be done with the wheels on the ground. Then it skips directly to compressing the rear springs. The picture in the photo display on the CD shows that the wheel is actually off. My question a 2 parter,

1. How do you take the rear shock (1 by 1 obviously)without jacking up the rear end of the car. I need to remove the 2 lower perch bolts as well as slide the actual shock out.

2. If I jack up the rear end and then take out the shock, (which makes more sense) will the spring still be contained between the control arm subframe and the upper spring cup? Or will it just shoot out altogether?

I definately need help on this one as no shop around me will touch the car becuase of the springs and I already bought an expensive spring compressor...


Thanks guys in advance....

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'85 500SE euro Ratrod
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