Hello All

I need to replace the front shock on my 2002 E430 4-Matic. The process is quite involved as outlined in the service manual and on All Data. I was wondering if someone has done this before and can clarify something that is not clear in the literature.

Do the shock and spring come out as one and the spring then compressed and removed on the bench ? OR does the spring have to be compressed in the car. It sounds from the factory procedure that the spring is compressed while still in the car and I was wondering why.

Many thanks in advance.

Oleh