Use the spring compressor or leave the car sitting on a jackstand under the control arm. NEVER lower that type control arm without the spring contained, it WILL come out and likely kill you, it is compressed about 4 or 5 inches with the control arm down to where it will leap out of the bottom bucket. I leave my car on the jackstands, easy enough and quite safe.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!