I was shocked to find this old Thread that details how to remove the Front Spring without using the Klann Type Spring Compressor and using the Free Rental Strut type Spring Compressors.

This Thread is from 2004 and I was not a Member until 2007.

No one has mentioned this thread in the 7 years I have been a Member.

The First time I removed the Front Springs from My W123 I used the Harbor Freight Strut Spring Compressors and got away with it.
Both times I compressed the Spring as much as I could with the Strut Type Tool so I My case the Srings were unders a lot of compression. (After bending them I made a strong Spring compressor to finish the Job.)

The next time I did the same I again used the Strut type Spring Copressors but bent them up in the process.

In this thread the Key to using the Strut type Spring Compressor is that you are going to minimally compress/tension the Spring and you need to have the Lower Control Arm hanging down far enough to get the minimally compressed Spring in and out safely.

Not covered in the thread but I think if your Lower Control Arm Bushings are 30 something Years old bending the Lower Control Arm down as far as you can brings up the possibilty of ruining your old Bushings.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel