What type of spring compressor do you use on a third gen? I am not having any luck with any I have rented so far. The internal compressor is no good because there is no way to get it out after the spring is installed. The external compressor doesn't work because it won't let you seat the top of the spring in place because it is in the way. I am putting stock springs back in. Some of you have said you don't need a spring compressor and I am wondering if that is only true when putting after market springs back. The stock ones will not seat in the control arm unless they are compressed. Pictures would be great.

 

there is a long thread on this subject

 

haha, what i did with mine...well you dont need a compresser for the back. just unbolt the shocks and the panhard bar and the rear will come down (the rear shocks have very little tension on the springs, jsut stick a jack under the diff. and lower it down after unbolting stuff). for the fronts, i jacked up the front of the car, and then stuck a jack under the outside edge of the control arm and lift it up till that side is compressed all the way. then take a chain...and 2 pad locks...and loop the chain around one side of the spring (as many coils as you can loops it around) and pad lock it (it has to be as tight as you can get it), then do the other side the same way. then i took off the brake caliper, tie-rod end, and unbolted the strut from the srut tower (or you can take it loose at the knuckle on the spindle). then, start lowering the control arm from the front of the car if you can (you really dont wanna be in front of that spring if it decides to pop out - even though the chains will keep it compressed, there is still a good bit of tension on that spring). the way it workd out when i did this, i was able to take a pry bar and pop the spring out (it was sitting in there loose).

and before anyone says this doesnt work...it does, it just takes some time. believe me, i did this on:

2001 dodge neon
1995 mustang gt
1988 formula firebird
1991 camaro RS

i have a set of coil spring compressers and macpherson strut spring compressers and had the same problem you did. after you get the front springs out, then you can stick the coil spring compressers on them to get the chain/lock combos loose enough to pop the locks loose.