This will be my first time tackleing anything suspension related on my own and I was wondering what parts I can replace on my own without any special skill or tools, for example its my understanding thay you need special compression tools to replace shocks/springs. Can anyone list the parts I could do myself, and the ones best left for the professional. Thanks.

 

Most of the front suspension you'll of course need an alignment afterward. As for parts that won't need special tools other than a jack and stands are:
Tie rods, idler arm, drag link, strut mounts/ camber plates, springs, Rear control arms, pan hard bar, torque arm bushings, front and rear sway bar bushings and end links (unless links are rusted solid you'll need a Dremel, saw, or grinder to cut them off,) shocks and struts (you don't need anything to compress them in other than your hands. (Many come with a plastic tape that you just cut when you are in position and the shock slowly rises into place.)
Ball joints you will need a press or c clamp style press (ball joint kit) the first one is always the hardest but with YouTube and practice you'll be a pro in no time. If you want to do any a arm or rear control arm bushings you'll need a press or vice and air hammer. Also a big hammer and pickle fork (tie rod separator) will help with popping those loose. What are you planning on doing with the car? Any ideas what you're going to replace suspension parts with? IMO anyone here will tell you to upgrade rear control arms, stut mounts and pan hard bar with something from the many bolt ons that are floating around.
Hope that helps.
Curt.

 

the only "special tool" that you need to take apart anything on these cars is a real hammer and the willingness/ability to swing it hard enough to break loose the balljoints and tie rods..

a balljoint press is also pretty handy, and you can guy a decent one for less than the labor you'd pay someone to remove/replace the balljoints and bushings in the control arms.

you can also do your own alignments with only string, jackstands, tape measure, and a carpenter's framing square.. you can also use a cheap angle finder (or an angle finder app on your phone) if you want to get really fancy..

 

My center link is pretty dang solid to the pitman arm. I spent a lot of time with a pneumatic fork, a 5lb sledge, heat etc and it would not come out...

 

Most everything you could need is available at the major auto parts chains for "rental", which pretty much means they sell it to you with the understanding that if you don't keep/break it you get the full amount back when you return it. Other than that the biggest PITA parts to install are the ball joints (last time I did them one side just did NOT want to go in straight!) and getting the A-arm back in place (a good floor jack and patience work wonders here). Only special tool I bought for suspension work is a set of MacPherson spring compressors from Harbor Freight a few years back, but I use them more on my MR2 than either of my 3rd Gens, and they were only $15 to buy. Rear end suspension is stupid simple, pretty much just a floor jack is needed to pull or install the entire rear end.