So I had a broken spring on the the RH front strut of my 96 Contour, 2.0. I bought a set of springs and found a step by step "how to" for replacing struts. this procedure worked fairly well on removing the strut with broken spring. I now have the new spring on this strut but can not get the strut back into the steering knuckle. The lower control arm does not let the knuckle go low enough and /or I can not compress the spring stut enough to get the strut back into the hole in the steering knuckle. If the following link works for you, this is what I did to remove the strut. Otherwise, here's aC&P of the steps taken. (Skipped step one.)
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1b/d6/d9/0900823d801bd6d9.jspDisconnect the negative battery cable.
Raise and safely support the vehicle.
Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
Lower the vehicle enough to gain access to the strut retaining nut.
From inside the engine compartment, hold the strut piston with an 8mm Allen head wrench while removing the top retaining nut.
Raise and safely support the vehicle.
Disconnect the sway bar link from the strut.
Remove the brake hose and anti-lock wiring from the strut bracket.
Remove the steering knuckle-to-strut pinch bolt.
Work the strut out of the steering knuckle and lower the strut out of the strut tower.
Remove the strut/coil spring assembly from the vehicle.
