Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Suspension STRUT instalation, whats the trick????

It is called a spring compressor and you can get one at any O'reily's. You have to give a deposit of 50 dollars and when you return the tool you get all the money back.

That's for taking the knuckle off the ball-joint not the tie-rod end. I never use any seperator for the tie-rod end, but I used it everytime except the first time for the ball-joint. Maybe the 98+ is easier, but for the horizontal bushing type control arm on the earlier cars, it's harder to take the knuckle off.

OK AirKnight, that seems to make more sense. In the Haynes manual the same tool is mentioned for use in removing/separating both the lower control arm joint, and lifting the outer tie rod end out of the steering knuckle. A picture of the tool was given in outer tie rod end removal section. In either case I don't think the tool is needed, but you are right, it may make the lower control arm joint removal a bit easier. Thanks for your input.