[BobbyG]

Having just done the spring spreading tango with my coupe - I can only agree with what all have said here - Yes there are ways to bodge it but they are dangerous, mine had a considerable amount of spring left in it, so much so that I shut it in a big old vice AND clamped it whilst dissasembling it on the bench.

I bought my spreader via E bay - money well spent & a good tool to make a dangerous job a little safer.

Best of luck with it.

Bob