Front spring replacement procedure

[eyvind.spangen@c2i.net (Eyvind Spangen)]

I need to change the springs on my '87 5k. The rear went ok, really
easy when I figured out how to undo the nut on the top of the shock.

But the front springs are harder. There is just not enough room to get
it in/out without dropping the whole strut assembly, and with the
drive axles, tie rods, stabilizer bars etc etc, is this a job I don't
want to do. Is there any way of getting the spring in/out without
dropping the strut? The problem is that the spring clamps extend too
much upwards, so the whole ting becomes un-removable. Shorter clamps
doen't work either, they are too short to compress enough. 

BTW: On my dad's Toyota Camry, the spring/shock asembly are fastened
by two big screws, so you can remove the whole assembly without even
touching the drive axle/tie rod. I think the german men who designed
the Audi system took a "schnaps" too much when drawing.. :-)

Please help me to avoid dropping the whole strut!

ES