AN inexpensive alternative to the store bought spring compressor
A home made spring compressor that is much safer to use, is one that can made by using an 18" section of 7/16" or 1/2" threaded rod. Find a piece of metal about 4" square with a minimum thickness of about 1/2", and drill a hole right in the center. Run your threaded rod through the hole, and them place a flat washer, followed by two nuts and lock them in place at the lower end of the rod. Then insert the upper portion of the rod from the bottom of the lower A-arm, through the spring, and then through the hole in the frame that is used for the upper shock mount
Then use a few lubricated flat washers followed by a nut, which is then tightened down far enough to compress the spring far enough so that your spindle can be attached. To make all this 100% safe, before tightening down the top nut, I always run a small section of chain around the frame, and through one of the coils in the spring. This way if the crap ever hits the fan, and everything comes apart, it will not injure you when it goes flying across the garage at 700MPH. This has worked for me during more then twenty years of compressing springs, and there has never been a problem or an issue.
Steppinwolf
BTY, this setup is also the safest way to take it all apart and removing the springs in the first place.