So I had a rattle from the front end; we put it on the lift, found bad inner and outer tie rods, ball joint, loose wheel bearing, and upper strut mounts.

Got to the rods and ball joints yesterday, and as soon as the ball joint was off the whole brake swivel shot to the floor under spring tension. Tuns out the gland nut had unthreaded while inside the boot.

So, can't compress the swivel high enough to re-thread it, and can't remove the assembly to pull the spring to compress the strut because it extends too far.

Ideas?
Saws?

So I jacked it up a bit and undid the upper strut mount. Never could get the upper lock nut off.
Started to slowly lower it, it slipped, and the whole thing shot out.
Cut the flex lines, now it's out on the lawn and I'm getting a beer.

By the way:

NEVER cut your brake flex lines.
OEM replacements don't exist.

Going well, then?

My god.

i feel the pain

Why does this not happen on the cars I've tried this on?
Removed brake braket bolt and slid to front.
Removed Tie rod
Swaybar endlink
Loosened uper strut nut
Removed 3 upper strut mount nuts.
It is supposed to drop out like in the photo.

The whole thing stays in the perch every goddamn time. Control arm can't be knocked down any further.

Loosen control arm bushing bolts?

Thought of that, no dice.
Been searching like crazy.
Some say loosen the ball joint mounts through the control arm, but that doesn't make sense to me.

Don't want to have to drop both swivels but I just might do that and buy cheapo KYB inserts.
Surprise company is going to help bleed the brakes this weekend so I just got to throw it together with whatever.

Thanks, if I get that far, I like some of those methods. Part numbers are awesome too.

Hmm. Scan-tech & re-bend or the JY for the brake hardlines.... ?

Shifted wrote:

Loosen control arm bushing bolts?

Close.
Remove sway entirely, and stand on the swivel lowers the assembly enough.
There's a very fast, dangerous and wrong way to do it as well if you're at the JY...

I'm surprised you are having trouble, 240's are incredibly easy usually.