Are there general guides or steps one should follow on how to remove weight from automotive suspension system when servicing? Usually when I work on my own suspension, sometimes it takes me a while to figure out how to remove the weight on areas like springs, ball joints, control arms, cv joints, rack and pinion, suspension/transmission motor mounts, etc. (or the spring sometimes if I can‘t remove the weight off the car from it, I just compress it with a compressor and a lot zip ties, but I feel there is a better method)
When you do the suspension work, you have to put both sides of the car on jack stands or else its a lot harder, as well as more dangerous to do it. Don't ever rely on zip ties to compress, that's a good way for that spring to break loose and punch a hole in your skull or destroy one of your eyes! Those springs have a lot of power in them. Doing your own suspension work is admirable, that's one of the hardest, suckiest things to do in the driveway, but don't be careless and get hurt. compression springs are no joke when they pop free.
A jack - preferably a floor jack on a hard surface. Jack stands for safety. Plus you have to jack on the right point - a frame member or pinchweld, not the transmission or floor pan or exhaust pipe.
There have been people severely injured doing what you're doing wrong,guess you've been either lucky or good so far. There are multiple ways to remove springs,if you search for removing old Mustang/Cougar front springs they recommend internal spring compressors for example (or you can get nailed). For other applications there are external compressors,which it sould like you have. With the internet,you can call up specific repair situations like Removing front suspension springs on 1992 Camaro or replacing struts on 2008 Nissan Maxima , remove coil over springs from XXXX,etc;often you can find videos explaining the process. Zip ties aren't something I'm trusting my life with,I've seen folks use chains and cables. Almost every vehicle has points designated for lifting support too,just have to look in an owner's/service manual. But, getting back to the safety aspect,it's better to invest in specific tools than risk injury. Seen a few shop made items that work well too,but are made to do something on the fly normally. And like a lot of folks, I've worked under a rig with just a jack and a block of wood jammed in just in case the jack failed Every vehicle specific shop manual will cover the same things you can search for now,be it from GM,Ford,etc.
