Do not try to disassemble the shock assembly until you have taken it out of your vehicle. Use a shock Spring Compressor, the Pentastar Service Equipment (PSE) tool W-7200 or an equivalent item to squeeze the coil spring according to what the manufacturer advises. The shock shaft nut should not be removed before the coil spring is compressed, since the spring is held under pressure and must have pressure relieved from both the upper and lower mounts first. The Compressor comes with holes for the shock assembly coil spring which are attached to the shock with a clamp. After that, attach the Compressor's top hooks to the upper coil spring and align the upper spring coil ends on each side by moving the shock if required. Take the tension out of the upper mount by pushing the coil spring completely down. To take the shock shaft retaining nut out, open the lock at the nut's end using Wrench Special Tool 9362, place an 8 mm socket inside the Wrench, slip it onto the hex at the shock shaft end, hold the shock shaft firmly in one hand and take out the nut using the other. Remove the clamp fastened to the coil spring's bottom, then take out the shock and lower isolator through that same path. When servicing, remove the upper mount and the coil spring from the shock shaft and note where the lower spring coil ends in relation to the compressor for a faster reassembly. Start by decreasing the Compressor drive, then pull back the upper hooks and take out the coil spring. After that, take the jounce bumper off the shock and remove the lower isolator from within the shock body. Check each component of the shock assembly for damage, checking the shock for shaft binding, checking the upper mount for cracks and warping, the upper and lower spring isolators for extreme wear, the dust shield for holes, the coil spring for fractures and rust and the jounce bumpers for breaks, replacing them if any are found.