coil spring removal on 2wd 5-lug?

I want to replace my sagging front coil springs. Many pics and links in the sticky are broken at this point, so it's not very helpful.

How easy is the coil spring to pull out of a 1st gen 2wd 5-lug? It's the design with a single nut on the top of the strut as shown, not 3 nuts surrounding a center nut.

The FSM basically has this procedure plus more steps after, which seems to be oriented around removing the LCA to replace LCA bushings.
1. remove shock
2. compress coil spring
3. remove stabilizer bar
4. remove LBJs and LCA
5. remove strut bar
6. remove coil spring

Is removing the LCA and LBJs necessary for the coil spring to come out? I don't really want to mess with those. Does compressing the coil spring the right amount lift it off the LCA so it can pull right out sideways?

Here are pics of passenger side.

 

Im pretty sure that is correct.

 

What components would require I get an alignment if I mess with detaching them?

 

Detatching shouldnt mess with anything but if your balljoints etc are worn, get them replaced and then replace strut it would be a good idea to get an alignment done

 

I'm reading up on alignment now... It looks like alignment is adjusted by rotating the tie rod ends, and camber with UCA shims. As long as I don't mess with tie rods or UCA, I can remove the LCA as I please and it would all stay aligned? Ball joints and alignment were already done recently.

 

No. It will have to be realigned for once done. The camber and caster adjustment are on the lca.

 

Are you sure? The FSM shows cam nuts on the UCA and LCA for 4wd, and shows 2wd has shims on the UCA and nothing on the LCA. Both versions adjust toe on the tie rod ends. This is my first exposure to knowing anything about alignment though and I don't know if working on something other than the adjustment locations could throw off alignment.

 

I stand corrected. Just spoke to my buddy who is a Toyota master tech. It does use shims on the uca for camber/caster.