Strut / shock problem

Well the picture speaks a thousand words... Nailed a huge pothole, and the top of the shock oped out the strut spring retainer. It's looking pretty obvious that if I dare removed a single bolt holding the strut assembly together it would not be good. So I'm thinking of getting a set of spring compressors ($58) so I can remove the whole setup, and just get the $22 part (strut plate) and put it all back together.

What do you all think?? Everyone I talk to says not to mess with it and pay someone to fix it as it's too dangerous. I myself am not too worried.... just don't be stupid... the only thing that slightly worries me is pulling the assembly out of the truck while it is being held together with the spring tensioner.

 

honestly from what I can see there is no load on the spring anymore. the top of the shock/strut is what holds the tension. it's almost as if the bushing pushed through the top plate?

the only "tension" on the spring right now is from the weight of the truck.

hopefully someone else will chime in but I don't see an issue pulling it out, I'd be worried about what happened to the top plate or bushing/washer pieces before putting back together

 

I think there is load on the spring, just nothing on the shock... The minute I would take off the bottom bolt on the shock, boing... all spring pressure would be released. I think the spring is still under tension beween the bottom of the shock and the upper mounting bracket. The part that broke (where the shock shaft is sticking out) would hold the whole thing together under tension, after being removed from the mounting bracket that the 3 studs go through.

I'd love to be wrong here as that would make fixing this way easier and not as sketchy as having to compress the spring and then remove the whole unit!!!

 

ya but the shock holds the top plate and keeps pressure between the top plate and spring perch. I'm surprised the shock has that much room above the top plate. when I put mine together compressing the spring enough to get the bolt onto the shock stem(?) and the bushings/washer keeps the top plate. the spring at this point is "floating" but the truck's weight is keeping it in check.