How hard is it to replace front shocks without a spring compressor?

I've used spring compressors and the floor jack method numerous times. In my opinion the floor jack method is by far safer and faster than spring compressors. To be clear we are talking about using a floor jack and not a bottle jack. A floor jack is not going to slip off the control arm if its placed under the LBJ nut. And like others have said, even if it does slip off the spring has nowhere to go. Spring compressor anxiety level ten. Floor jack anxiety level zero.

 

Same exact issue I had with my 5100s. Was barely able to get the nut on.

 

I had no choice but to use the spring compressor on a different platform (wife's BMW X5). I spent about $140 on a much nicer compressor and see it as an investment for my 2 daughters' cars when they need new struts. I don't like the parts store ones that are cheap and been used 50 times (and possibly abused). It is noted that the jack method is easier though. I only have 31,xxx miles on my 2021 so I have time to keep reading here for when my time comes.

 

I'm a pretty experienced shade tree mechanic, but coil springs shocks were always something I left to the pro's. So much energy in those compressed springs!