Lately I've been able to compress the spring with my hands and a pair of work gloves, but it takes an extreme amount of force to do so.
You can also try to use a large standard screw driver to pry it over the catch. Probably the simplist way is to put it in a vice and compress it, then zip tie it, place the compressed spring in the right area and cut the zip ties. BUT becareful!

Good Luck

[This message has been edited by Freshj (edited 08-05-2002).]

Lately, I've been using a mini pry bar, a flat steel bar, about 6" in length, with a crook in one end, and a V-notch in both ends (a miniature version of a "Wonderbar")- as a pusher.

Hold the bar with one hand, setting the bent end of the bar against the heel of the same hand. Catch the Ebrake spring in the notch with the other (straight) end of the bar, and compress the spring by pushing it. Your other (gloved) hand reaches around the strut, and helps guide the spring onto its seat on the Ebrake arm.

Works like a charm! Occasionally it takes a couple tries. I use it both to remove and install the springs, and it really saves time and effort. Reason: Pushing on the flat end of that bar with the heel of your hand, is lots easier than trying to push or pull on the spring directly with your fingers.

Now that sounds like what I am looking for. The smart way... spend some money to save some time, headaches, and grief.