The time has come to replace the front struts on the vRS, along with the wishbones. Now, not being a fan of using spring compressors, nor actually owning a set, I was wondering if removal of the wishbones provides sufficient clearance for the struts to be popped out of the hub without the compressors being used? Any help is appreciated!

Yes, but you'll still need compressors to reassemble. And disassembly is pretty dangerous without, potentially.

You shouldn't need compressors unless you want to dismantle the struts to change the damper inserts or springs.

Thanks for the advice guys and yeah. I've actually got a whole setup ready to just swap over, top mounts, bottom out bumpers and all - it's literally going to be a removal of the old strut and replace with new job. I may have imagined it but I was fairly sure that without compressors your couldn't quite get the old strut out of the hub (when still attached to the wishbones)?

A good Hammer to the hub will see it loose to replace but they are a pig to go back in

A good Hammer to the hub will see it loose to replace but they are a pig to go back in

Clean them up, apply copper seize, or other anti-seize paste and they should slip back on just fine.

A quick clean in the mounting point with a windy drill (or electric) and an abrasive flap wheel to clean out the crap and corrosion, and all is sorted. And given that it's brand new stuff going in, it's usually dead easy anyway.

And, might I add, taking a hammer to the hub is bloody terrible advice peoples. Don't do it. If you do, make sure it is a softish dead-blow hammer and NOT anything solid. Loosen it up properly and spread the gap in the mount long before resorting to this.