Front strut problem, maybe more now??

I have a 94 Grand Prix SE and decided to change the front driver side strut yesterday. I didnt have the "Speccial" tool called for so I decided to undo the catridge bolt from below, I jacked the car a bit to get some clearance which i think may have been my first mistake, i did get it unscrewed and out though and got the new cartridge in place, I had to have a buddy push the strut itself inwards very hard so it would line up right so the cartridge would drop into place, now I started wondering what went out of place to cause the strut to swing out that far, my tires were cut full right but when the strut went sideways we'll say, so did the tire. Now, I did get it moved over and the new cartrige dropped into place, I was in the process of lowering the car back down to bring it all back into place when all hell happened. The strut went totally right and so did the coil, so the strut was now sitting at about a 35 degree angle towards the rear of the car and the coil also was doing the same, only thing stopping it from flying out was the inner fender. We did mess around for a while with this new bomb we built and did eventually get the coil out, then I packed it in for the night and am getting ready to go have a looky see what went wrong. I am thinking I will have to follow the Haynes manual I have for replacing the strut AND coil assembly to get this back together, just wondering what may have broke or bent to make the tire and strut assembly swing all over the place so freely like it was. Any ideas or suggestions would help. Thanks.

how did you get the old cartridge out without using the special tool? The special tool engages the cap on the lower half that holds the cartridge in. If you have an Auto Zone in your area, they rent that tool for free and it takes an hour tops to change the cartridges with the tool (you don't have to mess with the spring). That spring is under a lot of tension, so you better be VERY careful if it's in there cockeyed, as it could fly out and take your head off when you start loosening things to get it out.

Because you have removable strut cartridges the tool is required. Plus the weight of the car is what keeps the coil spring compressed and from expanding. See AZ tech link below which is the same as the Haynes or Chiltons.

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/0e/df/7c/0900823d800edf7c.jsp

I replaced the front strut cartridges on a '96 Chevy Lumina and it was a straight forward procedure if done right to include the right special tools. Easier than the '97 and up Grand Prixs.

I hope you have an Autozone up in Canada.

Well i went a got a spring compressor today to try and slide the spring back over the strut cartridge housing but just seems I am not able to get the spring compressed enough to get in there. I fought with it all day, then decided I will have to follow the manual again for the reinstallation of the strut coil and cartridge. I startd this process and right off the hop totalled my tie rod end treads and bolt which was a b***ch to try and get out. I ended up ruining that tie rod end (WhichI had just replaced about 3 weeks ago, ah well new tie rod end tomorrow. I will take off the ball joint and may possibly have to pull the axel also in order to drop the strut far enough to get the coil back in place. Was reading some more and it looks like i may also have to take off caliper and tension bar (Sway bar). Looks like im in for a long day. Thanks for your answers and replies.