i got some decent 2nd hand units today and intend installing them tomorrow.

my question is how important is it to align the end of the top coil with the notch in the top bracket?

i don't really won't to try and find someone to take them apart if i don't have to.

well thanks people your replies of knowledge were over welming, thank god i can think for myself and figuer things out,asking here was useless as so many others have found out before me.

this forum is no where as good as it used to be.

Nothing wrong with the forum mate it is NOT everyone who has time to be online 24/7.
With the tone I'm not surprised you didn't get many replies.
Using second hand suspension units can be a real risk as most of the ones at the wreckers have had a really hard life and can be worse than the ones you are replacing.
The question about the fitting of the springs into the correct slots should be self evident EG> if they weren't meant to be that way there would't be slots there in the first place. Moving them to a different place can cause height and tracking issues.