The only two things that can mess you up is at the bottom of the rear
spring there is a metal piece that keeps the spring centered on the rear
trailing arm.  This can rust and snap off or just go away over time.
Check that to be sure it is there when you are changing shocks if not
you are probably going to need a replacement trailing arm.  The other
thing that goes away is a thin plastic shim that is at the bottom of the
spring and protects this lower spring perch. If that is gone then it can
allow the spring to rub against the lower control arm and cause it to
rust or wear out faster.  It can be difficult to source this shim so I
have made replacement ones out of the side of an antifreeze jug.  It is
about the right thickness plastic.  Just use a pair of scissors and the
old one as a pattern or make the new one big enough to cover the round
pad on the lower spring perch area.

As far as changing it out it is pretty easy.  Even the front ones on a
2wd van aren't too bad.  Remove the nut on the radius rod and the front
steering knuckle.  Jack up on the lower control arm.  Remove the lower
shock bolt.  Slowly lower the lower control arm with a jack will allow
the spring to release and you can pull the spring out of the bottom.
Then you put the new one back in and put the lower control arm against
the jack and start jacking it up until the spring compresses enough to
put the lower shock bolt back in and you are good to go.  I leave the
front shocks in place as I do this.

Just did the set of GW stock progressive springs last week.  If you use
those, be sure the tighter coils are at the top (don't ask how I know
this).  :-)

On a syncro Vanagon you will need to compress the spring with a spring
compressor tool, there is no way around it.

Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

On 5/17/2013 2:40 PM, Jim Felder wrote:
> The gowesty site makes a big deal out of how hard the rear springs are to
> install? Izzat so?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jim
>
>
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--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
Phone: 856-327-4936
Fax: 856-327-2242