Ken,

I love your How-To videos on Youtube. The front spring change would be a
great subject for another.

John

On 5/17/2013 4:19 PM, Ken Wilford wrote:
> 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
>