one of the many wonderful things about Vanagons (  speaking 2WD and not
syncro here )
...No spring compressor needed to change shocks .

Yippee !
the front shocks just drop out the bottom when you have them disconnected.
Van needs to be a foot or so off the ground for clearance to get the
shock out.

the upper attachment points ...nut on a stud at the top of the shock ..
Little tedious to access. Not usually badly stuck or rusted.

you really should say exactly what year and model vanagon .
if it's the 85 1/2 and up type with cast lower control arms in front,
you'll need two 22 mm half inch drive sockets if I recall correctly.

or maybe it's the early stamped lower arms that you need that for
..yeah. I think that's it.
On the later type you only  need one 22mm socket and 22 mm wrench will
do for the other end of the big bolt there.

Just do careful exact precise good work and you'll be fine.

On 8/4/2015 3:15 PM, Eric Caron wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
>          I have a retired auto body and frame repair man as a neighbor and helper.  he also restores older cars and builds street rods.
>          I have my new shocks here and he is offering to install them with me.  He looked at my Bently and thought it looked pretty straight forward.
>          So, first cool thing is he is willing to be my eyes and let me do much of the work.
>
> My only concern is that the front shocks are in the springs.  he seemed to think they would come out safely without a spring compressor.  Is that true?  i thought folks here said it was needed.  We didn’t read anything about that in the Bently.
>
> any safety tips would be appreciated.
>
> Eric Caron
> 85 GL auto westfalia.
>