No spring compressor needed to replace the front shocks.  They just drop out the bottom once the top and bottom connections are undone.  You need to have the van jacked up high enough to allow room for the shock to drop out from the bottom.

> On Aug 5, 2015, at 12:00 AM, Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> 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. =20
>        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. =20
>        So, first cool thing is he is willing to be my eyes and let me =
> do much of the work.=20
> 
> 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=E2=80=99t =
> read anything about that in the Bently.
> 
> any safety tips would be appreciated.

Cheers,    

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 VW Westy, '00 Kawasaki 250 Sherpa, "98 Ducati 750 Monster & Lionel Trains (Collection for sale <http://frankcondelli.com/trainsal.htm>)
Frank Condelli & Associates <http://www.frankcondelli.com/> - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
BusFusion <http://www.busfusion.com/> a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 04 ~07, 2015