This is great info.   

        To remove the spring I will take off the lower shock bolt then continue to jack up the van until the spring comes loose leaving the wheel on the ground.  Is there anything I need to be careful of so that no damage is done to the van?  Things are going to get stretched out until that spring can be removed and then replaced with the shim.
the Spring feels rust free as far as I can feel with my fingers and this would be consistent with the rest of the van. So I’m not expecting to replace the springs at this time.

Eric Caron 
85 GL Auto Westfalia 

> On Sep 22, 2015, at 10:15 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> From the factory there was a thick shim on top and a thin damper shim on the
> bottom. The factory springs have thin coil turns at the ends. The original
> shims have a depression for these coils to seat in. If you add shims you
> need to use the original against the spring. With the springs out carefully
> check for corrosion near these turned down ends. If any it is time to
> replace them. They tend to break here and it the break at the bottom the
> springs can come loose. Same it the control arm spring post is rusted off.
> If your luck the loose spring will jam against the shock and stay there. If
> not it can fall out and the driver of the car behind you will not be happy.
> 
> Dennis
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Eric Caron
> Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2015 5:05 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: rear lift shim question
> 
> Hi folks,
> 
>        I have a new set of rear shims for over the springs in my 85
> Westfalia.  There is already a shim in the van on top of the spring.  Can I
> safely put in a second shim on each side?
> 
> Did the van originally come with a shim over the rear spring or did someone
> already add one?
> 
> Eric Caron
> 85 GL Auto Westfalia