I have the two shoes and the 2 green springs. I foolishly put most of the mechanism in place and thought i could fit the shoes and the springs at the end, but i have wasted 3 hours so far on this. I have now taken off the two expanders (either side) but i still can't seem to get the shoes in place with their springs. I believe the springs go behind the shoes with the spring ends poking back through the hole at end end of the shoe.

As you can see, i have the central drive still in place. I have tried "fitting" the springs first and then stretching them over the drive, but that hasn't worked. I have tried putting the shoes in place and then trying to fit the springs, but that seems impossible.

Is there a trick or is it impossible, and i have to remove the drive (not sure what it is called, the bit that the drive shaft is bolted to) first (with the issue that oil might start leaking out).

Is it me, or are these springs the worst possible solution to a simple problem? I guess there must be a spring-pulling tool that helps...

Not having a good day.

One spring fitted feed shoes over drive flange, with them loosely behind the flange fit second spring spring. Yes on the back. You should now be able to fit top shoe ends into expander and adjuster. Now use tire lever or similar to lift other shoe ends into place.

Long nose pliers & a firm grip

As well as the above

I have now got the shoes fitted - and i cannot believe how difficult it was. In the end, i had to
a) drain transfer case of oil, so that i could...
b) ...remove the drive (otherwise all the oil drained out) (which obviously involved removing one end of the drive shaft)
c) remove the back plate
d) put cable ties on the spring ends, to help hold them in place
e) mounted back plate in vice to hold
f) elastic band on adjuster to hold internals in place
g) then some pulling to get the shoes on.

From my experience i can't see how i could have got the shoes on without all of the above, but that might just be me.
Live and Learn. Hope i don't have to do that again.

Well you did it, there was no need to drain oil if you lift the back of truck up some, Box will hold the back plate for you.
Did you do the seal when flange off [ good time] Good idea band to hold expander bits in place.