I have read that the rear springs on the marea weekend can be removed without spring compressors etc. I want / need to replace the rear bump stops (inside the spring) as the current ones are just rolling around inside the spring.

Is it just a case of jacking up and getting the wheel / suspension fully down?

I had to use compressors when I did mine, and that was with the car on a lift. The new ones just broke off as well within a couple of weeks so I left them. I think they still work as bump stops anyhow as they can't fall out from inside the spring. When the MoT is due I just glue them in place the night before with some contact adhesive, if they have fallen off again. Oh, and I did go over all that rust with Waxoyl while the car was up there. The bottom of the spring is located by a sort of cup arrangement that is held to the trailing arm with a bolt through the middle. That did have to come off to get the spring out. We had the compressor so using it was ano brainer, however if you did dismantle the locating cup you may be able to do this job without. I remember one of the bolts was rusted and broke so it was replaced by a new through bolt.

The rear bump stops are not part of the M.O.T. as theyre still there they do the job theyre not worth gettin your knickers in a knot about