A little trouble with coilover springs

ok, I got my KYB GR-2's last week, and I was trying to put the coilovers I got onto them. I got the rear ones together with no problem. The front, however... It looks like I have to take off the lil brass ring/cap, but I don't want to break my shock. What do I do? I was going to take it to a mech, and have him install the shocks, but from the tutorials, it seems easy enough. If I can get these front shocks/coilovers together, I can begin removal of old suspension, and put this new shit in.