A method for assembling a vane ring with a vane support of a vane assembly in a gas turbine engine is described, and includes flexing each of the radial loading elements into the resiliently flexed state simultaneously by sliding the radial loading elements against corresponding lead-in tapers. This can be achieved, for example, using a guide tool which includes a plurality of segments bearing the lead-in tapers and which is previously assembled to the vane support.