Hi Dave,

Don't worry about spring tension on the front shocks. I have a full writeup
on the front shock replacement at

http://volksweb.relitech.com/frshocks.htm

One of these days, I'll get some time to document the rears as well.

TomC
tcarrington@relitech.com
http://www.relitech.com/tomc
http://volksweb.relitech.com
85 Vanagon Crew Cab
82 Westy diesel=>gas conversion
65 Notchback

> -----Original Message-----
> From: dave [SMTP:dave@251.ORG]
> Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2000 12:22 AM
> To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:      Question on replacing shocks on 87 2WD
>
> I finally got around to getting a new set of shocks for my 87 GL
> (Non-syncro), I decided to go with a set of Bilstein HDs.  I'll be
> installing them myself, having not done this before I looked up the
> procedure in the Bentley, it's there but not too detailed.  I'm thinking
> this is so because the procedure isn't that complex.
>
> It is my understanding, and from past experience, that the rear springs
> will
> not be under tension, but the front's will be, but will not have to be
> removed to swap the shocks.  So I'm planning on swapping shocks by doing
> the
> following:
>
> Front:
> 1.  Lift wheel off ground, then lower so it is just touching the ground.
> 2.  Remove the bolt at the bottom of the shock in the control arm.
> 3.  Then remove top (body) nut.
> 4.  Install new shock, bolt top (body) then bottom (control arm).
>
> Question:  Will there be a problem removing the bottom bolt, i.e. will
> there
> be any compression in the shock that will it difficult to pull the bolt?
> Bentley says to "lower vehicle onto wheels" when pulling this bolt, any
> suggestions?
>
> Rear:
> 1.  Lift wheel off ground.
> 2.  Remove lower bolt (trailing arm)
> 3.  Remove upper bolt/nut.
> 4.  Replace shock, verify spring it seated properly, top nut/bolt then
> bottom bolt.
>
>
> Also is there any other PM I should consider during this procedure?  Any
> other tips/suggestions?
>
> BTW the current shocks are OE Boge, from the dealer, installed 03/09/92 at
> 86,378 miles at a cost of $459.93 installed (I found the original
> receipt).
> The van currently has 155,500 miles.  Eight years and 70k miles later the
> Boge's seem to work reasonably well, but they are feeling a little soft.
> The
> Bilstein HDs were about $315.
>
> I am also going to be video taping a stop (From 50 mph or so, something
> relatively fast) with the old shocks and then with the new, the nose dive
> is
> fairly excessive right now, we'll see if the Bilsteins improve this.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave
> www.251.org