So,
a while ago I wrote to the list about the dreadful noise coming from my
front right suspension whenever it went over a bump.  (It seems
miraculous to me  now, having looked at the problem, that it was only a
problem over bumps....)

After a few weeks of confining myself to public transportation (gas
prices are high these days anyways), I finally jacked up the van and
took a look at the suspension with the wheel off. I knew it looked a
little funny, and then it hit me: the upper nut, locknut, washer, and
damping ring assembly (for the shock) were all missing above the little
dome thing where they usually are (holding the top of the shock in
place).  I cannot begin to imagine how this happened... the dome seems
intact, and I can feel everything that should be above it below it by
sticking my fingers in the hole.  The shocks were changed~2.5 years ago
(just before I bought the van), so they should be in decent shape (and
they always seemed to be before all of this).

Should I remove the shock and try putting it back on with new nuts,
washers, etc?  Has anybody had this happen before???

Thanks very much,
Wes