On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 21:05:24 -0400, Jake Beaulieu <jbeaulie@ND.EDU> wrote:

>Howdy,
>
>I have new front Billstein shocks for my 1982 AC Vanagon to go along with
>my new Hankook tires.  Hooray!
>
>Alright, Bentley calls for replacing the brass spacer sleeve with PN 251
>413 439A.  My new shocks also came with a new set of spacer sleeves.  So
>what to do?
>1) re-use original spacer sleeves
>2) use spacer sleeves that came with new shocks
>3) order PN 251 413 439A
>
>I know many of you have replaced front shocks, so what have you done?
>
>thanks a bunch,
>Jake

I have installed the shocks and realized that I posted my question a bit
prematurely.  The spacer sleeve that the Bentley wants us to upgrade (PN
251 413 439A) is integrated into the bump stop.  The spacer that comes
with the new Billstein shocks is a totally different animal.  In the end I
discarded the new spacer that came with the shocks and reused the bump
stop and integrated spacer sleeve without modification.  This seems to
have worked fine.  I would be interested to know if any of you have
installed the spacer upgrade the Bentley refers to.  Judging from the
responses I got to my original posting few people do.  I wonder what the
advantage of the new part is.

I had one surprise during the job.  The shocks I replaced appeared to be
the original BOGE's and still seemed to have plenty of life in them!  The
shocks compressed and extended smoothly with no dead spots.  I am trying
to convince myself that I didn't waste money because new Billsteins are
still better than the best BOGE.

jake