the original shock mounting bolts are super robust.
I've never even thought about replacing them.
and no, not extremely high torques, though the front lower shock mounting
bolts do have to be pretty tight ..........but nothing you couldn't do with
a half inch ratchet and a short cheater bar on it.  You do need two 22 mm
sockets to remove the lower front shock mounting bolts however.  I probably
make them 60 ft lbs or so, maybe a bit more than that.   If not creamed down
fairly well, they'll get loose and rattle on bumps after a while.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cecil Eastman" <ckelmo1@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 9:14 AM
Subject: Time for some Bilsteins

> I'm about to take the plunge and replace my original shocks with some
> Bilsteins.  As always, I'm doing this myself, but I've never toyed with
> the suspension before.
>
> Can someone give me some tips on what to avoid?  By appearance, the
> suspension areas don't look too badly rusted, but aren't there normally
> some pretty high torques involved in removing the old stuff?  Also, should
> I expect to spring for new mounting hardware or will the original bolts
> and things probably do the job?
>
> Thanks
> Cecil
> '85 Westy Wolfsburg
> "Der BrotKasten"