You could have posted this to the EuroVan list.  You likely would
have received some useful information.

The special tool is to keep the torsion spring in place so it doesn't
pop out and injure you.  You don't need it if your careful, which it
seems  you were.

I hope  you used the large flat washers on top of the dust covers on
the front Bilsteins.  They left this important step off the
instructions.  On the OEM shocks, the metal dust cover is also the
perch for the bushing.  Not so on the HD Bilsteins.  You need to
slide the provided large washer over first, then the rubber bushing.
Next goes the mounting bracket, another bushing and the top washer/
keeper.  If the large washer was not installed, the shocks will
break.  You likely over tightened them and stretched the threads.

Steve
SKL Enterprises Inc.
http://EuroCampers.com

888-797-5994 - orders
636-337-7700 - customer service

On Apr 17, 2010, at 11:40 PM, Shawn Wright wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Got the EV shocks done, very simple job. Bentley refers to some
> special
> tools and a torsion bar which I couldn't find anywhere, so I think
> there's a
> typo in there... I took some pics just in case, but it's all pretty
> easy
> really. Old OEM shocks could be compressed with one hand, while
> Bilstein HDs
> took lots of weight and both hands... can't wait to get the HDs on
> my Westy,
> maybe next week, still need to finish rear brakes on Dad's EV. Oh
> yeah, the
> no-name EV rotors are pretty poor, one has a cavity in the casting
> visible
> from both sides... not certain where Dad got them , but not from a
> list
> vendor. Good reason to stick with OEM... the drums I got from
> Autohausaz
> look *ok*, at least they are smooth and no casting glitches, but
> next time
> I'll go oem for the extra $20.
>
>