84 5sp low-roof with most of a westie interior and an inline Jetta 2.0
liter motor.  Running on 14" steel wheels and 205-70 Nokian M+S tires.

  I recently got some Gabriel front shocks from Bus Depot.  Inexpensive.
 Just $22.95 each, plus the shipping.  Man!  What a difference in how my van
behaves.  The shocks I removed, black bodies without any branding that I
could see, they didn't feel especially worn out, but I'd noticed that on
uneven roads the van seemed a bit 'tippy', side to side, and it's front
seemed to lift a little under acceleration.  So I got those inexpensive
shocks from Ron and stuck em in..(took about 45mins only)   Good results.
And it didn't bust my budget.

   So this morning I also ordered some Monroe LT gas shocks (for the rear).
  Advance Auto Parts..2 for $43 with a lifetime replacement guarantee.  I
have some KYBs on the van's rear end right now...they feel like bricks, but
the van still sways some back there.  If the Monroes work as well as the
Gabriels...I shall be ready for the Nuremberg Ring racetrack for under $100
for all four wheels...Actually, I am getting ready to escape the crappy
Northwest US winter wet weather and head down south for my annual (Mexican)
dental checkup and some bicycle fun...

   Since my Vanagon is not my 'gold-plater' hobby vehicle,  I am pretty
happy about not spending the $125 per wheel for fancy German shocks.  I am
not dissin' those who have...I am just passing on that my van works just
great now after changing the front end onto relatively inexpensive shocks.
 I'll report back after the new rear shocks get some highway miles
(estimating about 3000 for this winter sojourn, which, according to my math,
I can pay for with ease from the money I saved by selecting less expensive
shocks)

   Don Hanson