Funny you bring this up.  I recently changed the shocks in my father 81.  It
had 105,000 miles on them.  They weren't shot...just a little soft.  I test
them by finding a good side dip and checking the rebound rate.  My 84 has
194,000 miles on the originals and they are just starting to get a little
soft.  On the other hand, my 87 Audi 5000 S has 167,500 miles on it, and the
front struts are SHOT!!!!  Thank god that it has cartridges instead of
having to replace the entire strut.  I intend to replace them with KYB Gas
Adjust.  Worked great on my fathers van...
Karl Batzler
84 Vanagon
87 Audi 5000 S

-----Original Message-----
From: Martin Jagersand <jag@CS.YALE.EDU>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Sunday, January 17, 1999 7:05 PM
Subject: Re: Shock absorbers

>I have an '82 also, and the original shocks that suprisingly still
>work fine. (Unlike the crap some other VW products came with)
>I think they will simply rust out before they get soft from wear.
>Just do the standard test: Stand on the bumber in one corner.
>Jump off. The bus should rise up but not keep moving up and down.
>
>The shocks on my Quantum (B2 chassis Passat) are temp sensitive!
>In the cold they get too stiff (maybe moisture in the oil?) and
>that makes for a real bumpy ride and not optimal road contact.
>Don't know what replacement # I'm on the Quantum, but they
>definitely don't last 17 years like the '82 Westy.
>
>Guess you won't have that cold problem where you are. GF is
>postdocing at UNSW and tells me about all the fun outdoor stuff
>she does while I sit here and freeze... any cheap plane tickets?
>
>/Martin
>--
>Westy 1.9l Turbo Diesel
>Quantum 1.6l Turbo Diesel
>
>Martin Jagersand                 email: jag@cs.yale.edu
>Computer Science Department             jag@cs.rochester.edu
>Yale University
>
>        Slow down and visit the VW diesel Westy page:
>          WWW: http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/jag/vw
>-------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>> Greetings from downunder.  I have an '82 Transporter (camper).
>> The shock absorbers are all original.  I am wondering what
>> comments people have on replacing them.  I ask, because the front
>> left one has just commenced to leak a drop of oil occasionally.
>>
>> How does one decide it is time to replace?  Apart from oil leaks,
>> that is?
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>>
>> David Yates
>> '82 Auto Transporter (Vanagon)