KYB does not make a front shock for the Syncro.  The only shock that is
easily available here in the states is the OEM Boge.  There is a list vendor
(I think) in Seattle that sells Old Man Emu brand (from Australia) for about
$145 each, which should be a big improvement over the Boge shocks.  Per in
Norway has talked about some Monroe shocks that he found for his Syncro, but
I have not seen anyone in the States say that they were able to find the
Monroe units here.  Check the archives for the part numbers, etc.

FWIW, when I get around to replacing my sloppy front Boge units, I will most
likely go with the Old Man Emu units - they have a good reputation, and the
price is not THAT much more than the Boge units (OK, about 50% more... <g>)

Brent Christensen
'89 Syncro Westy "Klaus"
'95 Cherokee Sport

----- Original Message -----
From: <jeff_gilbert@PEOPLESOFT.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 31, 1999 7:17 PM
Subject: Shock Help!

> Hi Volks,
>
> I checked the archives, but didnt find any specifics to my problem.
>
> I just started to replace the shocks on my 87 syncro with some KYB's...
Got the
> old shocks off no problem, but the sleeves on the new KYB's seem to be a
tad bit
> to long to fit back into the fasteners on the van (a little less than 1/4
inch
> to long).  Is there a trick in getting the longer sleeves in there short
of
> brute force?  I tried to remove the new sleeves and replace them with the
old
> sleeves, but they seem to be in there to damn good...  I didnt want to
damage
> the shocks, and I dont have the 'specific' VW tool to remove/replace
sleeves.
>
> Also, Im pretty sure the shocks are the correct ones for an 87 syncro
vanagon,
> but not 100 percent.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I need to
get
> to work in the morning.
>
> thanks,
>
> Jeff
>