Date: Sun, 18 Apr 2010 20:18:28 -0700
Reply-To: Shawn Wright <vwdiesels@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Shawn Wright <vwdiesels@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Eurovan Shock replacement info
In-Reply-To: <1AFBDC14-52A8-45F2-B6EF-AD279B7C279C@eurocampers.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Steve,
Thanks for this info, it sounds like we did fine. I know I should have
posted it to elsewhere, but was hoping for a quick reply, since I'm not on
the EV list. Instead, we just took it slow and checked things carefully. I
still didn't see the torsion spring referred to - but supported the a-arm
just in case. I looked but could not find the spring as shown in Bentley. I
did notice the new washer to replace the steel dust cover on the oem units
and installed as you said. I also noticed the Bilstein units did give more
squish on the rubber bushings than oem as a result of the slight lack of
recess on the oem dust covers - is this what you meant by over tightening? I
could not see how to avoid this and still ensure the washers were snug to
the steel bushing. Dad just called to say the handling is much better, so
all seems good.
Thanks again.
On Sun, Apr 18, 2010 at 2:52 PM, steve@eurocampers.com <
steve@eurocampers.com> wrote:
> 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.
>
>
>
>
--
Shawn Wright
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