Date:         Sat, 4 Jun 2011 07:30:32 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Help the chimp avoid getting crushed
Comments: To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <1307194552.18233.838.camel@TheJackUbuntuNetbook>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

ety issue with this plan.

>
> SECOND QUESTION: I've never changed shocks, on level ground or not. The
> ones I'm trying are Monroe SensaTrac coilovers. I have not opened the
> box but it's pretty clear from the photo that I need to get the mounting
> points on the van the right distance apart because these shocks don't
> look like they are easy to compress or stretch by hand. How does a
> fellow go about getting the right distance between the upper and lower
> mounting points?
>
> --
>
  You need the wheel off the ground and hanging.  Then you can put a jack
under the flat CV joint 'container' and adjust the distance between the two
attachment brackets for the shock, as needed.  Shocks are a straight forward
R&R piece, but take care under the van on a sloped driveway like you
describe.  I have always used a spare jackstand as backup when I go under a
lifted car and start wrenching hard on stuff...I simply put one somewhere
that it would stop the car from coming down ON ME should it slip off the
other devices.  Remember to remove that 'backup' jackstand before you lower
the vehicle.

 When ever I loosen a wheel, I first tie a tape around my steering wheel,
too.  When I have replaced and re-torqued the lugs, then I remove the tape
from the steering wheel.  You can get distracted or interrupted during a
wheel-involving task and then get back to it later and forget you haven't
tightened the lugs.  It happens often at racetracks.  Mainly because you put
the wheel back and run in the lugs but you need the wheels on the ground to
torque them properly...so guys drop the car but forget they've not torqued
everything yet.
  Don Hanson