Yikes! That couldn't have been good

I decided to start replacing the front shocks on the RH side. After removing the wheel, this is exactly what I found.



No, I hadn't unbolted the top. The nut was already gone. The stud isn't broken, it has the smooth top before the threads begin. I don't know how long it's been that way, but the side area has some minor rubbing. It might be recent, since I'd expect more wear.

Old, stuck completely compressed -vs-new, completely uncompressed.



It was a pain to install because Bilstein doesn't put the plastic compressing thing like Monroe does. I had to use a tire iron then and a bottle jack with a socket set on top to compress and align the shock with the bracket and bottom bolt.



One side down, one side to go. The other side is still attached up top. I'm taking a lunch break now, but I'll reply with more pics later probably.

Nothing to really to say about the other side. It was normal. Shock still seems somewhat serviceable. Replaced anyway of course.

You need a bumper sticker

If the Van's rokin'
Might want to check the shock bolts

dgr said:

You need a bumper sticker

If the Van's rokin'
Might want to check the shock bolts

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Each shock came with a Bilstein bumper sticker, if that counts.

Cubey said:

Each shock came with a Bilstein bumper sticker, if that counts.

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Better put those on! That's an extra 10hp per sticker!

chillman88 said:

Better put those on! That's an extra 10hp per sticker!

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Upon closer inspection, its 2 stickers on each sheet, so 40hp for free

Holly cow! You should replace the ones in the rear as well for 40 more hp!

frankenwrench said:

Holly cow! You should replace the ones in the rear as well for 40 more hp!

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The extra HP doubles with each shock so that’s a total of an extra 80 HP lol!

The old shocks were the fancy Bluetooth kind. didn't need to be bolted

frankenwrench said:

Holly cow! You should replace the ones in the rear as well for 40 more hp!

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I put new Monroe Gas Magnum RV shocks on the rear last May. It's all I could afford at the time and it needed em bad.

Did those come with stickers? Lol. Joking aside, I had a rear shock on my truck dragging behind me on the driver side from Odessa all the way up to McKinney before I realized it was scraping behind me. Still an easier fix than a front shock though. Not sure how difficult the Vans are but doesn't look like you have all the room in the world.

frankenwrench said:

Not sure how difficult the Vans are but doesn't look like you have all the room in the world.

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Room is different on each side due to the fenders.

RH side, a socket wrench fit. LH side, they left a cavity to reach into with a regular wrench. It took forever on that side. I stopped and did other stuff a few times because it was so slow going. And you are supposed to tighten the top with the vehicle weight in it, so then the tire is in the way too. Maybe some swivel extensions would have helped.