Front shock help please - sorted

[starbiscuit]

Yet again, here I share my ignorance with another noob question.
My bus had no front shocks when I got it. Not a surprise.

Easy, I thought. I'll buy a pair and fit them.
I went to GSF and got a pair of Boge shocks for a 1970 T2, which mine is (but the beam might not be) (http://www.gsfcarparts.com/455vg0140)

1st hint of a problem was that Bentley says the front lower shock nut is M10. Mine is M12 fine (1.5p)
And the stub is about the same diameter (16mm) as the tube that is in the shock absorber eye.

No way the shock will fit as-is. Both sides are the same.
So, do I have the wrong shocks? What are the right ones?
Or does my stub have the remnant of the old shock stuck on it?
If so, do I try to split and remove it?
Or am I meant to push the tube out of the new shock before fitting what's left?

Sorry for all the silly questions

 

[70-CA-Panel]

Hey Starbiscuit,

The top should be a bolt that you screw through the top and secure with a nut ans spring washer.
The bottom has a stud sticking out of the trailing arm and should not have a sleeve on it.
If the pic with the 16mm is the stud that you took off the trailing arm then yes try to take the sleeve off.
The shock should just slip onto the stud and be secured again with a nut and spring washer.

Remember to tighten when the wheels are on the ground with all weight of the bus.

Hope this helps. I'll see if I have any photos later.

Cheers.

Andy

 

[starbiscuit]

Thanks Andy.

The stud in the picture is the lower shock mount, still attached to the trailing arm. Both sides are the same; 16mm.
So if those are the sleeves from the old shocks, how could I get them off without wrecking the studs themselves?

I am familiar with many brute-force ignorance methods, but can't see how this could end well...

Cheers,
Rob

 

[skint_golfer]

Molegrips, wd40 and a wrist full of wriggling! If it still wont budge then break out a coppy of razzle for inspiration and have another go :lol:

 

[starbiscuit]

Thanks. I'll let you know how it goes. The studs, that is, not the razzle...

 

[Zcat7]

I had exactly the same problem, see my post at the end of this thread http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=45111&start=240

One side came off reasonably easily after lots of penetrating oil (proper stuff in the end, not WD40) and heat,molegrips etc but the other side was a bitch and I had to cut a thin line along it with a dremel and "peel" it off with a chisel.

Take your time and obviously try to use blows along the length of the stud rather than across it. Its incredibly strong (supporting the weight of the front of the bus now with my Gaz coilovers!) so don't be too worried.

 

[Shaunb]

I have the same problem, bushing left on from the old OG dampers, plan is to heat up and attack with mole grips


[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com

 

[starbiscuit]

So I left them soaking in penetrating fluid overnight, then attacked them with mole grips and a crow bar.
Both off within 15 minutes :shock:

Now I just need to clean up the studs and threads and fit the shocks.

Thanks for all the replies that made me realise I had to get the sleeves off and gave me the confidence to tackle it.

(Didn't need the razzle)

 

[70-CA-Panel]

Well done man!

 

[Zcat7]

Nicely done! I recommend a smear of copper grease to stop this happening again...