Bill Ball

Van:

I have a spare top mount. Note that with Bilsteins, everything is as in the WSM drawing except there is no part 9. Everything else should be there, including the dust cover - that part is essential as it has a spacer in it. The fender lip looks pushed up. Glad to hear there are no external signs.

karl ruiter

There are a lot of parts stacking on there. Easy to make a mistake.

Mrmerlin

you may also need the bust boot as it looks like it has sheared off from its center

vanster

I am going to take it out and go over it and see what I did wrong
I did find a large washer tucked in the corner of my rolling seat that I used to site on doing the r&r. Only one fender type washer so this means if this is the one that is missing the other maybe Ok
Bust boot (interesting name)

van

Bill Ball

It looks like parts 3 and most likely 6 are busted. I have spares.

Mrmerlin

sorry i meant Dust Boot not Bust Boot

S4ordie

Dang! I thought for just once I'd be able to offer up a spare part I don't use anymore.....

PN 92836DD

vanster

This weekend I took the drivers side front shock assembly out to find out why it blew through the tower and into the fender. Bill Ball was kind enough to hand deliver
a new dust tube and the rubber mount that fits on top.I had broken the top off of the dust tube. What caused this malady?
When I took out the Boge's and replaced them with new springs and Bilsteins
I did not pay attention to the photo in shop manual. I had placed the two large washers
on the top for whatever reason. The correct way one goes on top of the shock and the other
goes between the two rubberized spacers (read the shop manual and pay attention)!!! Once I realized what I had done there was no choice but to take the other side apart and check it as well. I had assembled the passenger side correctly...ta da...one half of my brain works!
Lesson learned. Good news is that this time it only took about 2.5 hours per side to
rr. The first time it took a day. Practice, practice, practice.

Question now is, because I took the shocks and springs out which for me it's easiest to unbolt the upper A arm and the lowers (great cleaning opportunity and to bond with the underside) . I think '80's A arms a bit different than later cars but even with MSDS headers it was not that difficult.

Do I still have to have it re aligned?

Vanster
'80 5sp

Bill Ball

It's hard to get the lower A-arms back exactly where they were before unless you mark them. There is some slop in the mounts to the body. Still, it might have little effect. I'd at least check toe with toe plates. I have some and we can check toe in a few minutes.

Sue Corenman

Dan, you are a very bad boy!!

Mrmerlin

Vanster glad you got it figured out, Great that Bill could assist with some extra parts as well

Dan thats the first time I have seen or heard of that part number or the part for that matter, thanks for showing us that obscure part