I followed the guides on PP, yet I am doing something obviously wrong. Could someone enlighten me, please? There is a gap where the shock boot should meet the fender.


I removed the metal cap inside the boot cover and added the rubber buffer, then dropped it back into the boot. I tested the shocks on the ground, and they are good. What am I not seeing? The shocks are the same length as the old ones. I feel like this is as obvious as finding air...

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Nosce Te Ipsum "Know thyself"

Photos
https://mega.nz/folder/pVMBxQga#UPZMRrPgpW2s8G-3lYOZaw

Put the car on the ground.

Looks like you're forgetting the rubber donut on top of the shock but below the inner fender....

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

The rubber buffer is inside the boot sitting on top of the metal cap. Also the lower control a is totally supported by jackstands. Car is essentially on the ground.

I was not able to access the picks. I would be curious to know if the same issue exists if you tried to put back one of the old socks.

If you can't (safely) shift enough weight to compress the spring enough to get the shock installed (this assumes you don't have too many rubber bumpers holding things up) then you need to use a spring compressor to very carefully collapse the spring just enough to get the shock installed.

Don't compress the spring any more then is needed.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Here are two photos.
The top side when I put the other rubber buffer and metal washer over it is nearly flush with he top of the shock. They are fully extended, and the entire weight of the car is resting on both lower control arms. Backwheels on ground. I'm so stumped bahh!

Attached Thumbnails

   

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Nosce Te Ipsum "Know thyself"

Assault,

Are you sure the shock absorber rod is fully extended?
Use vise grip pliers to grab the flats on the end of the rod and pull the rod upwards.

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78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022

Note: there are two versions of shocks per page 6 on the attached pdf.
Perhaps the original was the first version (with the lower buffer in the sleeve) and
the replacement was version 2 with the lower buffer between the sleeve and the chassis (as vwnate suggested on post #4)?

https://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/12265/disc_2/program/Chassis/32-100.pdf


On your first photo on post #7, more of the rod is exposed and it looks as if there is enough space for a buffer to fit.

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78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022

Solved. I had to quite literally stand on top of the engine bay to compress the spring just enough to start the nut. Looking at it now, the car is angled slightly towards the back shifting the center of gravity more towards the rear. Y'all were right about compressing the spring. Thank you!!!

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Nosce Te Ipsum "Know thyself"