Help with front struts

I am replacing front shocks on my 1988 745 TIC and have two questions. My Haynes says to use a C spanner on the nut that holds the shock inside the strut but my C spanner is way too small. I was thinking tonight over an ale, maybe a pipewrench could be used. Can anyone confirm this is a good idea? Also, in my Haynes on the picture it looks like they are undoing the bolt clockwise instead of anticlockwise, is that right? Do I undo this nut clockwise?

Also, I did the rear shocks and springs yesterday and today I found one of those plastic round things that sit between the chassis and the spring rubber on the rear. I must have forgotten to fit that, does that matter? Are these really important?

George

Anglo-Swede resident near Leuven in Belgium

'87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler (D24TIC/M46, 200k)
'88 745 Turbo Intercooler (B230ET/M46, 270k)
'88 745 GL (B200E/M47, 200k)
'89 440 GL (B18K/M55, 90k)

[Paul Wildsmith]

I recall using a pipe wrench on mine successfully.