bilstein shock install

[JSzewczyk]

I installed the rear shocks the other day and installed them with the blue sleeve side mounted down near the axels. A buddy at work seen this and showed me his in which he mounted his with the blue sleeve mounted in the upper position under the bed. He has had his on for years and never had a problem. does it matter which way they are mounted?

 

[rscurtis]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your's are in upside down. The blue shields will collect debris, and the damping mechanism may be starved for fluid in that position.

 

[JSzewczyk]

So the blue sleeve gets mounted up under the bed? I can flip them easy now that I had to put new nuts and bolts up there. It was a ***** getting them off as they were rusted up pretty bad. In fact I busted both of the nut retaining rings. Thanks for setting me straight.

 

[Road Dog]

You won't have a choice with the front shocks since they have different ends. The blue shield is there to protect the shock piston.

 

[macdaddy]

I installed the rear shocks the other day and installed them with the blue sleeve side mounted down near the axels. A buddy at work seen this and showed me his in which he mounted his with the blue sleeve mounted in the upper position under the bed. He has had his on for years and never had a problem. does it matter which way they are mounted?

 

[Scooby]

Here's a photo... ...

 

[LRutigliano]

Here's a photo... ...

Nice airbags, nice diff cover and nice shocks !!

 

[Scooby]

Thanks! I'm in the process of putting on the bags, shocks, pacbrake, SBC double disc clutch, front end leveling kit, etc... ... . so I have to write a really nice sized check as well! We just upgraded from a TT to a 5th wheel and I was (9very) seriously considering a new truck - but this will be paid off shortly and drives great!

 

[MChrist]

EEEK!!! Don't let Grizzly find out that you're gonna tow a fifth wheel with a 2500... according to him, 2500s should be regulated to only carrying groceries!!


OK, that's not a quote, but not far off, either.

 

[Lorenz]

The shocks will work "upside down" or right side up. The Bilstiens have Internal Floating Pistons and are not like Emulsion shocks. The oil is under pressure and the piston travels in pure oil. It won't mix with air. That's what you have to watch out for running an emulsion shock. Bilstiens will work either way.

There' should be enough holes in the blue cover to drain water out on both ends. Bigger pebbles may be an issue, but I don't thing there's enough room between the cover and the shock body to allow a bigger pebble to get in there.

If you have the black and silver 5100 Bilsteins you have nothing to worry about. The blue and yellow Bilsteins have the open ended cover that I'm referring to above.

Take a picture of what you have and how they're oriented so we can see the possible issue