Installing Bilstein Shocks

[JDancoe]

I'm putting a new pair of Bilstein Shocks on the front of my '92 W-250. All the labeling on the shocks is oriented so that to read it, the shocks must be mounted with the rod end (w/the bellows boot) down.
I'm thinking that since the shocks are gas charged it really doesn't make much difference which way they go.

The instruction sheet furnished with the shocks is useless. More of a lawyer's alibi sheet than install instructions.

Any thoughts?

Jack Dancoe

 

[seafish]

You COULD just peel the label off and turn it over…lol.

Labeling aside, both the front and rear Bilteins on my 2005 are mounted with the boot up. I would go through the trouble of reinstalling the shocks as I am pretty sure that mounting it with the boot down MIGHT eventually lead to water/moisture/dirt being trapped inside the boot, against the shaft as the rubber hardens/stretches/cracks where it surrounds the shock body.

 

[seafish]

Ok, well also just free to ignore my last post...

http://blog.truckspring.com/post/2014/05/28/can-i-mount-bilstein-shocks-upside-down

And this from their FAQ page--

http://www.allshocks.com/t-faq.aspx

 

[Silver C]

I DID NOT know that! I just installed new Bilsteins but given I have a shock tower with different ends, not a question I ran into. I just ran into rusted bolts on the shock tower and had to grind, cut, and chisel the broken bolt out. Got ta love that rust.

 

[JDancoe]

Seafish,
It's amazing how great minds think alike! Unfortunately, the razor blade I had was kinda dull, and I couldn't get the label off. They have really good glue on those labels!
On your other comment about dirt accumulation in the boot. I replaced a set of Rancho shocks with boots, mounted with the rod upright. After reading your comment, I took the time to check inside the boots on them. The one shock boot had come loose at the top, and the dirt had accumulated right at the top of the shock tube, against the rod. No corrosion or other damage I could see, but that made me think that perhaps having the shock inverted would cause any contamination to accumulate at the bottom, beyond the range of normal shock travel.

Also, thanks for the reprint of the piece from truckspring.com. Make me feel certain my choice (guess) was correct.

Thanks, Jack Dancoe

 

[ofelas]

I installed mine a couple weeks back. Labels up, boots down & I punched a couple extra drain holes in the boots.
The rear bottom mounts didn't use sleeves. The top ones did, as did both mounts on the fronts.