Installing Bilsteins

[iptman]

The 5125s say 0-2 inches so here's hoping they're fine with no lift. With the shock body up there's not a ledge to trap water or dirt with the boot on. I plan on keeping my boots on for a while and check them periodically. I don't DD my 40 though.

 

[Racer65]

Wait, doesn't the boot go on top?

 

[iptman]

Not on these. Lettering is all right side up. I think most mono tube, gas charged shocks are body up.

 

[Racer65]

Funny, on the yellow ones the lettering is oriented the other way around. I never gave it a second thought since the OEMs have the metal shells on top.

 

[Racer65]

Google says...follow the logo:
Can I mount Bilstein Shocks upside down?

 

[iptman]

I wonder if the yellow are a dual wall shock.

Edit: read the above, doesn't seem to matter.

 

[antFJ]

you can use the 5100's without a lift... took a lot of searching but I found some 5100's for a nissan that had the right lengths collapsed and extended. The bottom bushing was steel and I had a machine shop drill it out to make it a press fit onto the stock shock pin.

 

[Landpimp]

Not sure on these, but they may be designed to have more rebound and compression one way vrs the other. So if mounted upside down (logo upside down ) they won't work optimally.

 

[GRM]

Not sure on these, but they may be designed to have more rebound and compression one way vrs the other. So if mounted upside down (logo upside down ) they won't work optimally.

Think about it for a minute... How would compressing a shock one way vs upside down make a difference? Your still compressing a shock.

The difference is that on a twin tube shock, you get a dead spot if you flip it upside down. Monotubes, such as bilsteins, can be mounted either way.

 

[Landpimp]

you may(and are) be right, the eggnog is very tasty this morning, but I am pretty sure they are sometimes(not 50/50) valved different and it "may" make a difference on some types or shocks, maybe not these. If if Bilsten says to mount with the Logo up, then there is a reason for that.

Think about it for a minute... How would compressing a shock one way vs upside down make a difference? Your still compressing a shock.

The difference is that on a twin tube shock, you get a dead spot if you flip it upside down. Monotubes, such as bilsteins, can be mounted either way.

 

[Spike Strip]

No flames, please, and forgive my potential ignorance, but why is everyone jumping into the Bilstein lemming trail ? I know Bilstein has a reputation for being a high-quality shock, but why these? And why the 5000 series ? Why not the 8125 which is owner-rebuildable ?

Just looking for knowledge

 

[Manwithtools]

You didn't, cripes, I never knew there were any wire ties actually made out of wire.

Actually there are wire ties made of wire. In the tire manufacturing industry they will make you use wire to tie up bundles of wire, or you have to use wire ties that have a metal inner core. This is required so they will show up in x-ray inspection of tires before shipment if one would somehow fall into the rubber making process. A regular nylon wire tie will not show up in x-ray, but could cause a failure in the tire once it's sold to a customer.

Not a terribly important detail, just like to share some of the useless details floating around in my head from time to time.