Mounting REAR shocks - Boot UP or DOWN?

WhiteRider · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2015 5:25 pm

I think I asked the question during installing my 3.5" lift, but don't think anybody had a definitive answer?
Which way is correct, when installing new REAR shocks? Rubber boot UP? or, boot DOWN?

I ended up installing the Bilstein shocks boot UP. (Read on...)

But after replacing both :shock:

of my rear shocks due to cavitation issues from what I think to be water (and other contaminants), that wasn't draining from inside the shock boots correctly, I decided this time I was doing them boot DOWN. Rides like a dream again.

Anybody have any good reasons I shouldn't mount them this way?

At The Helm · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2015 6:13 pm

Rod side down and remove the boot.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2015 6:22 pm

^^^^ yes

Oban · **Joined:** Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:48 pm **Posts:** 64

Atthehelm wrote:

Rod side down and remove the boot.

Hmm... please tell me that doing it the other way doesn't impairs the function... because mine looks kinda like this (except that I have the silver HD bilstein shocks)

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2015 10:43 pm

Install the rear shocks how the lettering is facing.

Bilsteins are "boot" down(besides factory installed versions),but never,ever use the boots.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2015 10:44 pm

Oban wrote:

Atthehelm wrote:

Rod side down and remove the boot.

Hmm... please tell me that doing it the other way doesn't impairs the function... because mine looks kinda like this (except that I have the silver HD bilstein shocks)

Installed wrong it will impair function.

Oban · **Joined:** Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:48 pm **Posts:** 64

I guess I know now what I will do tomorrow morning...

nFodzy · **Joined:** Sun Oct 06, 2013 1:30 pm **Posts:** 389

an alignment isn't required if I now have to change my rear Bilstein's shocks to rod end down right?

PALiftedKK · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:31 am

nFodzy wrote:

an alignment isn't required if I now have to change my rear Bilstein's shocks to rod end down right?

correct. if their the same shocks as what was on there before hand.

nFodzy · **Joined:** Sun Oct 06, 2013 1:30 pm **Posts:** 389

PALiftedKK wrote:

nFodzy wrote:

an alignment isn't required if I now have to change my rear Bilstein's shocks to rod end down right?

correct. if their the same shocks as what was on there before hand.

Yeah I have the Bilsteins from my 3" lift on now but the shop installed them with the boot up. Is it a hard shop to switch them around?

PALiftedKK · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:43 am

nope. just jack up the rear your working on put the floor jack on the body, remove tire, remove shock, put back on.

there's a few tricks to make the shocks go on easier like putting a block of wood on the shock and dropping the rear slowly. or jacking up the shock into place.

you can make the shocks go in with out those tricks, but its just easier on the installer.

JeepMonkey190 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2015 2:21 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Install the rear shocks how the lettering is facing.

Bilsteins are "boot" down(besides factory installed versions),but never,ever use the boots.

What if the boot is like the ironman 4x4 boot that's more like a loose hard plastic sleeve? And I do believe mine are rod down but the hard plastic allows water to drain.

PALiftedKK · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2015 2:48 pm

JeepMonkey190 wrote:

What if the boot is like the ironman 4x4 boot that's more like a loose hard plastic sleeve? And I do believe mine are rod down but the hard plastic allows water to drain.

bring out the dremel!

Oban · **Joined:** Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:48 pm **Posts:** 64

I just checked the Bilstein instructions for my rear Bilstein 5100 Series Shocks (part #24-185660). The instructions (http://static.summitracing.com/global/i ... 217A00.pdf) clearly state:

Quote:

The mounting position of the suspension
springs can be read by the imprint- have
them installed just the way you read the imprint.

In my case this means that the boot / piston goes up, not down...

Now I am utterly confused by what is right and what is wrong.

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2015 5:07 pm

My Bilsteins are boot up. I think Troy is right. However you read them is how they should be mounted. If you run 5100s then they should be boot up. 5125s may be boot down.

NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

5125s are boot down. I just looked at mine again and noticed the label was upside down haha.

toy4everyseason · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2015 8:13 pm

JeepMonkey190 wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

Install the rear shocks how the lettering is facing.

Bilsteins are "boot" down(besides factory installed versions),but never,ever use the boots.

What if the boot is like the ironman 4x4 boot that's more like a loose hard plastic sleeve? And I do believe mine are rod down but the hard plastic allows water to drain.

This is my question, I have the long travel Ironman rears and am wondering.... boot up or down?

nFodzy · **Joined:** Sun Oct 06, 2013 1:30 pm **Posts:** 389

Bmxer524 wrote:

My Bilsteins are boot up. I think Troy is right. However you read them is how they should be mounted. If you run 5100s then they should be boot up. 5125s may be boot down.

Okay so mine are the correct way then (boot up). Should I still remove the boot though?

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2015 2:37 pm

toy4everyseason wrote:

JeepMonkey190 wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

Install the rear shocks how the lettering is facing.

Bilsteins are "boot" down(besides factory installed versions),but never,ever use the boots.

What if the boot is like the ironman 4x4 boot that's more like a loose hard plastic sleeve? And I do believe mine are rod down but the hard plastic allows water to drain.

This is my question, I have the long travel Ironman rears and am wondering.... boot up or down?

From the pic posted on JBA's site, boot up. I'm going off the warning label...

nFodzy, I left my boots on. I might take them off, depends on how lazy I am. If you want to ditch them, all you have to do is just cut them with a razor.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:52 pm

Oban wrote:

I just checked the Bilstein instructions for my rear Bilstein 5100 Series Shocks (part #24-185660). The instructions (http://static.summitracing.com/global/i ... 217A00.pdf) clearly state:

Quote:

The mounting position of the suspension
springs can be read by the imprint- have
them installed just the way you read the imprint.

In my case this means that the boot / piston goes up, not down...

Now I am utterly confused by what is right and what is wrong.

5100 series and below is considered "factory installed" since a lot of vehicles do come with Bilsteins from the factory and the 5100 series is that line.

Like I stated and there instructions state mount so the label(or any stamped lettering) is correct way.

My rear 7100 series....................

Mounting REAR shocks - Boot UP or DOWN?

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