Bilstein 5100 shocks up/down

[jdilliplane1]

Just bought some bilstein 5100s for my 99 with 4-6 inch lift. Question is are the shocks supposed to be installed boot up or boot down and is the front and rear the same way. Just want to make sure the guy at the shop does them the right way tomorrow.

[02stroker250]

i imagine the boots go up but im not sure maybe somebody else will chime in to help but for sure let me know how they make the truck ride im thinking about gettin some

[daddyusmaximus]

Every photo I'v seen of the Bilsteins on a rig had them shaft down. Check out some 4 wheeler mags, or ask for a tech guy when you order.

[Lbs]

Body side down. Only certain shocks can be run reversed, mainly high pressurized resi's like Fox, etc.

[tyhackman15]

Boot up. If the boot is the type that I see in pictures of them (tight at the bottom) then personally I wouldn't run the boots.

On my superlift shocks (previous owner installed) the boots destroyed the shock body, it is completely rusted out where they covered it. They do more harm than good IMO

[Davey~do]

My Bilstein labels were oriented so that the shock body was up on the rear, boot down. That's how I installed them. Obviously the fronts can only go one way. But this got me curious so I looked on DC's website at some of their installs and from what I can see in the gallery most of the shocks on the rear appear to be body up, boot down?

Body up, with boot

Body up, no boot

[needatruck]

I installed mine boot down. They are drain holes at the bottom of the boot, I also looked at a few 4 wheeler sites and they all said the same thing.

[shockguys]

You can mount them either way, mounting boot down reduces unsprung weight, which is why it's a popular orientation.