Kyb Shocks
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Putnam Valley, New York
Shock Installation
Shocks are ALWAYS installed with the chrome plated rod UP, and the body of the shock below it. All the valving is in the bottom, and to work properly, it must remain vertically oriented with the chrome rod up. The piston is actually in the bottom of the shock--The chrome plated rod that you see is attached to it. The piston rides up & down in the bottom housing, in oil, and has valves in its' head that determine how stiff or soft it is. Steering stabilizers are a different form of shock absorber--They are designed to be mounted horizontally.
RON
Last edited by Rongold; Jun 5, 2005 at 10:25 AM.
More Turbo
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From: Georgia
Originally Posted by Rongold
Shocks are ALWAYS installed with the chrome plated rod UP, and the body of the shock below it. All the valving is in the bottom, and to work properly, it must remain vertically oriented with the chrome rod up. The piston is actually in the bottom of the shock--The chrome plated rod that you see is attached to it. The piston rides up & down in the bottom housing, in oil, and has valves in its' head that determine how stiff or soft it is. Steering stabilizers are a different form of shock absorber--They are designed to be mounted horizontally.
RON
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From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by kabcpapc
The Bilsteins that came with my Superlift kit mount with the chrome plated rod down and the body of the shock up, both front and rear. I guess it depends on the manufacturer.
That's why they can mount whichever way ...
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From: Georgia
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From: Gilbert
Yeah, my brother in law and I both have 5100 series Bilstein's (on lifted trucks) and the body is at the top, boot/piston on the bottom.
Ron, just curious where you saw that they "ALWAYS" are mounted the way you spoke of. Not trying to start an argument, just curious because my Rancho 9000's and my Bilstein 5100's were both mounted the way I listed above.
Ron, just curious where you saw that they "ALWAYS" are mounted the way you spoke of. Not trying to start an argument, just curious because my Rancho 9000's and my Bilstein 5100's were both mounted the way I listed above.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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I don't mean to muddy the waters, but, I've seen triple shock set-ups were two shocks are mounted body up, and the third one is mounted body down on the same wheel. Scanning through the various truck magazines you see pictures of all sorts of variations...up, down, and sideways. Rize Industries "Double Shock Linkage System" has a mod that mounts dual reservior shocks in a horizontal position.
I simply follow the manufacturer's instructions.
I simply follow the manufacturer's instructions.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Del Rio, Texas USA
the way the older style shocks worked they needed to be rod/boot up to help the seal from leaking, keeping the oil and piston away from the seal as much as possible.. now days.. most shocks have pressurized gas in their with the oil, which makes the shock have kind of mulitple stages, and re-act quicker... with the pressurized gas, the seals have been much improved and are always fighting to seal in the pressure, so which way you mount them makes no differance anymore.
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From: Long Island USA
My idea with my Rancho RS9000x's, was to keep the rod UP, because it kept it away from rocks, mud, sand. I don't think there was anything keeping me from mounting them upside down.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Maryland
I think Jetjock and Krewrat are both right. Gas shocks like KYB's are a sealed system and should work the same both ways. You just want to make sure you mount the back ones with the piston rod up so everyone driving behind you can see the MONOMAX stickers.