49 posts and heres the voice of reason.
another bilstein praise
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 215
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
Same here. Once stuff gets in the boot, it would stay in the boot. It would eventually fill up with sand, dirt, grit and small gravel.....with no way whatsoever to escape.
OK, anyhow, I just got off the phone with Bilstein technical again, I wanted a second opinion from them. This second guy claims you want to be able to read the BILSTEIN label correctly once installed, so this means the blue boot would go up on the Excursion. If you put the blue boot to the bottom, the BILSTEIN label would be upside down. He went on to say that they really could be installed either way and do their job, blue boot up or blue boot down. He agreed blue boot down didn't sound like the best way to install them since they would fill up with crap over time.
I appreciate the advice here so far, but I think I am going with blue boot up. Blue boot down would also look goofy, IMHO.
OK, anyhow, I just got off the phone with Bilstein technical again, I wanted a second opinion from them. This second guy claims you want to be able to read the BILSTEIN label correctly once installed, so this means the blue boot would go up on the Excursion. If you put the blue boot to the bottom, the BILSTEIN label would be upside down. He went on to say that they really could be installed either way and do their job, blue boot up or blue boot down. He agreed blue boot down didn't sound like the best way to install them since they would fill up with crap over time.
I appreciate the advice here so far, but I think I am going with blue boot up. Blue boot down would also look goofy, IMHO.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,069
Likes: 1
From: LONG ISLAND N.Y.
well we obviously have different shocks. my advice was to just double check. i never said "you must" or "100%". mine go boot down (as per bilstein)i think they look good and best of all they work nice.also my shocks that i removed had a metal sleeve for the lower bolts to go through and the way i installed them the same way. i'm pretty sure your style boots are wide open-no zip tie mid way down the shock. me personally i would get rid of those boots because i live in road salt country, and that is deffinitly no good for the shock shafts if they are EXPOSED to those harsh elements and allowed to sit.good luck with yours.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Looks like the shocks are the same basically but it depends on the boot style. If you have accordion sytle boots you can mount the shock any way you want. with the opened boots on top only.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 3
Did you guys that just got shocks from shock warehouse get the accordian boots or the metal tube boots? I really like the accordian boot look and I'm hoping thats what I get.
Oh and their website updated my order and I have a tracking number. My shocks are somewhere between orlando and chicago lol.
Oh and their website updated my order and I have a tracking number. My shocks are somewhere between orlando and chicago lol.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: Boca Raton, Florida
The rears are metal boots,The fronts are the same style but made out of rubber. No accordian. If you want you can probably buy accordions at an off road shop and put them on the fronts only.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 4
The rear have the conventional metal boot painted yellow like the other end of the shock.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 3
I dont think I liek the yellow thing either, I'm gonna wait till they're on and judge then though.
Oh and if they arent rubber boots and the somewhat open shield style, they are DEFFINATLY going on with the shield toward the top! Might as well scoop up a pile of sand and gravel into them before you install them if you put em in the other way in my opinion.
Oh and if they arent rubber boots and the somewhat open shield style, they are DEFFINATLY going on with the shield toward the top! Might as well scoop up a pile of sand and gravel into them before you install them if you put em in the other way in my opinion.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
I like the yellow better than the strange color blue boot that shows above the front wheels. I wish I would have painted them black before I installed them.
New User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Hi I'm new to this Forum. I have a 2004 V10, Eddie Bauer, 4x4, loaded. I work for Ford and love their products, but this thing just does not drive that good. It has 70K on it brand new ball joints, and brakes. Shocks could be original? Tires are E rated w/ 65 psi in them (stock size) Will new shocks make noticable difference? Bigger sway bar? What about 20" tires? Steering dampners? Help we love the comfort but hate the drive on windy roads
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 3
Well I got em, the larger ones are all yellow with a smooth metal cover. fronts are the blue/yellow with a soft but smooth blue plastic shield/cover/boot whatever you wanna call it. I think a can of paint may be in order, but I dont know how I could ever get paint to properly stick to this blue plastic, its so soft and seems like paint wouldnt stick. May just leave it alone, gonna look at it more tomorrow.