Bilstein Shock Installation - Boot up or Down
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Joined: Jul 2013
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on a 2010 f-450 you have
one choice for the front (rod down)
2 choices for the rear (rod up or rod down)
buy if you have 9000's , I think its hard to adjust with rod down ....so check that before deciding.
defintely buy the boots....and grease behind the adjuster **** if you have them (9000's)
one choice for the front (rod down)
2 choices for the rear (rod up or rod down)
buy if you have 9000's , I think its hard to adjust with rod down ....so check that before deciding.
defintely buy the boots....and grease behind the adjuster **** if you have them (9000's)
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 13,347
Likes: 6,140
Considering the 2001 vehicle of the OP, with front leaf spring suspension and four wheel drive:
Shock body down, shock rod up, both front and rear, is how the OEM shocks were oriented, and Bilstein 4600 (yellow and baby blue) shocks with fixed, solid, open ended, "cup like" rod covers (not zip tied accordion rubber boots) are to be oriented in the same manner as the OEM shocks.
OEM's shock absorbers do not use zip tied rubber accordion boots to protect the shock rod. Not even Ford's FX4 trim package, with OEM Rancho shocks, use those flexible accordion "boots".
Instead, the OEM Rancho shocks use fixed, solid, open ended, "cup-like" rod covers, that are in some cases molded with a fan fold shape to appear like flexible accordion boots for the "look", but in reality function in the same reliable way that OEM rod covers function.
Accordion boots, zip tied to the shock body, cause the rod and the seal end of the shock body to rust, no matter how many "breathing holes" are pierced into the fan folds of the boots. Even when never driven in water, the accordion boot collects and concentrates condensation on the rod. Fixed, solid, open ended rod covers on shocks oriented with the rod on top do not have issues with the collection and concentration of condensation.
Shock body down, shock rod up, both front and rear, is how the OEM shocks were oriented, and Bilstein 4600 (yellow and baby blue) shocks with fixed, solid, open ended, "cup like" rod covers (not zip tied accordion rubber boots) are to be oriented in the same manner as the OEM shocks.
OEM's shock absorbers do not use zip tied rubber accordion boots to protect the shock rod. Not even Ford's FX4 trim package, with OEM Rancho shocks, use those flexible accordion "boots".
Instead, the OEM Rancho shocks use fixed, solid, open ended, "cup-like" rod covers, that are in some cases molded with a fan fold shape to appear like flexible accordion boots for the "look", but in reality function in the same reliable way that OEM rod covers function.
Accordion boots, zip tied to the shock body, cause the rod and the seal end of the shock body to rust, no matter how many "breathing holes" are pierced into the fan folds of the boots. Even when never driven in water, the accordion boot collects and concentrates condensation on the rod. Fixed, solid, open ended rod covers on shocks oriented with the rod on top do not have issues with the collection and concentration of condensation.
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