Question about Bilstein shocks

Retep · Post by **Retep** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 5:21 am

Why do the Bilstein shocks for our Z85 suspension mount with the boot on the bottom? On the ZR2 they mount boot end up.
I will be getting a set of these (soon I hope), and would prefer to have the boot at the top. Could they be mounted that way? Would ZR2 Bilstein's fit?
Just curious.

Thanks Jim for the use of your picture

Pete

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 12:36 pm

yes the zr2 rear shock fits.

and the shock is eye to eye so i believe you can mount it either way...

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 1:27 pm

It's a flat 2 bolt bracket at the top and a single bolt and nut at the bottom that goes through. I've never looked close at the ZR2 shocks, so I'm not sure of the difference. Maybe the ZR2's shock mounts are different?

Post by **HenryJ** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 3:15 pm

The stock ZR2 shocks have the shield and piston rod at the top , probably because GM specified them to be that way.

The aftermarket shocks have convoluted boots and ...

HenryJ wrote:The rocks kicked up by the front tires tend to bounce off the boots rather than denting the body of a regular shock. And what little dirt that does get inside the boots doesn't settle on the seals so they tend to last longer.

I am pretty sure you should not try running them reversed. They are designed to be run one way only. However they are gas charged so it may be possible , though not recommended, to run them reversed.

Personally I wish all four were inverted, but the fronts are piston-up, probably for upper a-arm clearance?

Retep · Post by **Retep** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 5:00 am

Thanks for the info guys!
I will stick with the Bilstein's specific to our susp. and mount as designed.

Pete

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 6:10 am

HenryJ wrote:
Personally I wish all four were inverted, but the fronts are piston-up, probably for upper a-arm clearance?

Post by **HenryJ** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:02 am

Jim you are the detail GOD

"I am not worthy"

(Wish you were closer, I'd love to learn from the master

)

Scott03 · Post by **Scott03** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 9:16 am

Yeah, damn!!! For a 2002, that looks brand new, good work!!

Retep · Post by **Retep** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 9:28 am

HenryJ wrote:Jim you are the detail GOD "I am not worthy"

(Wish you were closer, I'd love to learn from the master )

I must agree! I sure would like to get the dirty side of my truck that clean again. I am not sure I would have the patience though....

Pete

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 4:49 pm

I stay confused as most of you know. SO, is the boot "down"" on the rears of CCs?

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 5:27 pm

f9k9 wrote:I stay confused as most of you know. SO, is the boot "down"" on the rears of CCs?

For the aftermarket heavy duty Bilsteins, Yes.

I like them better inverted for many reasons- Bilstein shocks

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:01 pm

Hmmmmm.

Step back into the the past........maybe just back to 1997. A ZR2 came with Bilstiens that had the rod (metal sleeve covered) upwards.

Bilstiens were all metal and without "boots".

The rod part had a metal sleeve and not a boot. Did they redesign the entire shock when they did away with the old fashioned sleeve?

If the boot is down on the rear and on the top on the front of our CCs then maybe a good way to explain their installation is just to make sure that you can read the shock's lettering from the upright position.

That has to be too simple to be correct. I noticed in my installation that you could read the shocks when boot up in front and boot down in the rear.

KCustom · Post by **KCustom** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:02 pm

My Bilstiens have the boots on the top......Is this a bad thing?

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:07 pm

KC! You are the suspension man to follow! Asking mortal questions like mine are unworthy of your rank.......lol

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:10 pm

It is just the "heavy duty" rear Bilsteins that are inverted

HenryJ wrote:Refering to inverted shocks with convoluted boots:
The rocks kicked up by the front tires tend to bounce off the boots rather than denting the body of a regular shock. And what little dirt that does get inside the boots doesn't settle on the seals so they tend to last longer.

OEM bilsteins are not, as well as other models.

KCustom · Post by **KCustom** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:11 pm

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL......Henry is the Man....I am only a student to the real king of the Crew Cab data base....

KCustom · Post by **KCustom** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:13 pm

Thanks for the information Henry, I was thinking that my shocks were imposters.......

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:30 pm

Certainly would be nice if, we could track him down and see how the lad is doing. I certainly hope that all is well with him.

S-10CREWCAB.NET

Question about Bilstein shocks

Question about Bilstein shocks

Shock boots...

LOL....

THanks for the info...