Question about Bilstein shocks

Fitting oversize tires, raising and lowering, suspension modifications...

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Retep
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Question about Bilstein shocks

Post by Retep »

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.

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Post by a2b »

yes the zr2 rear shock fits.

and the shock is eye to eye so i believe you can mount it either way...
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Post by AZS10Crew »

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?
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Post by HenryJ »

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?

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Post by Retep »

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

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Post by Jim »

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

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

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

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Post by Scott03 »

Yeah, damn!!! For a 2002, that looks brand new, good work!!
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Post by Retep »

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

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

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Post by F9K9 »

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

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

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Post by F9K9 »

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. :twisted:

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.
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Shock boots...

Post by KCustom »

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

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Last edited by KCustom on Mon Oct 11, 2004 9:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by F9K9 »

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

It is just the "heavy duty" rear Bilsteins that are inverted :D
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.
Last edited by HenryJ on Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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LOL....

Post by KCustom »

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

Post by KCustom »

Thanks for the information Henry, I was thinking that my shocks were imposters.......:)
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Post by F9K9 »

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.
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