Tony

Just putting my new bilsteins and bits back together....

which way way are these rubber parts oriented....

FRONTS
...there is a white washer with open groves on one side...flat on the other. Which side up? Ive seen both.....

cream colored boot......flat side up(small hole) ..or conical end up(large hole)?

the white washer has a cone shape recess in it that fits the cream colored boot perfectly on one end...



Which orientation is correct..

Grooves up...or down

REAR
Flat up....or cone end up....


Which way is correct......

Rob Edwards

Front: grooves down, flat side up

Rear: flat side up. So you can read the numbers right side up.

Tony

Thanks Rob...kinda figured the numbers should be right side up...found this in the meantime.

jpitman2

Dont forget the rear top mounts only go up 1 way!
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k M474

Tony

..and the bottoms only go in one way..


..point being..

put the top in...then...


put a screw driver in the bottom mounting hole of the shock assembly and slowly rotate it to the correct orientation . because remember when it was assembled you probably didn’t counter hold the shock shaft at the top when you put the top nut on and tightened it anyway.

just don’t hit that top nut with an air wrench and let the shaft spin inside the shock.

jpitman2

The front shock mounts have symmetrical bolt patterns. The rears ARE NOT, in my experience of refitting Bilsteins. First rear went straight up, no problem, Second one, struggled for a long time before I realized they top bolt pattern was asymmetric. then it was quick. Just trying to save you time if you werent aware.
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k M474