Rear Bilsteins...upside down?

So i was looking around at some threads and noticed a truck on here that had a picture of his aal. Just happened to notice that his bilstein 5100's in the rear were positioned different than mine. The Black boot part was at the top.... Mine is opposite of that. Is there a right or a wrong way?

 

Mine is at the top. There is only one way for them to fit on the truck. The boot should be covering the narrow part of the shock that slides in and out.

 

The silver part is on the top on mine. The black boot that covers the slide part is pointing down.

 

That seems odd. Did your stock shocks have the blue cover at the top?

 

From what i understand there is only one way for it to work. The bolt on the top, it only goes there, it just threw me off like, Crap did i do something wrong haha

 

You know i really cant remember, my lift was one of the first mods i did back in 06. I think i have a picture of my rear susp. let me see if i can find it.

 

Yeah there is only one way they go and with the bolt on the top. Not sure if the design of them changed from 06 though. I just got mine this year so someone else will have to chime in on if the design has ever been different

 

Hopefully this picture works.

 

one guy told me it didnt matter which way?

 

I mean it makes sense like that, its doing the same thing regardless...right? haha,

 

I stand corrected on what i said earlier about bolt on top, I was thinking nut. Mine are the other way around, with the bolt on bottom and nut on top. Wonder if that is just because you have the short bed.

 

Obviously it doesn't make a difference, just how the truck is set up for it.

 

on first gens, it does not matter. second gens it does but is impossible to mess up since it only fits one way.

 

you've got 5125's, not the regular 5100's. The 5100's are designed to be a factory replacement with the mount on the shaft and the bushing and nut at the top like the factory shocks, but the the 5125's have eyes on both ends. Thats why theres that adapter part at the top of the shock in your picture. On the 5100's, the boot is at the top, for the 5125's it goes the opposite. I've heard that if you have the 5125's oriented in the other direction (boot at the top like the stock shock, or the 5100's) that the oil doesnt pool at the right end of the body and they dont dampen properly.
hope that helps.

 

Thanks alot man, i was thinking i did something wrong somehow haha. Dang i guess i shoulda known exactly what i have on the rear. Thanks for yalls input.

 

no problem man. Glad I can help out.

 

Most of the bilstein shocks are designed to have the shock body up top with the boot on the bottom. Some shocks have the same valving. But Some, have different valving for dampening and rebound. It is important for them to be mounted the correct direction for the best performance.