Are my 5100’s upside down?

I just got done installing a set of 5100’s all the way around on my 02 taco. I installed the rear shocks at like 9:30 last night and was curious if I installed them upside down. I figured I have them the right way as you can actually read the labels but I wasn’t sure.

 

Yes! Upside down.

 

yes as they are upside down or the correct way? Thanks for the help

 

Upside down. Body goes to the bottom, rod to the top.

 

well shit. Thanks for the help

 

luckily its the rear, which isn't difficult to fix. At least you didn't do this on the front... lol

 

This is actually beneficial. You can also install a u-bolt flip kit and have front wheel drive during reverse. Enjoy!

 

Upside down in the US . Right side up for Australia. LOL

 

Interesting responses.

I installed my Bilstein 5100's the same way you did in your picture - something about the seals being lubed, etc. as the shaft moves during compression and extension.

You can swap yours over as suggested by others, but I'm leaving mine the way they are.

 

I'd actually like see someone try to install the fronts incorrectly. That would be entertaining.

 

Easy one down. Now onto the other

 

On first gens the 5100s should go shaft down. Take a look at your dust boot. Notice the drain holes at the end of the boot that connects to the end of the shaft? If you put them shaft up and have the boot zipped tightly to the shock body, dust and debris. won't be able to exit the dust boot.

 

I just read something interesting:
"Bilstein tech advises that you should always mount your shocks so that the Bilstein logo is right-side up. If you are not sure which way is up on your shocks or wonder if you can mount them either way, always look at the Bilstein logo. If it is upside down, so are your shocks!"

 

Exactly!

OP had his shocks installed correctly, and now reinstalled them incorrectly lol

Luckily, the entire job is roughly 5 minutes.

 

This is how the installation instructions suggested my installation.

I can tell you that I've had struts ruined because the boots filled up with water and then froze.

 

I didn't mention this earlier but, your shocks look as if they're going to be compressed the entire time you're driving.

There are 2 variants of the Bilstein 5100's for our truck; one for 0-1.5 and 1 to 2.5 (these numbers are based off of memory and not meant to be exact values).

With that being said, if your leaf springs are frowning without any extra weight in the bed, replace them.

If it were me, I wouldn't drive on those Bilstein's until my leaf springs were replaced.

 

I think he needs to slide the boot up. In reference to the sticker on the shock. Mine needed at least a 1 inch lift to work.

 

Your boot looks a good bit higher than the OP's as well as mine;

If you look at my picture and the OP's picture, you'll see there's about an equal distance from the bottom of the decal to the top of the boot.

With that being said, my shocks aren't sitting in a compressed state since I'm on OME Dakar's.

I'm assuming the OP is on factory leaf springs; if that's the case, and his leaf springs are shot, those shocks could get bottomed out.

 

I installed 5125's in the rear of mine with no lift. The 8'' and 8.5" which I got from Wheelers iirc. I have them mounted with the boots down and the label can be read normal(upright).