Bilstein Coilovers, which springs?

Have you taken it out yet? I think you will be extremely happy with the upgrade.

 

Only around town as mentioned. I'll do some dirty testing soon...

 

Your rear shocks are upside down. And it does matter.

Other than that, I ordered the same stuff from wheelers last week.

 

You need to take it back the rear shocks are upside down and the front ones are missing the washer up top.

 

So why does it matter? I’d rather have the boots up and clear of brush damage.

 

I did the washers and bushings when I got it home ✔️

 

Per Bilstein, the shock should be installed with the logo right side up. Looks like you installed them upside down. I would assume the benefits are that any dust, moisture and grime would collect on the bottom instead of on the inside of the shock body causing the rod to rub against it constantly. Other benefits may be keeping the shock body higher to reduce damage when offroading.


https://www.bilstein.com/us/en/faq/

 

If I remember correctly, being emulsion shocks, the seals are for oil not nitrogen.

Also, the boots don’t have a drain hole on that end.

 

Well, that makes sense.
I did a lot of research here before buying and there were many comments saying other people had their shocks in upside down, but no explanation as to why…
Such is the interwebs
The old shocks where mounted the same way just for reference.

 

Every picture for 1st gen bilstein shocks has the boot on the bottom. And mounted such as they where the emblems were upside down and with the shock body up top dirt cant get traped on top of the shock body. With the shock body on bottom dirt collects where the shaft goes in and can cause a leak.

Edit: fox and kings are mounted the same way bilstein are, with the shock body up top.

 

I’m glad to see others mentioning this too. I’ve been saying it anytime I see it and started to think I was the only one pointing it out for a while there.

 

Take it back to whichever outfit installed it and have them flip them or do it yourself. No sense in waiting and risking possible damage to your new parts.

https://www.bilstein.com/us/en/faq/

 

I already did the front.
Not really worried about the rears

 

I have stock suspension but added an ARB bumper and winch. I just want to get back close to level or have a slight rake while better supporting the weight. 881s?

 

I’m still waking up but I think that will depend on the resting height of the rear if you want to maintain a slight rake. With that bumper and winch you *might* want to consider 882s, again depending on what is installed in the back. I have 881s up front with no 4x4 components or weight since I have a prerunner, and very little added extra weight. I have a slight rake with Deaver J59 leaf packs in the back.

 

As mentioned, rears are upside down.

It's a 5 minute job to undo them and flip them around.

 

The suspension is stock style with no lift. After the parts, the front sits 2" lower than the rear, measured from the center of the hub to the fender. I would prefer it to be level but I would rather have a slight rake than it being squatted. I have no intention of going with any larger tires than the 31 10.5 so gaining lift isn't a concern.