help 5100 shock leaking some type fluid.

I got a 95..5 tacoma with 5100 bilstein shocks. The driver's side rear is leaking fluid that is a watery type and the color looks like light yellow. I lifted the boot lip up where the zip tie is and it just runs out. I know they are gas filled but cant understand why its leaking. Its got a pool of that fluid on the ground where its sitting.

 

It does not have a oil type smell or feel greasey kind of smells and feels like water. We had a lot of rain this week and been driving a good bite in the rain and rain might have found some way in the top of the boot and had cold nights and in the mornings in the mid 20's and water might have froze and today it warmed up to the 60's so it might have been froze and just now un-thawing. Also, the fluid is not thick like oil. Its runny like water. this was earlier.

Just went back out there and felt of it and it is kind of oily. Not thick though. Just going to call downsouth motorsports and see if they can send me some new 5100's since they have a life time warranty. I was trying to find the 5100's on there by themselves for the 1st gen. But all I see is they front and rear 5100's for the 1st gen. I looked at the 5150's and they are 110 with free shipping. To bad I cant get them i dont have the money

 

Im bumping this because my rear passenger 5100 is doing the same thing after my moab week. When i lift up the boot there is a bit of the same thin watery substance around the bottom. I have only had them for 2 months and didnt really beat on them that bad. I got em from DSM, do i have a good hope at getting it replaced?

 

Bilstein shocks are designed with a weeping seal. This keeps the seal lubricated, which helps to eliminate squeeks and prolongs the life of the seal. It is normal to see some minimal oil leakage.

 

I think it was just dirty water that looked like oil had gotten threw the hole on the boots and froze and just just started to melt when i found it.

 

ok, i have a question for you. I took off my bilstein 5100 shocks cuz one of them was "slightly" leaking.. is it suppose to make a slight hissing noise when i compress it, as well as see oil come out? The other one that i have shows no signs of leaking or that hissing noise when i compress it...

 

I was under mine this week and found that the passenger side was wet moved the boot a little and a puddle of oil the size of a dinner plate hit the floor I took off the shock and it was no problem compressing it. I am waiting for a call from RCD on how to handle the warranty, I suppose I will get screwed on all the shipping charges.

 

Took my '05 Tacoma into Firestone to get my tires rebalanced, rotated and aligned and they saw my driver side rear Bilstein 5100 leaking oil all over. I just installed my lift before last winter. Called ToyTec and it's all covered under warranty. Had to buy a single shock + shipping for $113.67, then when I return the old one they reimburse that.