Need Advice on rear bilstein 5100 s on 04 Tacoma

Hey guys need advice , I have a 2004 tacoma and im putting Bilstein 5100 all the way around ( front 1.75 hight rear 1 inch blocks ) Here is the question for the rear shocks , I noticed allot of the guys are running the rear without the boot and others are running with the boot . I think it really does look cool without the boot but but I would think the shock would last longer with boot on and yes I will be playing in the mud allot and flexing the axles so mud and dirt may get in the shock more . So should I use the boot or will I be ok running without . Also im used to installing shocks with boot on top but I see that on Tacoma s the boot ( shaft side ) installed on the axle .

 

Thats really sad that I posted a couple of days ago and No one can help me with a simple answer to my question . I thought Tacoma guys all stuck together .

 

All the boots do is keep mud and crap out of the shocks you can run them either way, really just preference I'd suggest a boot but that's just me, as for the on the rear you can do them either way aswell..

 

I had them with boot on and piston up. I personally like it with boot on.

 

Well i for one don't really check this section of TW very often. Posting in the 1st gen section might have gotten a little quicker of response..
This question gets answered a lot. But i know first hand that searching is not always as easy as some of us TW'ers make it out to be.

But i would say Cut them som bitches off! The boots are not water/mud tight. which means when you go into the mud it will get trapped inside the boot.

 

Your so awesome , thank you so much for the advise . I just needed an answer b4 this weekend . because im installing the lift this weekend , thanks again for the feedback , it means allot .

 

Thanks for the feedback , I called Toytec today to get the answer to my questions but all advise is greatly appreciated and I thank you guys so much who did respond . My faith is being restored with the Tacoma GODS like yourselves .

 

Yes I would think mud would get in over time and I do love my mud as a man do with his truck and I think it really does look good with them off when your flexing but I also do want them to last a while but I do see your point now I just have to make the call b4 I install . Thanks for the advice man .

 

They will be outside no matter what you do. Eventually everything breaks and i doubt leaving the boots on will really make much difference. But i know what you mean..

One more heads up. Install the rear shocks with the shaft side down.

 

Thanks, thats what Toytec said also and I researched tacomas with billies 5100 and they all were with the shaft down . I may need all of your guys who responded advise again , New to the lifting of the trucks but not new to working on vehicles but I do allot of research on the web and all that has responded Means allot , you guys rock , just make sure your flexing when on the rock , looks tougher lol

 

Cut drain holes in the boots.

 

What do you mean By cut drain holes in boots 520toyota .Is that slang for get me another beer?
lol

 

oh ok , i understand what you meant , so water doesn't stay in ,

 

I've driven through rivers, sometimes all day. No problems with the boots holding in water.

 

Thanks Brent for the advice . I just think I have to make the right choice , I guess if I had to change the shocks every two years from not using the boot is no big deal but then again I will not be doing hard core every weekend and here we dont see much rain , We be lucky if we got spit on once a year .

 

You most likely won't have to replace them every 2 years even with the boot cut. Unless your over extending/over compressing the shock. Personally I was skeptical at first but after I did it I didn't think twice about it. Had the same feeling with removing my sway bar after I installed my coil overs lol.