[BowTieFan1]

I just purchased a set of front and rear Bilstein shocks and I am a little confused about the contents and instructions that were shipped with them.

These shocks are OEM gas type shocks. When I opened the boxes I found that the dust boots on the front shocks are pierced through the boots by the shocks studs. In other words the boots are not going through the eyelet hole that is made into the boots. Why do they ship them this way? Are they damaged?

Also the hardware kit only came with 2 bushings, 2 washers, and 1 nut. What`s up with that? Should`nt there be 2 nuts?

The rear shocks did`nt come with any hardware. I thought that old hardware should not be re-used. I can not make any sense of the instructions, cause the shocks are made in Germany and the English part is so brief I can`t make any sense of it.

If I just install the new ones exactly the way the old ones are, will I be installing them right? And should I buy new nuts and bolts, or re-use the old ones? :neutral:

 

[Enkeiavalanche]

who did you get them from? Did you call them first?

 

[BowTieFan1]

I bought them online from www.shockwarehouse.com I did not speak with anyone by telephone. But, they are the correct shocks. I verified that from several charts. After re-reading the instructions several times, it is becoming a little clearer. I still can`t figure out why only one nut is supplied with them. The package contents even specifies the quantities of the hardware that is supplied. All new hardware for the fronts is there except for the bolts and the rest of the nuts. I don`t know what that 1 nut is for. Seems to me I am to re-use the old hardware.
And re-use the rear bolts and nuts too, I guess.

 

[silveradotrailblazer]

Can you post a picture of the shocks and hardware laid out so we can see??

 

[chevyman2004]

ok bowtiefan i bought the same exact shocks as you (if they are the HDs) and put them on my 2004 2500HD. i got the same hardware as you. i used the new hardware (rubber bushings, washers, nut) on the upper portion of the front shocks and reused the existing bolt and nut on the bottom portion of the front shocks and also on both ends of the rear shocks. Just install everything just like the old ones, use the new hardware on the front uppers and use existing hardware everywhere else and u should be fine. i have had no problems at all with this setup so i wouldn't be too worried with using the old hardware unless they look really wore out or rusty. Hope this helps u. I also thought the directions sucked big time.

 

[BowTieFan1]

I`ll try to post pics in a day or two.
Chevyman,
what did you do with the one nut that was supplied? One surely is not enough to do do both front shocks. It seems the instructions are trying to say to use it for installation purposes only. Not for final assembly. I`m not sure.
Were the dust boots punctured through by the shock stud`s? I`ll get pics if this does`nt make sense.

 

[chevyman2004]

I had 1 nut in each box for the front shocks for a total of two(2). the dust boots had a hole in them to slip over the upper shock stud then washer then the rubber bushing then stick upper shock stud through hole in bracket where the old one was then rubber bushing then washer then nut then tighten nut. same for other side. hope this helps.

 

[BowTieFan1]

I feel like a dummy. I found the other parts bag in the bottom of the shipping carton under the flap. So all the hardware was there. :redface:
The bigger mistake is, I ordered the wrong shocks. :grrrrrr:
I spoke with someone over the phone this morning to get an RA number to return them and order the correct shocks. They also said the dust boots are shipped from Bilstein that way, so the parts don`t rattle and shake in shipping.

 

[silveradotrailblazer]

Well, BowTieFan1 now we know your human! (wrong parts).

 

[chevyman2004]

i'm sorry to hear that bowtie, we all make mistakes. I know everything will work out in the end.