Just put Bilsteins on the X on Friday night and I did use the supplied shock boots. But one of the guys in my club says that he doesn't use the boots because of all the mud that can get trapped in there. So what has everyone else done...boots or no boots??

Jason

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www.ec4x4e.com

I used the boots (which are more like skirts) because they are open on the bottom unlike the Rancho's. Just remember in clean up to spray up the skirt to blast all the mud out...

I think you should use the skirts. I drive on road a lot more than off. With that said this keeps the shock posts clean to prevent premature wear on the seals.

Just my $.02...

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kennedyusmc@earthlink.net
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2000 Solar SE Xterra
K&N, Borla, Jacobs, Vitek
ARB Bullbar
Interco TrXus 31x10.5
SLR Lift (inbound)
The list goes on and on...

"Hey, you don't have to take that from no punk ass crab!"

The boots will keep more off the shafts than not. You'll also have flying debris as well as mud, dirt and funk to worry about under there. As long as the opening faces downward (for drainage) then you're aces. I vote for ON.

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01SE 6cyl 5spd SolrYelow

My opinion:
Keep the boots/skirts on. The boots may trap small amounts of dust but think how hard it is for mud, dirt, and rocks to get into the boot; then compare that to the bare shock getting sprayed with thick sticky mud.
If you feel the need clean under boots occasionally.
And like BoarderPhreak said put them with the boots down for drainage.

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X-Terra Owner in August
Current: 1990 Pathfinder SE

No boots here, heard of far too many bad experiences with them to want to chance it. (Mud gets trapped inside them, you won't know until it's already started corroding the piston.)

Granted the Bilstein shock boots might be a different design than the Ranchos that I have.

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Vikram/gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.4x4LO.com

I kinda use the boots. I put them on but dont zip-tie them to the shock body. That way they protect the piston from nicks and dents and it lets the water and mud out bottom. I had a pair of RS9000's rust pretty bad when they got sea water in the boot and it was tied to the shock.

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'01 Yellow SE 4X4 w/leather, stock so far.