When mounting rear Bilsteins... shock body up or shaft/boot up?? Why did you choose this?

OEM shocks are shaft up, most high end shocks mount body up. TJ has his shaft up, Josh at SLR has his body up.

Basicly I figure it really makes little difference, but are there any clearance, strength, or maintenance advantages to mounting one way over the other?

Some designs you need to mount rightside up, others....it doesn't matter.

I am hoping the means you do know how little help that reply offers :p

I think the is part of TJ's signature.

I did shaft down so that I can run my swaybar on the street. If you are running them with boots, you should do it that way too since the drain holes are on that end. Otherwise, as far as performance or whatever it doesn't really matter.

Damn, I never thought about this...



Please add me to the list...

I have mine mounted like Abiel's. Seems to me if they were body up, dirt/water/etc.. would collect in the boots. If I am not mistaken, earlier versions of the rear shock were to big in diameter and would get crushed by the swaybar in even minimal articulation. (not that the newer ones are exempt from this) So folks just turned 'em upside down to aviod this. Correct?

Depends on the type of boots they have. If they are the hard boots like pictured then definately put them up or remove them. If you have the according type boots then they drain from the other end so they either need to go down or be removed. My Bils came with the accordian boots, but I removed them completely. I still put shaft down though because of the swaybar contact issue and also somewhat due to the way it looks. Some people don't like to put the shaft down because they fear hitting them on rocks, but the reality is that shaft is very strong and it's just not that likely you'll damage it.