tripz

Im installing the rear Bilstein HDs on a 1998 4runner 4wd.

Question:
How do the rear Bilsteins install? I had a question whats between the shock and the body hole.

Stock rears were both severed off at the top (yikes) and here's the OEM orientation from the top of the shock:
Piston exits shock housing
Collar comes next (concave up)
Rubber bushing
What goes next? Does this plug into the body hole?
Rubber bushing
Collar (concave down)
Nut on top

What is the Bilstein orientation? Any pics would be great. thanks

tripz

Here's the orientation Im referring to and the washers I assume always curve toward the bushings correct??

I put the screwdriver to represent where the body metal/flange would be.

Rapter

What part number do you have for the rears? I just got my shocks in and plan on tackling it this wkd. I'll keep an eye on this thread. GL

Roadtripr

A bushing should be on either side of the body/cup as you pictured with the screwdriver. U might need to reuse the concave cups to support the bushings on the shock body and top nut respectively

Rainier42

The metal washers look upside down on the Bilstein and it looks like you have too many (2 on the lower bushing when there should only be 1). Keep the orientation and number that is on the shock you are removing. Just did this on my 2000 and had no installation problems on the Bilstein using the new bushings and washers. Remember to tighten the new nut on the Bilstein, you need to insert a hex wrench at the very top of the shock.

tripz

Here's what I ended up doing, purchased the Bilstein HD's from:
Ebay Seller techdeals1 (17631) for $260 shipped
BE5-2450-H0
BE5-2451-H0

I swtiched the orientation and confirmed w another member, a lot of misleading info running around on the web too!

From top of the shock:
Nut, Shiny washer (concave down), rubber bushing, frame, dull black washer (concave down), bushing, dull black washer (concave up). The bottom part basically has the dull washers "cupping" the bushing below the frame. The hardware kit indeed comes w 2 dull black washers to cup the bushing and 1 shiny silver washer to cap the bushing above the frame.

The original orientation was (Nut, then washer concave down, bushing, frame, bushing, washer concave up). Only 2 washers were present, but I believe the Bilsteins, need 3

Also had to jack up the shock at the bottom to get it to slide onto the lower mounting rod part of the car.

How did you guys get access to the top nuts?? Im going to have to jack the frame up even more to get my hand and a combo wrench on that 14mm nut!

tripz

Correction:

Talked to Bilstein today, apparently the hardware kit I had for the rears was meant for the front shocks. The correct hardware kit for the rear shocks comes w 2 flat washers (1 after the shock, bushing, frame, bushing, flat washer, nut).

The tech support said I could also keep the following order w my old hardware:
(dull washer up, bushing, silver washer (has a slight step to fit in the frame hole), frame, bushing, dull washer down, nut)

What a PIA