Upside down shocks!!!

[lclascaris]

I have ordered some Bilstein shocks for my Surf.

The rears have now arrived.

The stock shocks have the main shock body at the axle end with the steel cover that hides the shaft on the chassis end.

When fitted the Bilsteins would have the main shock body at the chassis end with the shaft which is covered by a rubber boot instead of the steel casing at the axle end.....basically the opposite way around to the standard shocks....now the Bilsteins are obviously designed to be that way as the labels/Bilstein badge etc are the correct way around.

I have never seen a shock fitted that way round before......is that ok? does it change anything else with the handling?

At least any water would be able to drain from the shock boot as the cable tie would be at the top!

What do you think?

Many Thanks

Regards

Lewis

[TonyN]

Its OK, when you get into serious racing, there is less unsprung wieght with shocks this way up, as only the shaft is fixed to the axle and moves, instead of the whole shock body.

[MattF]

now the Bilsteins are obviously designed to be that way as the labels/Bilstein badge etc are the correct way around.

I have never seen a shock fitted that way round before......is that ok? does it change anything else with the handling?

You obviously can't fit them the wrong way due to the eye and bolt arrangement, so wouldn't worry about it.

[lclascaris]

Its OK, when you get into serious racing, there is less unsprung wieght with shocks this way up, as only the shaft is fixed to the axle and moves, instead of the whole shock body.

Thanks Tony,

How would that affect normal road driving?

Do you think that I should keep the rubber boots on to protect the shaft? as there seems to be different ideas.

[MattF]

Do you think that I should keep the rubber boots on to protect the shaft? as there seems to be different ideas.

It'll stop every little bit of crud getting onto them. Just check after any serious wallowing that they ain't filled up. That's when they normally cause a problem.

[TonyN]

Thanks Tony,

How would that affect normal road driving?

Do think that I should keep the rubber boots on to protect the shaft? as there seems to be different ideas.

It shouldn't, in theroy less unsprung weight means there is less mass for the springs/shocks to control, so it keeps needing heavy duty springs to stop the axle leaping around to a minimum, giving a smoother ride.

In practice I doubt you'll notice any difference.