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Installed Bilstein 5100 shocks in rear, through (Husky) wheel well liners.
I could have removed the wheel well liners, but that would have been more work than drilling the holes and installing the shocks.
Drilled a 1-1/4" hole with a hole saw bit using a piece of wood on the backside to catch the bit as it went through the plastic. I'm on the lookout for a properly fitting pair of black plastic hole covers to clean up the job. The install was really easy. Air tools help, not my first suspension work.
upper shock bolt access hole, left rear
Note to subsequent commenters about the shock being upside-down. Yes, I did mount it upside-down, then I went back and mounted them right-side up. This picture shows the proper orientation.
Last edited by B00Ndocker; Dec 8, 2020 at 08:27 PM.
Reason: remounted shocks right-side up, replaced photo
Installed Bilstein 5100 shocks in rear, through (Husky) wheel well liners.
I could have removed the wheel well liners, but that would have been more work than drilling the holes and installing the shocks.
Drilled a 1-1/4" hole with a hole saw bit using a piece of wood on the backside to catch the bit as it went through the plastic. I'm on the lookout for a properly fitting pair of black plastic hole covers to clean up the job. The install was really easy. Air tools help, not my first suspension work. upper shock bolt access hole, left rear
...according to Bilstein's installation instructions. the shock body attaches to the frame and the shock shaft rod end attaches to the axle.
Too, remember to tighten the shock mounts only after the truck is on the ground at at it's usual ride height. Reason for this is that the mount bushings are captured and will torsion with suspension motion. This is especially important with control arm bushings after a vehicle is lifted or lowered significantly.
Otherwise, we're glad to see anyone and everyone improve their trucks' chassis dynamics with better dampers!
Last edited by Apples; Dec 8, 2020 at 08:47 PM.
Reason: installation was "corrected" and it's all JohnDay's fault LOL
Installed Bilstein 5100 shocks in rear, through (Husky) wheel well liners.
I could have removed the wheel well liners, but that would have been more work than drilling the holes and installing the shocks.
Drilled a 1-1/4" hole with a hole saw bit using a piece of wood on the backside to catch the bit as it went through the plastic. I'm on the lookout for a properly fitting pair of black plastic hole covers to clean up the job. The install was really easy. Air tools help, not my first suspension work.
upper shock bolt access hole, left rear
Note to subsequent commenters about the shock being upside-down. Yes, I did mount it upside-down, then I went back and mounted them right-side up. This picture shows the proper orientation.
Did you have much difficulty locating where to drill the hole? I didn't think to do this before installing my wheel well liners, so I'll be doing this mod (and buying those nifty grommet caps from Amazon) in the future.
Did you have much difficulty locating where to drill the hole? I didn't think to do this before installing my wheel well liners, so I'll be doing this mod (and buying those nifty grommet caps from Amazon) in the future.
Not much. I used a "pokey thing", an awl actually. Poked through enough to determine how close I was to the bolt center. Took a couple of tries.
Did you find some "nifty grommet caps from Amazon"? I'm still looking for those, not that the hole is problem, just like to tidy it up.
rear shock access hole through wheel well liner
