Bilstein 4600 - silly question

[Mosey]

Hi all,

I finished up my 4600 rear shock install on the 2021 XLT. Everything went well but I was disappointed that the shocks were assembled in Mexico.

Prior to the install I pulled the boots down, masked the rod and boot, and clear coated the shocks. I used a two-part clear epoxy made by Upol which I picked up at Orielly's. Before the application I lightly sanded the shock tube with 600 grit wet/dry and wiped them twice with Isopropyl alcohol. Put three coats on and let them cure from three days.

However, I never measured how high up on the shock tube the boot went. I think I have them too high right now, but any lower and the conical base of the shock boot will fold in on itself. I would be appreciative if someone could measure their 4600's and post back where on the shock the boot is installed. If you can measure from the bottom of the upper tube to the top of the boot.

Thanks much.

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[bgalakazam]

Does this help? Raining so I couldn’t get better shots. Stock height/rake.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

………. I was disappointed that the shocks were assembled in Mexico.

Isn’t Mexico better than China?

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Isn’t Mexico better than China?

Depends on what they're assembling really.

 

[Mosey]

I had read they were made either Germany or the US, but obviously not the 4600s.

 

[bgalakazam]

I lived in Germany last 4 years. The ‘made in Germany’ myth has been over since at least the 90’s. Unification and then the EU gave an influx of cheap labor. That and the fact workers cannot be fired lowered quality. All that being said Bilstein is a good product, I wouldn’t hold it against them where it’s made.

Aside, I ordered some trunk struts, came in pairs for my Mercedes. One was made in Germany the other in Romania. Go figure.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

I've run Bilsteins for decades and they have always served me far better than virtually any other brand I have tried. The 5100 series (made in US) have been on the F150 for about 20K miles now with hundreds of trips down a 5 mile long washboard dirt road and no issues at all. Same for my 2020 Ranger with the 4600's (in Mexico) for another 25K miles and countless washboard dirt roads before trading it in due to a water leak ford just couldn't seem to fix.

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