[SCOTI]

Well, I got the rear Bilsteins delivered today so I though I would do a quick trial fit to make sure there were no suprises. Suprise! They need to be modified.

The lower mounting stud on 'generic' shocks is typically separate from the shock. The stud mounts to the frame or bracket & is secured w/a nut. The shock bushing slides over the shaft of the stud & is secured to the stud w/another nut (just like the front shocks).

On Bilsteins, the stud is press-fit into the bushing & is one piece w/the shock. The only way to secure the lower end of the shock is to mount the stud/shock combo in place & tighten the nut from the back of the mount. Not a problem w/standard lower coil spring shock mounts but it IS a problem w/the Porterbuilt lower shock mount as there's very little room to access the nut.

With PB's set-up, you have enough room to put a wrench on the nut to keep it from spinning & you simply tighten the stud from the front side..... It works well when the stud & bushing is 2 pieces.

Sooo..... I cut the stud apart to press it out of the shock eye & bushing. The fit was so tight, it wouldn't press the stud out, it pressed the entire bushing & stud out as a unit. I then had to press the stud out of the bushing.
1st pic.... Bilstein stud vs. generic shock stud
2nd pic... Bilstein stud cut apart to press out of bushing
3rd pic.... Bilstein shock stud & bushing