5100 front shock dust boot came loose...

Hey guys, I just had my 5100s and OME 881s installed this week. After a few days of driving, I noticed that the dust boot/sleeve on the top of my driver side 5100 has slid down exposing the shaft within. It just sort of moves freely up and down now. Is this an issue that should be addressed asap? I didn't do the installation so I'm unsure if it might mean that something else on the shock is broken to have caused this.

I am hearing an occasional 'clunk' from that side when going over bumps, I thought maybe it was just the sound of the boot sliding up and down but worried it's something more serious. Anyone have this happen with the dust boots on their 5100s before?

I'll try to take and post pics later tonight. Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

5100s dont come with or use a boot on the front. it must have been added or installer swapped over from old shocks.

 

Its a sleeve of some kind covering the top half of the shock, I'll take some pics to add soon hopefully that'll help.

 

This isn't my photo but it looks exactly like this...the dark grey sleeve slid down exposing the metal shaft you can see at the top. On the other side the sleeve completely covers it and doesn't move.

 

I don't have dust boots on my front adjustable 5100's w/ 3" Eibach 620lb coils either. Only the regular 5100's for the rear of the truck application came with them. As @devinzz1 mentioned above.

 

I have the exact set-up (5100s and 881s) and they didn't have a dust boot.

 

This is what I'm referring to, I may be incorrect in called it the dust boot, but the part the arrow is pointing to is the part that came loose and is sliding up and down.

 

They didn't come with those, but they can be added. You may be able to shove it back up on the little bushing.

 

Ok cool, thanks for the info...I was just hoping it wasn't anything I needed to be overly concerned about. I'm hearing an occasional 'clunking' sound from that side and I'm hoping this is what's causing it, since it doesn't seem to be a dire issue or anything. I'll see if I can get it back up into the bushing...hard to get a grip on it from between the coils.

 

Is the plastic sleeve beat up looking? You could cut it off if you wanted to and could get at it. Probably 99% of the 5100s out there don't have those. I asked about getting some and was suggested to not run them as they'll hold moisture and dirt.

 

Nope it's brand new, I just had the kit installed last week. I went out wheeling this weekend and hit up some pretty good black diamond trails, so they definitely got put to the test. Probably just got knocked loose, if they aren't that important I'm sure I can just cut them off.

 

@58 Siesta having same problem see his thread

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/5100-install-issue-dust-boot.443697/

 

Headstrong just posted this in another thread I'm on, regarding the front 5100's and having dust shields...

This helps clear up the confusion!

 

thats not 1st gen taco 5100s pictured. Even if you buy direct from bilstein like i did they dont come with them.

 

Uh.. I've bought two sets from different vendors and both had dust boots.

The problem in the original post is that the washer was not installed under the bottom bushing. That's a problem. I just tore mine down today to resolve this exact issue, on both sides. Fix it now! The metal spacer in the bottom bushing will eat your top plate.

 

I know what the problem is, this can easily happen. The boots are held up by a spacer that has a groove in it in which the boot sort of locks into the groove. If at any point the boot is snagged on something or pulled down for whatever reason it will come off of the spacer and drop down. See attached photos of 1st gen shock, boot and spacer I am referring to. To confirm what I'm saying look at the top of the boot to see if the spacer is attached. If it isn't there's your issue. The correction would be to try and shove the boot up so it locks back into place. This will be difficult to do, but you can give it a shot. Oh and this won't harm anything, the boot being pulled off, it just looks goofy

This link is not the same issue, that was an improper installation issue. Assembly is supposed to go boot, washer, bushing under top hot, top hat, bushing and washer. This clearly didn't happen.

Again not the same issue. People are so quick to provide insight and in doing so this could encourage someone to spend time and money trying to correct something that isn't the issue.

 

Thanks!! I'll see if I can push it back into place, I had the shocks/coils assembled by the vendor (Headstrong) so I'm confident it was done correctly, it just came loose when I was doing a bit of off roading over the weekend. If I can't get it back in I'll probably just cut it out. Thanks again!

 

I've seen this happen with the 2nd gens and now with the 1st Gens having boots it will happen with them too. As for the clunking (if its the noise I think you are referring to), this is unrelated. This noise is pretty common when lifting trucks, just make sure everything up front is torqued down correctly. In my experience the noise is things shifting around do to the added stress on components following a lift and realignment.

If you are able to get that boot to lock up back into place I own you a sandwich. Its hard to get it to lock when off the truck. Best of luck though

 

Yeah, the pictures is off and I will have to change some of them around. At first they didn't have a picture on their site so I used what was available. Here is a picture of what Bilstein has on their site and what the shocks look like as well as a link to check out the spec's.

Link: http://cart.bilsteinus.com/product/24-249928/457852/4WD

 

I just had this happen to my 5100's after a week or two of driving. It's a stupid set up, and not very secure. My original Bilsteins (from 2005) on my trd off road had the dust boots still in place. I tried shoving the boots back up in place with pry bars/screwdrivers without any luck. Actually punctured one of the dust boots, then said fuck it I don't care, if they start leaking bilstein will send me new ones.

A friend of mine actually had his rear bilstein 5100 boot come undone and with a lot of dirt road use they started leaking after a few months and about 6000 miles. So I'm assuming my front ones will have the same fate. If I have to disassemble they front shock to re attach the boot I figure I might as well wait and install a new shock when they start leaking, and zip tie the new one, that's if it ever starts leaking on mine.