question about my bilsteins

[dancoco808]

hi guys,

it appears my left and right rear bilsteins are slightly different and im not sure whats the deal with that. they have different length metal dust-covers over the rod/shaft. and the right sided one is loose and clanging left and right against the shaft or the springs (this noise can be illicited by just pushing/rocking the car, even when parked).

heres some pics:

rear right shock, full-length cover, fixed and not rattling:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v334/coco69/civic%20blog/IMG_70020800.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v334/coco69/civic%20blog/IMG_70080800.jpg

rear left shock, half-length cover, loose and rattles against strut or springs:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v334/coco69/civic%20blog/IMG_70170800.jpg

anyone know what the deal is?

can i remove these black metal covers all together? i notice several other shock brands run open shaft or with rubber boots. i can't rem the design, but from memory the top mounts may be seated within a groove on top of these metal dust-covers.

[racerwannabe]

Sorry I can't help u but those are great quality photos.

[vinnY]

it looks like someone's taken a front dust boot off an ek or something(usually all metal and long) and whacked it on the rear
whilst the 'half height' one is a normal rear shock dust boot and they've lost/discarded the rubber bit(they're usually half metal half rubber)
you can run without them but it's not recommended to as dirt sticks to the piston and can go into the shock body hurting the seals and whatnot

[Redeg]

I'd be agreeeing with vinny here, on those ones probably best to source a full boot of some kind.

I'm more interested in the shocks themselves. They look like a really old Bilstein design - where'd you manage to find them? The whole tube is threaded by the look. Any numbers on them?