Coilover dust boots vs dust covers

sapphire black · 02-26-2024, 02:38 PM

Hey so wondering if anyone had the same thought on this and how it actually works in real life.

On the coilovers I got (ST XA), they come with built in bump stops and plastic dust covers (same as the KW dust covers). Now it would make sense to set the dust covers to cover the top of the strut body, they fit quite snug.

However, it seems that if I ever get a large compression, or bottom out the struts, the dust covers/bumpstops will be pushed up the piston rod up to the bottom of the top hat - in other words it would no longer cover the hole where the strut piston enters the strut body, leaving that hole exposed. This seems especially true for the front struts where the strut covers are quite short - I’ve looked up lots of pictures and it seems this is consistent with any KW or ST coilover. Bilstein does come with longer dust boots though.

My thought is I should get some dust boots/dust bellows and put them on under the dust cover, to get full protection of that ‘piston hole’ - anyone ever done something similar? Or should I not bother?

RbBugBitMe · 02-26-2024, 05:04 PM

It's never a bad idea.

sapphire black · 02-26-2024, 07:35 PM

Yeah i ended up buying these: https://a.co/d/ir89RCp

will report back on fitment

I’m just surprised though, KW is the go-to brand, is everyone just installing these with the exposed piston?

02-26-2024, 02:38 PM	#1
sapphire black Private 27 Rep 88 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW 440i Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Coilover dust boots vs dust covers Hey so wondering if anyone had the same thought on this and how it actually works in real life. On the coilovers I got (ST XA), they come with built in bump stops and plastic dust covers (same as the KW dust covers). Now it would make sense to set the dust covers to cover the top of the strut body, they fit quite snug. However, it seems that if I ever get a large compression, or bottom out the struts, the dust covers/bumpstops will be pushed up the piston rod up to the bottom of the top hat - in other words it would no longer cover the hole where the strut piston enters the strut body, leaving that hole exposed. This seems especially true for the front struts where the strut covers are quite short - I’ve looked up lots of pictures and it seems this is consistent with any KW or ST coilover. Bilstein does come with longer dust boots though. My thought is I should get some dust boots/dust bellows and put them on under the dust cover, to get full protection of that ‘piston hole’ - anyone ever done something similar? Or should I not bother?
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02-26-2024, 05:04 PM	#2
RbBugBitMe PdV Motorsports 121 Rep 165 Posts Drives: 2014 335i xDrive sedan Join Date: May 2017 Location: Lancaster, PA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 335i xDrive [0.00]	It's never a bad idea. __________________ Ryan M. PdVMotorsports.com Owner https://www.youtube.com/@pdvmotorsports 2014 EB M-Sport 335i xDrive - PdV/BC custom coilovers, PdV spherical rear shock mounts, PdV big brake kit, MHD Stage 2+ Next up: PdV genuine GTX3582R Gen2 turbo kit, Nostrum HPFP & Stage 2 injectors, PdV PM5 w/ "Veyron" Bosch E5LM
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02-26-2024, 07:35 PM	#3
sapphire black Private 27 Rep 88 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW 440i Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Yeah i ended up buying these: https://a.co/d/ir89RCp will report back on fitment I’m just surprised though, KW is the go-to brand, is everyone just installing these with the exposed piston?
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