Hey guys I've got Bilstein 5100 shocks and tge bodies of them are getting white powdered corrosion on them. Anyone else have this problem. These are actually brand new and have yet to be installed. They are sitting on a shelf in my basement which is not damp.

 

Mine did the same
, but installed on the jeep

 

I'm thinkin about havin them powder coated or maybe paint them or bed line.

 

another idea too, hit em with a few coats of clear wheel coating if you want to keep the brushed steel look.

 

So I wanted to update this thread. I spoke with a technician at Bilstein and he seemed surprised that the shocks were corroding. Now I have to clarify that I have yet to install these on the jeep. I bought them last year and they have resided in a box on my closet floor since. He said they may replace them but I will probably need a receipt...which of course I cannot find. These were bought at a jeep event cash, so no way to trace that.
Also I would have to send them in to inspect before they determine if they would even replace them. I'm doing our lift gears and such this weekend and cannot change that date. Therefore my DD would sit for however long. I have no car to use as a secondary.
Here's a pic.



Should I just say screw it and clean them and clear coat and just run them?

 

I wouldn't powder coat, because you would have to dismAntle them as the heat would cook the internal bushing and boil and fluids....I say a quick sand with 400 and clear wheel paint as stated above....I'm just about to purchase a set, might do the clear as preventive measures...

 

Just hit them with some sandpaper to get them clean and put some clear coat on them.

 

I think I'm going to take measures into my own hands. I don't have confidence in Bilstein swapping them out.

 

So I decided to take care of the corroded shocks myself. First I removed the stickers and cleaned the area with goof off. Clipped the zipties hold the rubber boots to base of shock. Then I clamped the shock to a work bench and laid a precut 10"x4" piece of 180 grit sand paper around half the shock pulling the paper back and forth horizontally across the body till corrosion was gone. If you sand up and down the shock you will go against the factory machining and scratch it heavily. I then did the same with 400 grit paper to smooth out the surface.
Once the shock was cleaned I wiped it down with a clean cloth, hung it vertically and sprayed them with VHT aluminum wheel clear coat. I did several light coats and ended with a little heavier coat. This is what they looked like before, during and after. I'm very pleased with the results.

 

Looks good... has anyone else down south experienced this? (yes, I realize these were in the OP's closet, but thought I'd get experiences from others in my area)