My 1985 300D spent several weeks on jack stands while I replaced all the bushings, ball joints, and other stuff. The front shocks (Bilstein comfort shocks with about 30,000 miles) laid horizontal on the floor the entire time. The car is back in operation, but it has a jarring ride when I drive over the washboarded areas on our dirt road. It seems like a shock absorber issue to me.

Should I have bled the shocks before re-installing them? I have seen recommendations for bleeding shocks that consist of standing them straight up, extending them fully, turning them upside down, and fully compressing them. The process is supposed to be repeated several times.

Should I take my Bilsteins back off and bleed them that way?