Well since no dust boots were available for the rear billys I decided to just put em in.
I had the top of the front shock unbolted when I discovered the 12 pt 10mm bolts on the bottom and me with only 6 pt sockets! I managed to get them off with a 12pt box end that wouldn't quite fully go on the bolt and had to start them back in with a small needlenose vise grip. So I couldn't torque them except by feel with a 4 inch boxend.
To torque the top nut I used a crowfoot wrench end on my torque wrench and torqued it to 25NM but I am not sure if that is correct as I am uncertain as to which of the metric spec Bilstein uses. ie: M8 M10 M12 M14 or M16 for the top nut I assume.
I figured M10 since the shock shaft diam is just a smidge less than that.
The body now sits about 3 inches higher than on OE units and I can't wait to road test it but there is still much to do before that.
I think I might check the Vac system next.
More to come.

__________________
1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily