I had the same thought process as far as building up the strut assembly for a "drop in" replacement. My install kept getting delayed as I realized I needed more parts... bump stops, spring seats, then dust boots. Ultimately I decided to order the dust boots (less than $25 shipped). I know that in the back of my mind I would be thinking about them and I definitely don't want to disassemble the suspension to put them on later. I just had my wheel well liners out and there was a ton of dust/dirt/general grime in/around/behind them. Opinions are mixed about the
need for them but Bilstein's instructions says to use them.
If you might find yourself thinking about them
at all now is the time to do it, in my opinion. Snips from Bilstein's install instructions...
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Thanks for the feedback, Cuzoe. Your reply is timely as I have some updates. In short, I decided to use the factory boots.
With two kids, no garage, and not much time I decided to start my install yesterday and work on it over the next three days, if necessary. I started with the rear as it is supposedly easier. Up on jackstands with the wheels off and I get started. I had a few neighbors stop to say hello and that they didn't know I knew how to do this to which I replied, "I don't". Honestly though getting everything out wasn't really bad.
But it wouldn't be fun without some snags. As Cuzoe mentioned above just as he thought he had all the parts covered there was more needed. I overlooked the crucial step of getting new bumpstops so I wouldn't have to disassemble the rear. That meant i also needed an offset wrench to get the top shock nut off so i could remove it. Well, finding an offset wrench that has enough of an angle and is thin enough to get into the rear mount isn't easy. To make a long story short i bought an impact and plan on zipping it off this morning. That doesn't solve getting the new mount on the B8's and i really don't want to use the impact for that so more to come. Backing up a little I failed to mention the install of the new H&R sway bar. I had new end links installed on it so installation, minus the tetris routing around the exhaust, was fairly easy. I could have dropped the exhaust but since i just installed the new ECS muffler delete I just didn't feel like doing it. In hindsight I'm not sure it would have saved time. It would have been easier though. On a side note regardless of your opinion on muffler delete's the ECS unit is real nice. Fit and finish was beyond what i expected and the sound, while not as refined as a nice cat back, is pretty decent. I got it on their black friday sale for less than $300 shipped, more than a muffler shop but not unreasonable for stainless and mandrel bends.
So anyway, this morning I'll try to button up the rear and begin on the front. Snags will be many I think. I have to disassemble both sets of struts so i can remove and install the shock boots, and figure out if i'm going to use the 2x4 method or remove axle bolts. Oh, and it's 22 degrees this morning so i'll be working in not so pleasant conditions.