Rear Shock Installation

[Harry]

1966 230SL, New Bilsteins
My question is how tight do you need to tighten the nuts at the top of the shocks (inside the trunk)?  You have the 9mm (I think) flat on the shock end and the large (17mm or so) nut.  When tightening, you are actually compressing the rubber between the washers - providing some pre-compression.  I tightened mine until I reached a point where the rubber doughnut couldn't be turned by hand and the wrench was probably just beyond a good "snug" tight.  What's the correct tightness?
Thanks,
Harry

[Mike K]

Harry,
That sounds right. I used the same method/measure to tighten my shocks when I replaced them.

Best,
Mike

[Benz Dr.]

I tighten them until the nut won't turn any more. Make sure the dished washer is facing upwards. I see a lot of them facing down which will tend to bind up movement as the shock is doing its work.

[ja17]

Just tighten them until the nut bottoms-out. The shaft threads stop when the rubber compresses to the correct amount.

[Harry]

Thanks very much!