Bilstein shock QUESTION??
 

What do the little tapered washer that comes with the Bilstein shocks actually do?

The OEM shocks do not have this washer on them??

I put some brand new Front shocks on my Boxster last-night and my mechanic buddy didnt know what that little washer was for and figured since the old shocks didnt have them, we didnt need to install on the replacement shocks.

So pretty much I have my brand new Bilstein shocks installed without those little tapered washers on the shaft.

ANY ISSUES I CAN ANTICIPATE???

There should have been a beveled washer/tapered washer on the old shock too, as long as you reused it you'll be OK. It is pretty important because it holds the weight of the cup washer. Without the beveled washer the the cup washer puts all its force on the cap of the strut housing end. I guess all things being equal the forces will be distributed the same on the strut housing end. Bilstein does send it so that the old one doesn't have to be used.

Also my 2000 'S' original struts did have it.

Strange, My original shocks didnt have this beveled washer on them....so when we installed my new shocks we decided to discard the beveled washed that came with them.

Hope nothing bad happens as a result.....

That's strange. The Bilstein documentation I think specifically says to use it. I installed four of them this past winter.

Check out Wayne's tech article here, you can see without it all force is on the cap of the strut housing...maybe that is ok, these struts are built like tanks.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/63-SUSPEN-Shocks_-_Springs/63-SUSPEN-Shocks_-_Springs.htm