The Best Replacement Shocks for Chevy Silverado

For truck owners, a smooth ride absolutely crucial. It can be a literal pain in the neck if your ride isn’t comfortable when you need to get the job done. That’s where shocks come in to play. A good set of shocks can ease your work load.

But there are so many shocks out there on the market. The large array that you can choose from can definitely be overwhelming. And there can be so many questions to ask; “What are bad shocks?”, “How much does it cost to change shocks?”, etc.

This article features reviews on five, quality products currently on the market. Additionally, it contains a FAQ/Buying guide which addresses the questions customers most often ask. It’s here for you to pick out the best shocks for your vehicle.

1 AUTOSAVER88 Pair OEM Rear Left or Right Shock Absorber

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Design

In a way, it’s good that OEM didn’t try to give us anything fancy. These are straight up a pair of shock absorbers. They are officially fitted for a range of Cadillac, Chevy and GMC trucks and SUVs.

OEM puts their shocks through their own quality test to meet their exactly specifications.

With that said, OEM is not without a few issues. The electronic connectors for the airlines had trouble fitting.
It took a considerable amount of fiddling to finally fully install the shocks.

Installation

As mentioned previously, installation wasn’t as smooth as planned.

The electronic connectors on the shocks were a little too long.

Therefore, it had to be modified further in order to fit the vehicle. Other than that, everything else was simple and fell into place.

Application

Beyond installation, the shock work as advertised.

Overall, these shocks work well. The upgraded ride feels safe, and handling isn’t affected negatively whatsoever.

Key Features

• Smoothens ride
• Tested for OEM specifications
• Excellent durability
• Designed to maintain safety and handling of vehicle

2 Bilstein 5100 Adjustable Shock for Silverado

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These adjustable shocks fit the models from 2007-2013 and replace the frontend coilover style pickup shocks.

These are a good comparable to the factory coil springs that wear out over time. Heightened vehicles put extra demands on their shock systems and the 5100 Bilstein shock is prepared for it.

Key Features:

• Larger diameter offers fade-free performance
• Monotube design adjusts instantaneously to the road’s surface
• Non-corrosive finish zinc surface to resist rusting
• lifetime warranty
• Designed for various levels or lift combinations
• Kit included all 4 wheels for matching performance
• Direct bolt on for easy installation

The Manufacturer

ThyseenKrupp Bilstein Company began as a German enterprise, however, these shocks are produced right here in the US, in Hamilton Ohio.

They are known to product monotube shock absorbers for the automotive industry, motorsports applications, and aftermarket auto industry.

They are meticulous at testing these shocks with their on-site engineering department, motorsports track, and rigorous shock testing facility. These tracks allow the engineers to study the shocks in motion and make tweaks to the design.

Installation

Simple to install without any modifications, however, they can also be used as a 2.5″ lift or adjust them to ride at the normal height of the vehicle.
Simple groves and instructions will help you adjust the height on each so they are even.

3 WULF 1999-2007 Chevy Silverado GMC Sierra 1500 3inch Front 3inch Rear Leveling Lift Kit w/Pro Comp Shocks 4WD 4X4 Suspensions

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Basically, it’s a frontal mobile kit designed to hoist trucks. In addition, this kit also consists of rear lift blocks, enlarged U bolts and perfectly piped and extended rear Pro Comp premium shocks befitting of this kit.

The keys are durably designed to withstand all manner of terrains from muddy ditched to tarmacked roads.

The key features

• Suited for 1999-2007 Chevy Chevrolet GM GMC Silverado Sierra 1500 4WD 4X4
• Alterable front lift height from 1 to 3 inches
• Rear blocked with fixed taper thereby eliminating the need for angled shim
• Instruction manual for DIY purposes
• 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
• Fast shipping

Application

One of the alterations often applied to pickup trucks include leveling lift kits. Their use is just that- to lift your vehicle in order to level both the front and rear.

Usually, most trucks come with a raked stance right from the factory, hence making the back of the truck somewhat higher than the front.

WULF 4X4 Leveling Lift Kit is hardware that is used to slightly elevate the front and rear of your vehicle so that they are on the same level.

This can be done for cosmetic purposes or to enhance the performance of your vehicle for instance add a bit of ground height for slightly bigger wheels.

What’s Included?

WULF Leveling Lift Kit consists of:

• Coil spacers
• Torsion keys
• Strut extensions
• Control arms
• Shocks
• Torsion bars
• Springs

Components needed will vary depending on your vehicle’s suspension.

4 Supreme Suspensions Silverado Lift Kit + Pro Performance Series Shocks

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Design

Overall, the design of the Supreme Suspensions Shocks kit looks of great quality when installed onto the Chevy Silverado. It’s designed to fit 1999 – 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (4WD) and will only fit classic models.

The kit was a great fit with the heavy gauge materials. The kit lifts the truck about 1.5 in the rear, and 2.5 inches in the front. And boy, those couple of inches really make the difference.

My tires don’t rub at full turn anymore. Additionally, the added height gives the Silverado a more robust stance. It was just the right touch of menacing.

Installation

The installation process certainly is no cake walk, however Supreme Suspensions manufactures all of the parts to fit seamlessly on your vehicle. The instructions provided were easy to follow and understand.

An alignment is always recommended prior to the easy bolt-on installation, especially when altering the height of the truck.

And it may also be important to note that a torsion bar puller is required before installation.

Application

As mentioned before, the kit is able to give the vehicle about a 2-3-inch lift. It’s a great application to give your larger tires a little more breathing room, and a little less rub.

Though I would have likely preferred gas shocks, the units provided are perfectly adequate to give the truck more absorption with the added height. The lift kit and shocks work cohesively and efficiently together for a smooth ride.

Supreme Suspensions provides a quality product at a reasonable price.

Key Features

• Easy bolt-on process
• 3 to 5-hour installation
• 1-3 in front suspension lift, 1.5 in rear suspension lift
• Improves appearance of truck
• Increases ground clearance for larger tires
• Upgraded suspension performance

Specifications

5 Rancho Suspension RS5000 Shock Kit for Stock Height Chevy Silverado

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Design

The Rancho Suspension shock kit do not disappoint. After installation, the red from the shocks immediately gives the truck more flare. Its speculations are retrofitted for, namely, Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 4WD 1999-2006.

It’s of great quality and also fits great. The shocks were definitely designed to be better than the stock ones already on the truck.

Installation

Oddly, Rancho Suspension does not provide instructions on how to install their shocks. However, a quick search online, and you can be on your way to installation. Or you can simply take them to an auto shop for the professionals to help.

Application

Rancho Suspension knows it stuff. The newly added shocks provide a much smoother and softer ride. They outperform your stock shocks by a long shot, especially if you frequently carry heavy loads back and forth.

What potholes? With these shocks added, potholes will be a problem of the past. The shocks absorb the bump and allows you to do your job, and focus on the road.

Key Features

• Significantly improves smoothness of ride
• Easy installation
• Shocks include red protective boots

FAQ/Buying Guide

Contents:

What are the signs of bad shocks?

If your car bounces excessively, or if it dips in the rear or the front, those are signs of bad shocks. If your shocks leak oil, that’s also an obvious sign that they’re bad.

New shocks pose the same issues. If the shocks components aren’t of quality, then they will also experience breaks and leaks.

Can bad shocks cause vibration?

Yes, bad shocks can definitely cause vibration. The vibrations can even be so much as to bounce your car around excessively. This causes a very uncomfortable ride.

Can you drive a car with bad shocks?

The short answer is No. Driving your vehicle around with bad shocks is not only an uncomfortable ride, but it can also be a dangerous one. Bad shocks don’t provide a vehicle with the adequate handling it needs. This can cause dangerous situations and lead to accidents.

Can bad shocks ruin tires?

Yes. When bad shocks cause your vehicle to bounce excessively, it also causes your tires to “cup” and damage.

Should I replace all 4 shocks at the same time?

For the most part, yes. Replacing just one shock can have a negative effect on the other ones. In general, if the front shocks need replacing, so do the rear.

How much does it cost to change shocks?

Most do-it-at-home shocks run for around $150-$250 to replace all four. Replacing shocks at shops can run from about $500 to as much as $5000 for luxury vehicles.