When riding through rough terrain or doing stunts with a truck, perhaps racing or even in normal riding, who doesn’t wanna enjoy the moment without distractions! But in reality, is that even possible? As you probably know that the body of your vehicle tends to move up and down and even sideways when you are driving.
To minimize the vibration and ride smoothly, shock absorbers are used. As the purpose of this tool is to minimize the body movement of vehicles. No matter how good you are at driving, bad shocks, or no shocks at all will only cause trouble. So, hop on to find the best shocks for GMC Sierra 1500 or other models with us.
Table of Contents
Best Shocks for GMC Sierra 1500 Till Now
Bid farewell to the tiresome comparison of hundreds of products. To save your time, we have sorted out some best shock absorbers that are leading the market.
1. Bilstein B8 5100 Series Front Shock
Reasons to Support
Bilstein brand offers a B8 5100 series front shock that is designed as a perfect solution for lifted trucks and vehicles. This shock absorber features a monotube design that provides consistent performance even on rough terrain. For improved handling, comfort, and ride quality, this shock is an ideal choice.
You can check on the product webpage if this shock fits with your Sierra 1500, no matter what is your vehicle year. It fits with almost all Chevrolet Avalanche trucks. The exterior of this shock is coated with zinc for more durability. To assure optimal performance, all B8 5100 shock absorbers are tuned for each specific application.
A lifetime warranty is provided with this product. This shock absorber utilizes a unique digressive piston that is sensitive to velocity and reacts when road condition changes. The front shock can lift from 0 inches to 2.5 inches. The exterior of this shock is coated with zinc for more durability.
Reasons to Oppose
- Have to buy a torsion key separately as it is not included.
2. Monroe Gas-Magnum Truck Shock Absorber
Reasons to Support
Monroe manufacturer offers a Gas-Magnum truck shock absorber that is designed for all mid to full size, hard-working pick-up vans & trucks. This yellow shock works more efficiently with less effort and provides firm control over harsh rides. And this shock is comparatively cheaper than most other shocks on the market.
A piston rod, a reserve tube, and a bore are included as the product. the piston rod is a heavy-duty nitro carburized rod that offers long service life. And the reserve tube helps to reserve more fluid for the consistent performance of the shock while the bore has lower operating pressure than other standard bores.
You can check if this shock can fit your vehicle model on the webpage of this product. You will get a 30-day warranty with this product to change a damaged product. This shock is so easy to install because of the integral nut holds the shaft steady whilst mounting.
Reasons to Oppose
- The warranty period is low
- You won’t get any bushing, washer, or top nut with this product.
- It is not suitable for heavy-duty rides.
3. Bilstein 4600 Series Shock Absorbers
Reasons to Support
Bilstein brand offers another shock set that includes front and rear 4600 series shock absorbers. As the absorbers come with monotube gas pressure technology, it provides precise handling, improved control and stability, max performance, and incredible comfort.
Excluding electronic suspension, this shock fits stock heights of Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 4WD that are made between 1999 and 2006. This tool is super easy to install and no modification is needed. You will get an instruction manual to install the shocks without any kind of confusion.
You will get a lifetime warranty with this shock set and this one is cheaper than most other Bilstein shocks of different series. The bushing that comes in these shocks has higher quality than other shocks. And these shocks are not harsh but still firm enough and they are stable enough to handle highway speeds.
Reasons to Oppose
- The shocks are not dampened automatically.
- Both the front and rear shock are tough to compress
- the rear shock tends to damage over time.
- It is not suitable for vehicle models that are made before 1996.
4. Rancho Suspension Pairs of Shock Absorbers
Reasons to Support
Rancho Suspension boons you with a shock kit which is the most cost-effective product compared to other shock absorbers on this list. This kit includes two pairs of front and rear RS5000 shocks for any stock height vehicles. Each of the shocks is white that includes red protective boots.
For Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, this shock absorber is the best fit that provides greater control over any rough terrain. This product can also handle pickup vehicles and large 4WD vehicles. The ten-stage velocity-sensitive valving method of this tool provides thorough tuning specifically for each vehicle.
You will get a limited lifetime warranty with this product. This shock absorber is so easy to install and it doesn’t even need maintenance except for some rare cases. The diameter of the piston and piston rod are 35mm and 16mm respectively. It allows the vehicle and shock to work harmonically while on and off-road driving.
Reasons to Oppose
- The front shock of this kit doesn’t always fit the 2500 Z71 series vehicles.
- No Instruction manual will be provided
5. WULF Front and Rear Lift Kit
Reasons to Support
WULF Suspensions company offers a leveling lift kit that fits Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 4WD 4×4 models ranging from the year 1999 to 2007. In this kit, you will get pairs of front and rear ProChomp ES9000 extended shock absorbers. As the shocks don’t need any modification, they are so easier to install.
Along with the torsion bars, this kit comes with adjustable front lift torsion keys and rear lift blocks with extended U bolts and hardware. The front key is adjustable from 1 inch to 3 inches. To offer you the best ride performance, the 4×4 torsion bars are made from high-quality materials.
You can properly lift your truck without cracking your factory keys as the torsion keys are reindexed. These keys are super strong, so they can handle any terrain you are planning on driving. For beginners who don’t have much idea about their vehicle’s suspension, this kit is one of the best choices.
Reasons to Oppose
- No lifetime warranty with this product.
- To get the rear even, the keys are needed to be maxed out.
- This kit doesn’t come with any instruction
6. Bilstein 5100 Series Shock Kit
Reasons to Support
Bilstein brand offers a shock kit that includes front ride height adjustable and matching rear shock absorbers of 5100 series. These shocks are not only easy to set up and install, but they also enhance your riding quality and handling significantly. And this kit is a better alternative than other stock shocks.
To position the spring seat at different heights with the use of multiple snap ring grooves, the vehicle’s ride height can be changed. You can change the height from 0 to 2.5 inches depending on the application. Where front shocks can be calibrated from 0 to 1.75 inches and rear adjust up to 1 inch to accommodate the lift.
You will get a lifetime warranty with this product. This kit of shock absorbers fits Chevy Silverado and all the GMC Sierra 1500 of the year 2007 to 2013. As the kit comes with a direct bolt-up setup, it does not need any modifications while being installed on your vehicle.
Reasons to Oppose
- The height adjustment button damages easily
- This shock needs modification before installation.
- Even though it is a bit expensive than other shocks, it needs maintenance occasionally.
- This shock will not compress beyond the axles.
7. Detroit Axle Front & Side Shock Absorber Set
Reasons to Support
Detroit Axle manufacturer offers both front driver and passenger side shock absorber set to provide a better riding experience. These black colored shocks are considerably cheaper than most of the absorbers on the market. But they still provide a longer and consistent product life.
As the shock absorber set is built strong, it offers top performance at any terrain. It has an O ring that provides pressure to the inner tube. This pressure helps to keep the valves less susceptible to dirt, wear, and fatigue by creating a tighter seal. Piston seal helps to minimize leak paths between the piston and the pressure tube.
You can check on the product webpage if your vehicle model fits with the shock or you can look up to the provided fitment information. Though it fits with almost all the truck models of Chevrolet and GMC.
Reasons to Oppose
- No info about the product material is provided
- The top mounting bolt doesn’t fit the mounting hole properly.
- You won’t get any warranty with this product.
- This shock set doesn’t fit older GMC Sierra 1500 models.
Way to Grab the Best Shocks for GMC Sierra 1500
To get the best product for the best experience, you need to look into some particular specs. This section covers all those specs of the best shock absorbers.
Type
Usually, manufacturers produce shocks with a specific type of vehicle in mind as different vehicles need different types of shock absorbers. Before buying, be sure to check which absorber is an appropriate type for your vehicle. There are mainly 5 types of shocks available for Sierra 1500.
Gas Shocks
As the name implies, this type of shock absorber is filled with nitrogen gas inside. It is affordable and ideal for smaller vehicles as they are tough enough to handle a lot of bouncing.
Heavy Duty Shocks
For off-roading, carrying heavy cargo this type of shocks are the best as they are designed for heavy-duty use. Such ones feature a larger center shaft and stiffer ride.
Air Shocks
To achieve even weight distribution, air shocks are used. But you need to adjust this absorber manually. This is why most of the time they are more like a hassle.
Overload Shocks
Overload shock absorbers are ideal for off-road vehicles. They feature a spring coil fitted around the shock cylinder.
Automatic Level-Control Shocks
Just like the air shocks, this shock also even out the weight of the vehicle, but the air pump works automatically. This complex shock absorber offers a smooth ride even when you are carrying heavier loads.
Material
Most of the shocks are made from strong steel and sometimes they come with chrome or zinc coating for extra durability. Make sure your shocks are made from high-quality steel or they will wear off soon. As far as the piston rod is concerned, nitrocarburized ones serve the longest period.
Smooth Operation
Digressive pistons ensure great riding experience even in the most irregular terrains. In the case of Siera 1500, a common scenario is rattling noise after installation. The bumping of absorber mounts and the shocks make it. A mismatch in the compression-expansion range is the culprit and hence should be well marked.
Warranty
Even some of the best shocks are found to provide a warranty for a month or so. A lifetime warranty is the best option as it reflects the highest confidence.
FAQs
Q: How can I test bad shock absorbers?
Ans: Your shock absorbers are bad or failing when you see any of these following symptoms. They are fluid leaking from the shocks, or cracks on them, increased stopping distance when you brake, irregular vibrations and uneven tire wear.
Q: Do struts and shocks the same things?
Ans: Though both strut and shock make your ride smoother by damping the movement of the spring and stopping the irregular bouncing, they are entirely different. They can’t supersede each other.
Q: How often should I change my shocks?
Ans: Usually, a shock absorber can cover up to 12,000 miles before starting to wearing off. It’s better to replace the shocks after riding this distance.
Q: Does it take a long time to replace shock absorbers?
Ans: Normally, it takes 2 to 3 hours to replace a single set of shocks. But some shocks, such as spring shocks can be changed even with an hour. Though the time also depends on the damage on the suspension.
Final Statements
Regardless of being a pro or a newbie, if you have already read the buying guide and product review section, then you should come to know which shock absorber suits you best. But if you are still confused or want a quick solution, then sit tight. We are here to help you find the best shocks for GMC Sierra 1500 and other vehicles.
At first, we recommend you to buy the shock kit from the Rancho Suspension manufacturer. This brand offers both front and rear shocks that are so durable. You will even get a lifetime warranty with this most economical shock.
Aside from that, we recommend you to get the Bilstein 5100 shock or Bilstein 4600 shock kit. Both shocks are from the same famous brand, and they come with a lifetime warranty. Between these two, the 4600 series uses gas pressure technology and comparatively cheaper.
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