We bought trucks to be in comfort and that’s why we didn’t go for some tiny two seated fancy cars. We value our comfort over many other factors. Shocks can ruin it totally unless you’ve got one of the best shocks for Silverado 1500 like the ones below.
Shock absorber is one of the most underrated apparatus of an automobile. These keep many vital mechanisms like the suspension, brake, and steering efficient. Without a proper shock absorber you’ll be jumping like a trampoline in your truck. And your tires will get unevenly thinner due to heavy friction, that’s also a trouble.
Top Picks for Best Shocks for Silverado 1500
Get excited! I’m about to disclose the list of top-notch shocks that your Chevy can get. I made this list based on effectiveness, durability, and feedback from folks who used these shocks. A detailed review of each shock will unwrap every layer and explain why I’ve selected that particular one for you.
1. Bilstein 5100 Lift Shocks Kit for 99-10 Chevy Silverado 1500HD
Commendable Attribute
On top of the list, I present you with an awesome shock that is specially designed for lifted trucks. This is a sturdy gas pressure tube shock that can balance the weight of your vehicle with ease. The front one provides 0 to 2 1/2 –inch lift where the rear one is designed to give you 1-inch alleviation to your Silverado 1500.
Bilstein 5100 is a set of 4 tube shocks along with washers and nuts. Altogether, this arrangement weighs 25-pound. As you know, this set features a monotube design. These tubes have a diameter of 1.18-inch which is enough for protecting a heavy truck.
Of course, front and rear ones have different extensions and contraction ability. Front shocks can extend up to 25.76-inch where they can collapse to 11.3-inch. But the rear ones can extend up to 26.15-inch and come down to 16.14-inch. It means rear shocks are bigger and mightier, a perfect arrangement for Silverado 1500.
A shiny metal finish is ensured which can add an extra look. Installation is simple. No need to change the control arms or adjoining parts to fit the shocks. With the proper warranty ensured, you can return the product if any defect found.
Impediment
- Instructions in the installation manual are difficult to understand.
2. Rancho RS9000XL Shock Rear Compatible with 99-06 Silverado 1500 4WD
Commendable Attribute
If you’re passionate about off-road driving, you’ll be fascinated by testing this shock. Rancho has a glorious history of manufacturing auto parts and especially shocks over the years. These shocks are made in the USA ensuring top standards. It can be your choice for your 2017 Silverado.
When it comes down to performance, you have a little room to complain about. This is a ballast type shock that has ample space within. When your vehicle hits an obstacle, the suspension squeezes and makes enough resistance to counter the force.
To talk about the build quality, I can assure you that you won’t need to suffer from cracking or such problems. These shocks are less porn to rust. Thanks to the rust protection coating that it’s covered with. This system weighs 50-pounds. Heavyweight helps the system to be more stabilized.
A tough look is guaranteed! The exterior body is painted with hot red paint which is a bonus for the look. It’s easy to install and can be fitted directly underneath. The 9-position tuning technology ensures swift response. This assembly is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Impediment
- These shocks add substantial weight to your vehicle.
- Slightly expensive.
3. Fox Shox 803-02-052 980-24-660 Performance Shock for 07-16 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Commendable Attribute
Here comes another monotube shock pair that can lift the rear part of your vehicle efficiently. This pair of shocks featured by Fox Shox gives an extra 1-inch lift to create ample room to absorb the impact. No need to be worried, it’s super easy to install in your Silverado. You’ll also find the bushings.
Why is it so light weighted? Because the overall setup is built with aluminum. For better protection, they have coated the piston shaft with chrome-plated alloy steel. The shaft is also heat-treated to be a solid resistance against corrosion. The overall diameter of the shaft is 5/8-inch, enough to house suspensions.
As you know, the outermost surface of the shaft is more prone to rust. That’s why the manufacturer preferred to give a clear anodized finish to make it more resistant against oxidization. Moreover, the inner components are of black-anodized metal. This technique provides extra strength to the overall setup.
You may notice earlier that many shocks can’t tolerate much impact force and ends up in internal damage. But for this shock, the case is different. The design of an internal IFP reservoir ensures complete separation of nitrogen gas and oil. That’s why the shock can endure a heavy impact without any internal damage.
Impediment
- Not enough for off-road cruising.
4. Rough Country Rear Vertex Adjustable Shock Absorbers (fits) 07-20 Chevy Silverado Sierra 1500
Commendable Attribute
If you want to give your Silverado a sporty makeover, then this shock can serve your purpose. Its design features an aggressive look and enhanced stability does serve your purpose of a comfortable ride. It’s a multi-layer shock that even provides awesome off-road performance.
This shock has an extra reservoir tank for oil. In the primary chamber, nitrogen gas is well separated from the surroundings. For this purpose, they have used 3-stage seal and sturdy constructions. Besides, the bearings are made of heat-treated steel alloy for enduring higher friction.
Now comes the performance. This shock can be pushed up to 95-inch and can collapse to 20.59-inch. The 8-stage damping feature is there to make sure of a smooth ride. When the shocks hit any obstacle, the length is automatically adjusted for this mechanism. That’s why you get an extra benefit while cruising at hilly off-road tracks.
For the sake of durability, the manufacturer has chosen an alloy to be the primary built material. The alloy is made from steel with the proper combination of aluminum and furnished with zinc plating. This is what I say solid protection against rust.
Impediment
- Slightly expensive than other options available.
5. Fox 2.5 Factory Coil-Over Reservoir Front Pair 07-17 Silverado 1500
Commendable Attribute
Another addition to the fabulous series of shocks! This front air shocks can be fitted in 07-17 Silverado. With lots of distinguished mechanisms fitted, these shocks can be easily regarded as an engineering marvel.
Let’s start with the shaft itself. The manufacturer has fitted the shocks with the most rugged 7/8-inch shafts in the market. These shafts are 2.5 aluminum shafts that are plated with zinc for extra protection.
The external oil reservoirs play a vital role to add stability. As the oil stays outside, it shows less tendency to leak and mix with the gas. Besides, this external tank can carry more amount of oil than the traditional ones.
Bearings that are used in the shocks are big enough to optimize the steering quality. On top of that, additional seals are installed to prevent any leakage. Some accessories which are necessary to install the shock are also provided.
Impediment
- These shocks are slightly heavy for urban usages.
6. Detroit Axle 139105 Front & Rear Struts Assembly & Shock Absorbers
Commendable Attribute
This shock has all the aspects of long-lasting high performance. The manufacturer has made good use of O-ring technology. These O-rings make sure that the pressure of the inner tube is constant. Thus, they prevent leaks and make the tube more stable.
This is a full set of shocks which is designed sophisticatedly to fit under your 07-13 Silverado models. Shocks in this set are flexible enough to bend or extend while you’re installing them. This flexibility helps you at a great deal when you’re cruising off-road.
As you know, the front and rear axles don’t have to face the same load. That’s why front and rear shocks are designed sophisticatedly to serve the very purpose. The external black coating prevents oxidization and thereby ensures durability. This setup weighs 58-pounds.
The manufacturer has earned a reputation for making auto parts for long. This set complies with several standards and therefore has OE certifications. You get a warranty to backup.
Impediment
- The setup is quite heavier comparatively.
7. Gabriel 49235 Hijackers Air Shocks
Commendable Attribute
At the end of this list comes an air-adjustable shock. This pair of shocks can be fitted underneath your 96-06 Silverado or 07 Silverado Classic. Why this pair is special? Because you have the full control to adjust the height of the shock and thereby the performance for your regular usages.
If you’re driving a truck long since, most probably, you’ve heard about the Gabriel Hijackers as they’re the topmost adjustable shocks in the USA. Over the years they’re helping the truckers to carry heavy loads by adjusting the level of dumping.
When it comes down to construction, you can barely have any complaints. This pair of shocks have a perplexing chrome piston rod. The system is leak-proof and designed in a way that rarely allows rust. So, long service life is guaranteed.
Roughly 1100-pounds can be carried with the help of this pair. Though the shocks won’t increase the payload capacity of your vehicle, it’ll surely help you to carry different heavy loads in variable weather conditions.
Impediment
- You may face difficulties to understand the installation process.
Do Consider These Before Buying
It’s obsolete to narrate why you need to select the best-fit shock absorbers for your Chevy. They are something that relentlessly protects your vehicle from potential damage and keeps you comfortable during a bumpy ride. Let’s dig deep into some indispensable facts that will lead you towards the best shocks for Silverado 1500!
1. Type of Absorber
Constructions, designs, and efficiency of the shocks differ as they’re not made to encounter the same situation. Let’s have a quick tour of all types of shocks fit for your Silverado.
Standard Shocks
These are the basic shocks that the car manufacturer provides. You’ll find it satisfactory, especially for urban usages. They are reliable and can bring value to your money. But if you’re driving over a hilly road, you’ll feel the stupor. That’s why these are not fit for heavy loads or bumpy tracks.
Heavy-duty shocks
These shocks are made for heavy loads. You often find them fitted in trucks, SUVs, or such heavy vehicles. A large middle shaft distinguishes it from other types of shocks. These are specially designed for carrying heavy loads regularly. Go for this sturdy yet expensive option if you need to carry massive loads.
Gas Shocks
Maybe your Silverado is equipped with such ones as gas shocks are most common. Two separate chambers contain two different substances: nitrogen gas and oil. Nitrogen gas is used to enhance the compressibility of the shock which ultimately results in better stability. Oil is used to increase the impact of dumping ability.
Automatic Level Control Shocks
These shocks are rather an expensive option. They are equipped with a simple mechanism that can be compared with an air pump. Air is sucked in by the pump to adjust the height. Whenever the payload increases, it adjusts the height, make more room to dump the impact.
Air shocks
The air shock is almost similar to the previous one on this list. But the major difference is this type has its inlet instead of an air pump. Such a shock is less effective to suck air in and results in less effectiveness for Silverado 1500.
2. Driving Condition You Generally Face
You don’t face all types of driving conditions regularly. That’s why the manufacturers simply don’t make shocks that can endure every condition. If you cruise in urban areas, you can go with basic shocks. But for bumpy rides, you need mighty or modified ones.
3. Material ‘n Durability
In general, manufacturers use steel or aluminum as the primary build material. As you can guess the aluminum-made ones are less prone to catch rust and are light weighted. Although aluminum shocks are costly, in the long run, they perform better than their counterpart.
4. Installation Process
To lubricate the installation process, you need to grab one that comes with its mounts. Bushes, washers, and nuts that are provided by the manufacturer can accelerate that to a great extent.
5. Vehicle Compatibility
The shock may fit under the vehicle but in certain cases, it behaves abnormally. That’s why you need to consider these following factors.
Extension and Compression
The manufacturer will provide information about the range of the shocks. You should know your shocks can be extended and compressed at a certain level. Suppose, the shock can extend up to 30-inch but the system installed in your vehicle can endure up to 25-inch, it’ll be a hodgepodge.
Absorber Mount
You need to make sure that the shocks don’t make any close contact with the absorber mount. Otherwise, these two surfaces will show a higher tendency to be heated up because of the friction.
6. Style
This is the last factor to be considered. You can choose among different types of shocks, for example, traditionally designed shocks, colored oil filter options, etc. but only after considering those criteria mentioned earlier in this buying guide.
FAQ
Q: When to replace shock?
Ans: If you find it difficult to drive through a bumpy road, you should check the shocks. A rattling sound can be noticed and the impact of an uneven road will be harder as soon as the shocks get damaged.
Q: How long the shocks will last?
Ans: On average, you need to pay for the shocks after one hundred thousand miles. But the period can be shortened if you drive through hilly tracks or carry overload.
Q: Should I replace other mechanical parts when I replace the shocks?
Ans: If the other adjoining parts, for example, the absorber mount, remain okay by the time you change the shocks, it’s unnecessary to change them.
Wrapping Up
Made up your mind? Probably not! It’s normal to be confused among so many superb shocks. I have a bonus tip for you. Let’s have a quick look at those shocks that have attracted me most. Hopefully, after this portion, you no longer need to do a heavy brainstorm to figure out the best shocks for Silverado 1500.
Want to get a whole set of shocks? You can try Detroit Axle 139105 Front & Rear Struts. But if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option for your lifted truck, you can go for Bilstein 5100 Lift Shocks Kit for 99-10 Silverado.
Nevertheless, if you need a shock with an external reservoir, you can try Rough Country Rear Vertex Adjustable Shock Absorbers.
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