A good set of shocks lasts a long time and also helps your vehicle do the same. But it can be difficult trying to check off all the shock requirements for specific vehicles.
You need shocks that will not only absorb impact and vibrations but will also figuratively fit your car or truck like a glove. With a good set of shocks, you can take your truck over the roughest of roads and feel the minimum amount of impact.
The article below will be reviewing the best shocks for Silverado 2500hd and will guide you in choosing the perfect and most reliable shocks for your Chevy truck.
Top Rated Shocks for Silverado 2500hd: Our Top Pick 2023
Image | Name | Rating | Level | Price |
 | Bilstein 4600 Series Shock Absorbers | Yes | ||
 | Bilstein 5100 Series Front and Rear Shocks | Yes | ||
 | Monroe 34690 Gas-Magnum Truck Shock Absorber | Yes | ||
 | Bilstein 5100 Gas Shock Set | Yes | ||
 | Rancho RS5000X Gas Shock Set | Yes |
Best Shocks for Silverado 2500hd: Reviews & Guide
Below are detailed reviews for the 7 top shocks for Chevy Silverado 2500hd trucks from various brands and with varying features.
1. Bilstein 4600 Series Shock Absorbers
Sturdy Design
Monotube Gas Pressure Technology
Compatible with 2001-2010 2500 HD 4WD
This is a set of 4 shock absorbers from Bilstein’s 4600 series. The set includes 4 shocks in total, 2 each for the front and the rear. These are perfect for the stock height of a Silverado 2500HD truck.
The shocks’ monotube gas pressure system allows it to provide great control and stability to the truck while also ensuring incredible performance, comfort, and precise handling of the vehicle. They are great for low height vehicles, given their length.
One of its best features is that these shocks are super easy to install thanks to their direct bolt-on mechanism and with no modification needed. If the color is something you care about, then these are a bright combo of blue and yellow.
What is guaranteed with these shocks, besides the maximum level of comfort, is more precise handling of your vehicle. This also makes for an overall smoother ride and creates quite a difference compared to any default shocks you may have had on your truck.
You might need to be an amateur mechanic, or at least be able to look online to see how to fit the rear shocks, but even then, installing these will be a breeze, and using them, even more so!
2. Bilstein 5100 Series Front and Rear Shocks
Smooth Exterior Design
Ensure Easy Control and Stability
Compatible with Chevrolet Silverado 2000-2010
Another set of four 46mm shocks from Bilstein is their 5100 series front and rear shocks. The front ones have a lift of 0 to 3 inches, while the rear shocks provide a lift of 0 to 1.5 inches.
These are high gas pressure monotube shock absorbers designed to be used in lifted pickup trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs. The front shocks, when collapsed, have a length of 11.3 inches and an extended length of 15.7 inches. When collapsed, the rear shocks measure 16.1 inches and measure 26.2 inches when extended.
The shocks have a minimal color scheme of silver metal and black accents. These shocks have a 46mm digressive piston that features an auto-adjusting and deflective disc valving. They are great for hauling heavy loads or for the odd off-road drive because of their super damping quality.
And these shocks are far superior to any default or stock shock absorbers you may have on your truck right now. The difference in comfort level when driving with these on is very noticeable.
What’s great is that they are quite simple to put in. You can get the whole process of fitting in four shocks done in less than 2 hours, without needing to jack up your truck or get under it.
3. Monroe 34690 Gas-Magnum Truck Shock Absorber
Heavy-duty
Long Service Life
Consistent Performance
Next up is Monroe’s Gas-Magnum shock absorber for medium to full-sized trucks like the Silverado 2500hd. These shocks have a bright yellow color.
Onto the specifications, this has a 2” reserve tube which stores more fluid and provides for a more consistently good performance. The bore is 1-3/8 inch, which means that it has a lower operating pressure than regular single inch bores.
Also, the shock has a piston rod that is 5/8 inch and nitrocarburized to make it more durable. The gas used for these shocks is nitrogen, which improves handling and reduces aeration to keep contact between the tire and roads consistent.
Not to mention these are super affordable for the quality they have to offer. Installing these on your truck can make you feel like it is new again, given how much these shocks improve the handling precision, stability, and ease of use.
They are also quite durable, despite the lower cost, and can easily last you 50,000 miles. Of course, that would lessen significantly if you are doing a lot of off-roading or are generally just driving on dirt or uneven terrains. But for good old street driving, these shocks will last you a very long time.
4. Bilstein 5100 Front and Rear Shocks Kit
Compact Design
Strong & Stable
Compatible with Chevrolet Silverado
These Bilstein shocks are a different version of the ones reviewed at no. 2 of this list. With these 5100 series front and rear shocks, you can install them on a lifted truck. For the front, these shocks will fit a 0 to 2.5 inches high lift, and for the rear, a 0 to 1-inch lift.
When extended, the front shocks measure at 11.3 inches while they are 15.76 inches when collapsed. Meanwhile, the rear shocks are 26.15 inches long when extended and 16.14 inches long when collapsed.
The color scheme of these is simple, with the metal body and black components and accents. As with other Bilstein shocks, these ones are also easy to put in yourself. You can get these on and running within a couple of hours unless you have zero truck maintenance experience.
What’s best is that installing and using these shocks will improve your truck’s performance so much that you will feel like you are driving a brand new vehicle. These make handling more precise and, of course, make the ride much more comfortable by reducing vibrations and the general bumpiness.
Not to mention that buying these is super cost-effective since you get a whole set that can last you tens of thousands of miles on the street.
5. Bilstein 5100 Gas Shock Set
Comes with Special Fitment
Ensure Longevity & Durability
Compatible with 2011-2018 Silverado 2500 HD 4WD
Another set of 4 shocks is from Bilstein’s 5100 series, and this one is the Gas Shocks set. It includes 2 shocks for the front and 2 for the rear of your 4WD vehicle. The front shocks can fit into a lift of 0 to 1.5 inches, and the rear shocks go with a lift height of 0 to 1 inch. These come with their own shock boots, too.
And the monotube gas system of these shocks ensures that they are durable and can provide top-notch performance for the truck. All components you may need for installing these come with the shocks, including bushings, washers, nuts, and bolts.
These shock absorbers have a metal body with a duo-chrome effect and black accents. They have a 46mm digressive piston, which helps improve the vehicle’s handling both on and off-road.
Because this is a monotube shock, the heat is transferred quickly between the shock’s body and the oil while it is also promptly dissipated to avoid shock fading. You can easily make these shocks last for at least 100k miles, especially if you are not taking it onto a dirt road frequently and stick to the streets.
6. Rancho RS5000X Gas Shock Set
Fits 2WD & 4WD Vehicles
Increase Control and Performance
Compatible with 2001-2010 Silverado 2500 HD
These are the RS5000X gas shock absorbers from the brand Rancho. This set has four shocks in total, two each for the front and rear. These shocks are meant to be used on non-lifted or stock ride height vehicles.
They have a unique red and white color scheme and can fit both 2WD and 4WD vehicles. Anything you might need for installing these are included when you buy the set, such as bushings, nuts, washers, and even factory mounting bolts, which can be reused during installation.
And these shocks boast a valve system that has been patented by the brand and an advanced compression level. With these shocks on, you will notice a marked improvement when handling your truck both on the streets and off-road.
The way in which the gas is pressurized actually boosts the vehicle’s spring rate slightly. These shocks’ consistent flow of fuel allows them to minimize impact and vibrations from it for passengers.
Putting these shocks on your Silverado 2500hd can be a real game-changer as they do everything a good set of shock absorbers should do, which is to essentially make the vehicle more comfortable to drive around and ride in.
All that said, you may find it a bit tricky to install these by yourself, so if you are struggling too much, don’t give up. You can always search on the net for an appropriate tutorial or simply ask a mechanic friend to help you out.
7. ACDelco 525-66 Specialty Heavy Duty Front Shock Absorber
Longer Shock Life
Ensure Maximum Strength
Provides Exceptional Durability
Last but not least, we have the Specialty Heavy Duty shock absorber from ACDelco. This one is a front end shock absorber for Silverado 2500hd trucks. It is a bit on the expensive side for a single shock.
This has a sleek black metallic body that can fit in with any vehicle and is also simple enough to install, with minimal expertise required. Essentially, this shock gives you professional quality at a relatively lower price.
It has a larger body, which allows for more capacity to hold fluid and also ensures that it doesn’t get heated up. This shock’s high durability is thanks to its compression head and the piston made of bonded iron.
The piston’s bore is extra large at 1-⅝ inch, while the piston rod’s diameter measures at 9/16 inch. All of this contributes to the shock’s strength and stability. This shock absorber is also super resistant to any sort of damage or corrosion because of its arc welded end mounting and its chrome finish.
These features are what ultimately make this shock really durable for street driving and even for off-roading with your truck. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that this shock is only meant to be used with vehicles that are not lifted.
Before You Buy What to Look for Silverado 2500hd Shocks
When it comes to shopping for car parts, there are several things one needs to keep in mind, and buying shocks is no exception to that. Below are some features you should look for when buying shocks for your Chevy Silverado 2500hd.
Size
Before you buy a shock absorber, make sure it is the right size for your truck. This means checking to see if a shock is for lifted trucks or for stock height trucks.
While shocks are not terribly expensive, and you can even get quite affordable ones of great quality, they might still put a dent in your wallet if you accidentally buy the wrong size.
This is especially the case if you buy shocks in a set of 4 (2 pairs of shocks for the front and rear of your truck). If the retailer you have bought from has a no returns policy or if the purchase was non-refundable, then you have basically lost money and gained nothing in return besides shocks which you can’t use.
Installation Process
As you can probably tell from the reviews above, most shocks for the Chevy Silverado 2500hd are really simple and quick to install, even if you have very little experience working with cars. And even if you have zero mechanical expertise, you can easily look up a tutorial to see how it can be done for your specific vehicle.
However, there are some shock absorbers on the market, which can be a bit tricky when installing. So you should definitely do some research on the difficulty level of the installation process for a shock before purchasing it.
That way, you can have someone help you install it if needed, or you can rest easy knowing that you will be able to do it all by yourself.
Durability
Shock absorbers can be cheap, but not so cheap that you can afford to replace them every few months. A good set of shocks should last you at least 40,000 miles with street driving and less so with infrequent off-road driving.
However, the best way of finding out how long a shock or set of shocks will last is to check out reviews online on user forums and also on the retailer’s selling page. Even if someone leaves a positive review right after their purchase, most users often go back to update their experience after some time.
If a shock will not last you more than a few months, it is very likely that you will find out about it on a user’s review.
Compatibility
This area covers things like the size but also more specific things such as height and make compatibility. One obstacle when shopping for shock absorbers is that they need to be the perfect fit for your vehicle’s model.
You might find a shock that sounds good enough but then find out that it can’t be used on your vehicle but can be used with other models from the same brand as your truck.
Or worse, you may buy a set of shocks seeing that it is meant to be used with your truck’s brand but later find out you can’t actually install it in your own truck. This happens if the retailer you buy from has not properly listed the models with which the shocks can actually be used.
That is why it is very important to conduct your due research before committing to buying a shock or a set of shock absorbers.
Frequently Asked Questions (Silverado 2500hd Shocks)
Here we have the most commonly asked queries regarding the best shocks for Silverado 2500hd:
Q: How do I make my Silverado ride smoother?
Ans: If you want your Chevy Silverado to run smoother, you might want to look into replacing your shocks and struts. For the former, you can check out the Silverado 2500hd shocks review above to find a shock that will make your truck more stable.
Q: What shocks give the smoothest ride?
Ans: Bilstein and Monroe are two of the best brands of shocks. Both brands carry shocks of exceptional quality and durability, which absorb impact and vibration to give you rides that are comfortable and smooth.
Q: How long does shock last on Silverado 2500?
Ans: In general, a shock will last you at least 50,000 miles before needing to be replaced. But that also depends on what kind of road you drive on. If you drive on uneven terrain a lot, then your shocks will wear out much faster than if you are just driving on regular roads.
Q: Which brand of shock is the best for Silverado 2500?
Ans: Bilstein’s shocks are the best Silverado 2500hd shocks as they are able to support the heavyweight of the vehicle while also absorbing large amounts of shock both at the front and rear.
Q: What are the best riding shocks for trucks?
Ans: Again, Bilstein has to offer probably the best riding shocks for any truck, be it a Silverado 2500HD or something else. The brand’s shocks have great features overall and work with most trucks no matter their weight or make.
Q: What are the best shocks for lowered trucks?
Ans: It is very important to use shocks that are suitable for the height of the suspensions on your vehicle. Bilstein’s B8 Sport shock is a good option for lowered trucks.
Q: What are the best shocks for a Chevy Silverado?
Ans: The best Silverado 2500hd shocks overall would definitely be from the brand Bilstein due to their wide range of great quality front and rear shocks. They not only improve your driving and riding experience but are also quite durable.
Final Words
It’s pretty clear that all of the brands reviewed above carry great quality shocks, but Bilstein definitely wins out with a variety of both front and rear shocks and shock sets that can help your Chevy Silverado 2500HD endure huge amounts of impact.
So, for us, it’s one of the best shocks for Silverado 2500hd. Let us know your opinion in the comments.
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