Advice for new shock absorber

ferrif97 · June 21, 2020

Hi everyone,

I need an advice regarding a new shock absorber, for my '08 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4wd 6.0

Now it's fully stock.

I want a more comfortable ride than now (with full stock suspension it's so much stiff).

Principally, I do city driving, and sometimes in the weekend I go in the desert.

But I'm not sure if I can get some benefit for the comfort from only the shocks, because it has torsion bars.

Thanks in advance

davester · June 21, 2020

There's nothing wrong with torsion bars.... I got Rancho RS9000 shocks for my truck, and I like how they work. They are adjustable, so I could try the different settings to see what I liked, rather than just hope the new shock feels ok and if not your stuck with them.

MORSNO · June 21, 2020

I installed Bilstein 4600's last fall, I wish I would have upgraded years ago due to the improved ride and also control while carrying my 3,000+lb truck camper. I have pretty much the same truck as you.

r1byker · June 21, 2020

I installed Bilstein 5100's a few years ago and it made a huge difference in ride control. I highly recommend something different than the stock shocks, which were very underdamped.

ferrif97 · June 22, 2020

22 hours ago, davester said:

There's nothing wrong with torsion bars...

I didn't said, there is something wrong with torsion bars. But I'm italian and this is the first vehicle ever, I seen with torsion bars. So I'm not expert about it

16 hours ago, MORSNO said:

I installed Bilstein 4600's last fall, I wish I would have upgraded years ago due to the improved ride and also control while carrying my 3,000+lb truck camper. I have pretty much the same truck as you.

Good, but like you said, you have a camper on the truck, so it's heavier than original. Once I loaded more than 500kg (1100lbs for the my american friends ) and he was so much smoth, like my lexus lx570 with hydraulic susp.

12 hours ago, r1byker said:

I installed Bilstein 5100's a few years ago and it made a huge difference in ride control. I highly recommend something different than the stock shocks, which were very underdamped.

Thanks to all for the advices, now the question is Rancho RS5000X (https://www.amazon.com/Rancho-Shock-2001-2010-Chevrolet-Silverado/dp/B01LW94E48/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8) or Bilstein 4600 (https://www.amazon.com/Bilstein-Absorbers-Silverado-Sierra-2001-2010/dp/B00NI7SVYY)

MORSNO · June 23, 2020

Do not get the Rancho 5,000's, they are known to rust out and are pretty short lived for most people. The RS 9000 is nice that it can be adjusted as needed as long as you keep the valve well lubed if you live where winter can rust them.

The Bilstein 4600 or 5100 are basically the same shock, 4600 for stock height, 5100 for lifted trucks and different housing coating.

Colossus · June 24, 2020

I upgraded to the Bilstein 4600 as well at 180,000 miles. Decent upgrade. By 100,000 miles most shocks are toast. We just don't notice it too well because we are accustomed to it