Front shock recommendation for 2500 suburban

[Fryer5]

So at 100k miles my 2008 2500 suburban needs shocks. My front tires exhibit cupping and I will be replacing the tires soon. As I have read up it seems the front shocks are the most likely culprit, but not the only one I know. I will also be getting a front end alignment when I get the new tires. So with that lead in, what do you experts on towing recommend for shocks. I am a big fan of OEM ac Delco parts and would normally just go with them, but I k ow there are some different shock designs out there and wouldn’t mind a better ride if the price isn’t too much more. I will be installing these myself,
I tow probably around 5000 miles a year and put about 20k no -towing miles on a year. This is the family hauler.

[Planning]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

GeoBoy wrote:
Buy Bilstein 4600’s, great shocks and that blue and yellow looks nice.

I have the yellow and blue on my 15 DRW fronts. To do it again I would get the 5100's as they are designed for stock to 2" lift and are the same shock. 5100's are black and silver, MUCH better looking IMHO.

I had the 5100's on a 2012 F350; I went with the 4600's on the 2016 F350 as an experiment. The 5100's rusted much more quickly than the 4600's. (Same performance; as you mentioned they are the same shock except for being designed for lifted trucks.)

I am running a triple 5100 series steering dampener on the front, and I have found that wiping them down once a year with Fluid Film has thus far prevented any rust formation.

[DustyR]

anw7405 wrote:
I have the 2005 2500 suburban. It had the autoride that i didn't want so I deleted the autoride to put on monroe magnums all the way around. It rides like a car now. What i don't like is how much it bounces after a dip in the road. It will bounce 2-3 times before evening out. I really don't like it when pulling the TT. I'll keep these on for a little while but I really wish I would have just spent the money and got the bilstein 4600's.

X-2

That is exactly what I experienced after going with brand G-----l. changed over to Bilsteins 4600's and problem solved.

[cummins2014]

Ralph Cramden wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Some simply won’t spend the $$$ for a QUALITY product.

And some simply consider what they have purchased themselves to be that quality product, and everything else a POS, especially so on these boards.

And especially so that member

[Dadoffourgirls]

BenK wrote:
IMHO...all four shocks should be replaced at the same time and with the same OEM & Model

You never rode in a 1 ton Chevy Express.

[BenK]

IMHO...all four shocks should be replaced at the same time and with the same OEM & Model

[anw7405]

I have the 2005 2500 suburban. It had the autoride that i didn't want so I deleted the autoride to put on monroe magnums all the way around. It rides like a car now. What i don't like is how much it bounces after a dip in the road. It will bounce 2-3 times before evening out. I really don't like it when pulling the TT. I'll keep these on for a little while but I really wish I would have just spent the money and got the bilstein 4600's.

[APT]

I always thought the OEM shocks on my 2011 Suburban 2500 were under-damped. I replaced them with Bilstein 4600s at 50k miles. This greatly helped while keeping a comfortably ride unloaded. We have 111k miles now and the shocks are still performing very close to when first installed. I have no complaints.

I believe they are a premium shock. I do believe cheaper options could be as good. What measure is used by those who say brand XXX is overpriced?

[time2roll]

+1 for KYB. Gas-a-just or Monomax. And I have Bilsteins.

[Fryer5]

Well after checking the ball joints, tie rods and shocks thourghly they are all tight and damping “rebound” well. Maybe it is the cheap tires that are on there from when I bought it (almost 50k miles ago) and the fact that I am bad about rotating tires. The tires are Goodyear wrangler trailmark and I am sure they are the cheapest that pep boys sell, as I insisted the front tires be replaced prior to purchase. I am planning on replacing them now and noticed what I thought was cupping/uneven tread wear. To be honest I didn’t expect to get this long out of them. I have a big trip planned for this winter and am trying to catch up on some maintance prior to old man winter arriving here in southern Wisconsin. I know tires is a subject beat to death here and I won’t go down that road in this thread.

Thank you all for the responses and feedback/ideas, I appreciate them.

The Fryers

Ps I may still do shocks...

[Cummins12V98]

Latner wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

GeoBoy wrote:
Buy Bilstein 4600’s, great shocks and that blue and yellow looks nice.

I do have the yellow n blue on my 15 DRW fronts. To do it again I would get the 5100's as they are designed for stock to 2" lift and are the same shock. 5100's are black and silver, MUCH better looking IMHO.

Just put 5100's on my stock, silver 2012 2500Hd...look nicer than the yellow/blue. What was shocking is the fact that the truck only has 30k and the original shocks were easily compressed and had no rebound at all.

I replaced the Brazilian made shocks on my 11 RAM DRW at a very low mileage. They were shot and one was leaking, easily compressed and retracted by hand.

The shocks on my 15 RAM DRW are Nitrogen US Made. Probably did not need to replace but the Bilstein's did control aftershock a bit better. Bilstein does not make a rear shock for the 3500's with factory rear air ride. If they did I would not replace them as the OE are doing well.

[ib516]

SidecarFlip wrote:
I'd be checking the upper and lower ball joints and shocks. Cupping tires are usually a sign of worn ball joints, not shocks so much.

x2....or tie rod ends

[Wishin]

I put Bilstein 4600's on my previous tow vehicle, my 1996 Buick Roadmaster Wagon. I installed them at 90k miles when I bought it and they are still on there working great 12+ years and with 231k miles on it. Based on how well those were holding up I put them on my Suburban when I bought it, a 2003 2500 with the 8.1L, and 5 years and 35-40k miles later, I am still very happy with them. They perform well and last longer than any shock I've owned previously so to me they are worth the price.

[Latner]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

GeoBoy wrote:
Buy Bilstein 4600’s, great shocks and that blue and yellow looks nice.

I do have the yellow n blue on my 15 DRW fronts. To do it again I would get the 5100's as they are designed for stock to 2" lift and are the same shock. 5100's are black and silver, MUCH better looking IMHO.

Just put 5100's on my stock, silver 2012 2500Hd...look nicer than the yellow/blue. What was shocking is the fact that the truck only has 30k and the original shocks were easily compressed and had no rebound at all.

[Hank85713]

Shocks need to be replaced periodically, they claim by 50K anyhow. BUT why ONLY the fronts? The rears also need attention as well. If not doing the rears, why? Replace all 4 to ensure they are going to be able to keep up with your travels and do the job they were designed to do at all 4 corners.