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.

[Cummins12V98]

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.

[DustyR]

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.

I got over 150,000 on the factory shocks towing with the vehicle in my sig. I replaced with a brand available at all the big box stores and within 10,000 was have the same old yo-yo ride on the interstate.

I replaced the front shocks with Bilstein 4600’s and bliss was restored. I sell parts at one of the big box stores and have sold the same shocks that were not good on my vehicle without complaint. With that being said the shocks on the rear of my vehicle are doing fine, the same brand as the ones that were unsatisfactory on the front---go figure.

[Ralph_Cramden]

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.

[GeoBoy]

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

[Fryer5]

So i will check the tie rods and ball joints and plan on replacing all worn parts. And for shocks I will probably go with one of the big companies and not ac delco. Most likely bilestin. I don’t mind spending money for quality parts, I hate spending money for junk parts. I would rather do it then nice rightthan 3 times using sub-par parts. That is the reason I asked.

[rhagfo]

SidecarFlip wrote:
So tell me, what is a 'lifetime warranty'? Lifetime is a subjective term. Tire cupping is more a result of worn ball joints and tie rod ends than shocks anyway.

I use the 'bounce' test myself. If you compress a shock by pushing down on a corner of a vehicle and the rebound is more than one 'bounce', it's shock time. Especially with coil springs that have no static damping at all, unlike leaf springs.

My shock test hitting bad bridge transitions, more that one bounce time to replace.

[Cummins12V98]

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

[Grit_dog]

And we're off!

[Lwiddis]

Expected lifetime of the product, sidecar. Unfortunately not our lifetimes. Can be miles or time.

[SidecarFlip]

So tell me, what is a 'lifetime warranty'? Lifetime is a subjective term. Tire cupping is more a result of worn ball joints and tie rod ends than shocks anyway.

I use the 'bounce' test myself. If you compress a shock by pushing down on a corner of a vehicle and the rebound is more than one 'bounce', it's shock time. Especially with coil springs that have no static damping at all, unlike leaf springs.

[rhagfo]

SidecarFlip wrote:
Billstein's are overpriced. I don't pay for anyone's name.

Lifetime warranty, one poster replaces shocks every 50k, Bil’s will be replaced if they fail or not up to spec.

[SidecarFlip]

Billstein's are overpriced. I don't pay for anyone's name.

[SidecarFlip]

I'd be checking the upper and lower ball joints and shocks. I own a 2500 LT Suburban 4x4 and I run Koni's and change them every 50K miles. Cupping tires are usually a sign of worn ball joints, not shocks so much.

[Cummins12V98]

^^^^^ YUP, for good reason! Get the 4600 Bilstein's, you WILL be happy!

BTW your shocks were worn out MANY miles ago!

[Dave_H_M]

look out, I understand the Bilstein gang is dancing around the totem pole at this very moment. :W