Depends how harsh you are with them. 100k miles they are probably pretty worn but let’s be real, most of the cars and trucks with over 100k miles are running original shocks and it’s not like they are bouncy balls.

IMO I would just roll with ACDelco. They are inexpensive and will give you the best ride compared to the silly generic replacements. Just make sure you get the right part number.

If you want the lift do the eibach kit which will run $500 ish and there’s lots of info about it.

 

Mine where toast at 50k.....

 

Unless you only drive on glass-smooth roads and never haul anything, your shocks were toast at 50,000 miles. Because they degrade slowly, you really don't notice how bad they get until you replace them. You'll be happy(er) with any replacement, but hey, treat yourself to something nice.

 

I just hit 40,000 and my original shocks. The front is beginning to feel softer, slightly more bouncy (depending on the road surface) 50,000 miles will most likely be the number for me. I was initially considering the Bilstein 5100’s, but from what I have read, would now consider the Eiback Pro-Truck Coil Over Stage 2 Suspension Kit.

 

Whatever happened to moving your truck up and down while parked and seeing how quickly it stops moving?

As to how long they last that would depend on their initial quality, which I have no knowledge of, but manufacturing processes are much better now than they were 30 years ago, so I wouldn't be surprised if they are still okay at 100,000 miles.

 

Whatever happened to moving your truck up and down while parked and seeing how quickly it stops moving?

Modern shocks and the way they're valved (as well as McPherson struts) don't work that way. That bounce test is completely unscientific, and was outdated 30 years ago.

As to how long they last that would depend on their initial quality, which I have no knowledge of, but manufacturing processes are much better now than they were 30 years ago, so I wouldn't be surprised if they are still okay at 100,000 miles.

I think we can agree that Icon makes a quality shock. In their installation instructions (page 5) they call for a 40,000 mile rebuild schedule for "street use", and a 15,000 mile rebuild schedule for "street/dirt use". There's a lot of heat and wear items in a shock. The fluid gets dirty and breaks down, the bushings and seals wear....Compare a new shock to one with 20,000 miles of use on a dynamometer, and you'll be shocked (ha ha) at how much they've degraded. I've gone to 10,000 mile intervals on fork fluid changes on my motorcycles because the fluid (good, quality synthetic) has broken down so much, and there's muck from the bushings and whatnot in there. The rear Ohlins (also not a junk shock) are night-and-day better at their 20,000 mile rebuilds.

 

Bilsteins will give you are harsher ride then stock, if you add heavier tires they will work fine. Otherwise I would go with a set of Rancho if a little off roading or AC/Delco shocks if mainly concrete

 

I like the ride Bilsteins give. That said, I've also used Monroe shocks on past trucks. Both would give a decent ride.

 

Hey Ductman,
I just hit 60,000 miles on my 2015. My truck carries a load of about 200lbs, most of the time. I recently, installed the Bilstein 5125 and like the ride. Upon checking my rear shocks, after they were removed, the drive rside shock was dead and the passenger side had a very slow rebound.

LBrr.

 

Bilstein shocks have always been known to provide a more controlled and smoother ride, especially compared to Rancho.

 

I haven't looked at shock replacement, and with almost 90K, I still do not think I need them. That said, I am mainly on road, never any serious 'off road' driving. Where is best place to look for shocks? Surely there is better than Autozone, etc. But maybe that is what makes the most sense.

Last time I replaced shocks on a vehicle I believe they were Steadyriders from that almost defunct place, Sears. Worked fine, but wouldn't trust Sears on anything today.

I assume the shocks are easy to replace, no special tools, not McPherson struts but traditional shocks? On the last two sets of shocks I remember replacing, I didn't even have to jack up the vehicle. Just crawled under and replaced. I think the fronts on the GMC Safari were a bit of a pain for the top mount, but I can't remember why or how I worked around the issue.

 

If your doing alot of towing,,i would def recommend a bilstien or better ,,will give you better towing stability.I put Fox 2.5 DSC on my truck and its like night and day,,having the adjusters makes for a cusshy ride when i want and turn them up for the offrroading. But defintily look at something better then the stock..You will not regret it.