Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Life of Bilstein Shocks on Silverado Z71

Does anyone have a feel for the life expectancy of the OEM shocks that come with the 1500 Silverado with Z71 pkg.? Of the best replacement shock when they start to fail?

Thanks.

forepaw

Forepaw

Most of the recent years of Z-71 don't come with Bilstein shocks as a stock item. Bilstein will be yellow and Tenneco will be red; I personally prefer Bilstein.

Anyway, your best replacement is Bilstein, although a lot of folks like Rancho, because they are adjustable. Personally, I'd go for Bilstein.

Steve

Depends on the model year of the truck as to whether they are Tenneco or Bilstein. Red bodies would be Tenneco, yellow bodies would be Bilstein.

I have had both Bilsteins and Rancho RSX 9000Xs. They are both excellent. The Rancho has the advantage of being adjustable. They both last a long time on even a 3/4 ton truck. Life would be even better on a 1/2 ton.

OK thanks all. Mine is a 2000 with Bilsteins and 85K miles. It is not quite as solid and sure on the road as when new, still not bad but just wondering if there is any point where they are clearly needing to be replaced. Want to swap them out before it reaches that point.

forepaw

In my mind, if you can tell they are not as solid and secure as when they were new, it's time for new ones.

They'll keep working until they start leaking, and after that it's a quick demise.

I have Bilsteins on my 01 Tundra. 106K and counting with still a great ride.

RH

Replace them before its too late, I got lax and finally took the time to do it. Pulled the factorys off and they were shot, you could push/pull the old shocks in and out on 2 of the 4 with little resistance. Now I get to hear a couple of thumpy tires until time to replace them. What do they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure....

I have the Bilsteins on my 05 Tacoma and 95K and doing fine....on 98, I changed shocks every 30K.....Haven't tried the Rancho

My '99 Tacoma has 130K and the factory Bilsteins are holding up fine.

Bilsteins are hard to beat. KYB Monomax is an overlooked truck shock that is very good. They actually cost more than Bilsteins unless you get them on sale.