What shocks would you recommend?

Before buying on Amazon, call a dealer and get the part number and cross reference.

 

Gonna recommend Gabriel Gas SLX as well. They recently got updated and are a very solid and affordable choice.

 

I drive 'em until they leak.

 

I like Monroes. Not too expensive about $55 each. If a shock is working just fine after driving it down the highway for a couple of hours it should be slightly warm to the touch from the friction of dampening. If it is cool it is not working and needs replacing. I replaced mine last summer. You can tell when you pull them off if they are any good. 2 were still good with about 400,000 miles on them but they got tossed anyway. If you push one in and it won't expand back out it's shot.

 

That's true for gas shocks but oil dampend shocks IIRC are easy to push in but you gotta really pull on them to get them to expand out. Or maybe its the other way around. Been about 6 years since I last touched truck shocks.

 

Monroe gas,

 

Monroe.
I bought 2 new trucks. Thay had Gabriel shocks. Probably the cheapest available. They needed to be replaced after 50k miles.
The Monroes would last about 250k . I just know they were yellow.
Also, I would buy Monroe shocks for the sleeper. The original shocks would be ineffective after 40k miles. The Monroes would do a good job for 100-150k miles.

 

Btw, I've met guys that have run a truck 500k and never changed the shocks.
Not only do good shocks provide a smooth ride, they help reduce tire wear and protect your truck from getting beaten.
Imo, good shocks are very important.
Of couse , I would buy them for the smooth ride alone.
I like a smoooooooooth ride .

 

I used OEM all around, seems OK after 200K on steers, 100K on drives. I'm due some new steers again, I'll replace the shocks with OEM and get Michelin tires w/3axle alignment. I don't like gas shocks, myself They're OK on compression, but kind of weak on rebound.

 

Suppose to do them around 50k miles