Choosing Shocks for Your 2007-2014 Chevrolet 1500 Tahoe

icon Street

Daily Driver Shock
Recommendations

The following shocks give comfort and control on road for your every day driving needs

KYB - Excel-G

Daily Driver

$$$$

The Excel-G shock is KYB’s direct factory replacement shock (for most applications) to restore factory-like handling characteristics. KYB is an OEM supplier, and produces aftermarket parts with as much precision as factory parts, ensuring exact fit and restoration.

Pros

  • Budget level factory replacement shocks
  • Restores off-the-lot ride characteristics
  • Softest riding shock available for most applications

Cons

  • Lifespan is typical of factory shocks

Bilstein - 4600 Factory Replacement

Daily Driver, Off-Road

$$$$

One of the aftermarket ride control standards in shock absorbers, Bilstein has designed these shocks to improve handling and ride control, while maintaining relative comfort compared to a softer factory-like shock. Exceptionally long life and dependability, the Bilstein 4600 is not only great for the daily driver, but also capable of towing, hauling loads, and easy offroad trails.

Pros

  • Excellent factory upgrade for improved handling
  • Long lasting, very durable
  • Reduces nose dive and body roll
  • Capable for heavy duty use, easy 4x4 trails

Cons

  • Firmer than stock-like shocks
  • Higher tier shock, higher price
  • Yellow isn’t everyone’s favorite color

Rancho - RS5000x

Daily Driver, Off-Road

$$$$

Serving as an upgrade option on factory trucks, the Rancho RS5000X is a thick bored twin tube gas shock, meant to increase performance in a budget package. The thick body of this shock ensures that it can handle tough situations and loads without much problem, and the budget price means its accessible to a large application base.

Pros

  • Thick body, large oil volume, contributes to performance longevity
  • Reliable twin tube technology
  • Great price for a 2” gas shock
  • 90 Day Ride Guarantee by Rancho

Cons

  • Ride quality leaves something to be desired
  • Mass produced, shows in the details

KYB - Strut Plus

Daily Driver, Off-Road

$$$$

The KYB Strut Plus are an excellent factory equipment replacement, helping you restore your OE ride and handling. Built to mimic OEM parts, these completely assembled shock and spring units are easy to install, without the requirement of a coil spring compressor.

Pros

  • Easy install, no coil spring compressor required
  • Factory replacement for original ride quality
  • Vehicle specific fitment and tuning

Cons

  • Extremely limited for performance or heavier duty use
  • Will not increase ride or performance beyond OE whatsoever

Rancho - Quicklift Leveling Kits

Daily Driver, Tow/Haul

$$$$

The Rancho Quicklift achieves a front suspension refreshment along with a leveling kit, creating a single assembled unit with new shocks, springs, and top hats. To top it off, the front shocks are adjustable just like the RS9000XL, allowing firm or soft compression response.

Pros

  • Install ready out of the box
  • Optimal method to level your vehicle
  • Ride Comfort adjustability

Cons

  • Firmer ride over factory shocks and springs
  • Adjustment settings are imperceptible for some drivers
icon Camp Trailer

Hauling / Towing Shock
Recommendations

The following shocks give you the on-road stability and control necessary for hauling and towing loads

KYB - Monomax

Daily Driver, Tow/Haul

$$$$

The Monomax shock is KYB’s heavy duty shock absorber meant for workhorse trucks or offroad vehicles that see tough terrain. These shocks have increased compression and rebound damping to account for heavy loads, larger wheels & tires, or aggressive terrain.

Pros

  • Excellent heavy duty shock for the price
  • Increases handling and performance significantly
  • Monotube high gas pressure design, great longevity

Cons

  • Not a "smooth riding shock" - increases road feedback
  • Red may not match your vehicle well.

Bilstein - 5100 Series, 46mm Piston

Daily Driver, Off-Road

$$$$

One of the best selling shocks for the Truck, SUV, and Jeep market, the Bilstein 5100 excels at daily drivability mixed with off-road capability. Slightly firmer than the 4600 series, and firmer than a stock-like shock, these high-pressure gas shocks offer improved handling on lifted vehicles and improved response with larger wheels & tires.

Pros

  • Leveling-Kit ability for certain apps
  • Great off-road capable shock upgrade
  • Durable, long lasting
  • Improved handling on & off-road
  • Heavy Duty, Tow, Haul capable

Cons

  • Firmer than stock-like shocks
  • Performance Shock, higher price

Rancho - RS9000XL

Daily Driver, Off-Road

$$$$

The adjustable RS9000XL shock has been around for decades at this point, proving just how versatile and useful these shocks are to the truck and Jeep market. Being able to adjust the ride quality from soft to firm at will provides big benefits to drivers of heavy duty rigs, offroaders, and workhorse vehicles.

Pros

  • Control for soft or firm compression damping
  • Thick bodied, large oil volume
  • Excellent adjustable shock for the price
  • 90-day Ride Guarantee by Rancho

Cons

  • Knobs prone to breakage, we replace them for free
  • Adjustment settings are imperceptible for some drivers

Rancho - Quicklift Leveling Kits

Daily Driver, Tow/Haul

$$$$

The Rancho Quicklift achieves a front suspension refreshment along with a leveling kit, creating a single assembled unit with new shocks, springs, and top hats. To top it off, the front shocks are adjustable just like the RS9000XL, allowing firm or soft compression response.

Pros

  • Install ready out of the box
  • Optimal method to level your vehicle
  • Ride Comfort adjustability

Cons

  • Firmer ride over factory shocks and springs
  • Adjustment settings are imperceptible for some drivers
icon Off-Road

Off-Road Shock
Recommendations

The following shocks have the durability and longevity you need for tough terrain

Bilstein - 5100 Series, 46mm Piston

Daily Driver, Off-Road

$$$$

One of the best selling shocks for the Truck, SUV, and Jeep market, the Bilstein 5100 excels at daily drivability mixed with off-road capability. Slightly firmer than the 4600 series, and firmer than a stock-like shock, these high-pressure gas shocks offer improved handling on lifted vehicles and improved response with larger wheels & tires.

Pros

  • Leveling-Kit ability for certain apps
  • Great off-road capable shock upgrade
  • Durable, long lasting
  • Improved handling on & off-road
  • Heavy Duty, Tow, Haul capable

Cons

  • Firmer than stock-like shocks
  • Performance Shock, higher price

Rancho - RS9000XL

Daily Driver, Off-Road

$$$$

The adjustable RS9000XL shock has been around for decades at this point, proving just how versatile and useful these shocks are to the truck and Jeep market. Being able to adjust the ride quality from soft to firm at will provides big benefits to drivers of heavy duty rigs, offroaders, and workhorse vehicles.

Pros

  • Control for soft or firm compression damping
  • Thick bodied, large oil volume
  • Excellent adjustable shock for the price
  • 90-day Ride Guarantee by Rancho

Cons

  • Knobs prone to breakage, we replace them for free
  • Adjustment settings are imperceptible for some drivers

FOX - 2.0 Performance IFP

Daily Driver, Off-Road

$$$$

The Fox 2.0 IFP high performance shocks are for a go-fast attitude offroad, providing significant handling improvement on & off-road over typical street-shocks. These shocks excel in aggressive terrain and the dirt, and are a great performance upgrade over factory or Bilstein.

Pros

  • Coilovers provide Leveling-kit ability
  • Excellent High Performance entry level shock
  • Handles hard hits well
  • Improves handling and traction in all terrains
  • Rebuildable / Serviceable

Cons

  • Higher price point compared to similar offerings
  • Requires servicing for optimal performance
  • Firmer than factory and other factory-like upgrades

FOX - 2.5 Factory Series

Off-Road, Tow/Haul

$$$$

Stepping up to the Fox 2.5 Factory Race series shocks brings significant improvements in both comfort and ride control. The increased size of the 2.5” shock offers increased shock oil, lower operating pressures, and allows high speed driving on aggressive terrain while maintaining great control of the vehicle through race-level tuning.

Pros

  • Huge improvement to road comfort and off-road handling in one package
  • Adjustable & Reservoir options
  • Serviceable, Rebuildable, Custom Tuning Available
  • Excellent handling in high speed environments

Cons

  • Requires servicing between 30-50k miles for optimum performance