Truck shock helps your vehicle to ride smoothly by controlling the suspension system. It is an advanced technology that adjusts your truck in any road condition. You can reduce the extra expense of replacing shocks if you do it yourself. Just buy a new shock when you notice your Chevy is not bumping smooth as it used to be.
A rear shock of Silverado gets the most pressure and whether you are a novice or not, keep reading this article to know the installation process of fully functioning rear shock.
Required Tools
- New rear shock
- Open-end wrenches
- Screwdriver
- Jack set of sockets
- Carrying stand
- Iron broom
- Hammer
- Pliers
- Clamps
- Floor jack
- Ratchet and extension
- PB blaster or liquid wrench
- The shock absorber or piston
Process to Replace Rear Shocks on Chevy Silverado
Step 1: Lift Your Truck
The first thing you need to do is park your car on a strong and flat surface; a garage would be best. Lift the rear axle of your truck with a floor jack and jack stand, remove the rear wheel to locate the shocks. The jack stand should be away from the coil spring. The shocks are positioned near the brake assembly affiliated with a horizontal bolt. Remove the spare tire. You will also see a rear shock holding the axle.
Step 2: Clean the Shock
The shock gets dirt and mud easily from the road, so the old shock will be gunky and aged. Clean the bolts and shock area with a wire brush to remove the grit. Spray some PB blaster so that the dirt will come off easily.
Step 3: Remove the Bolt
After cleaning the area, lift the lining from the truck to access the shock bolts using the lift kit. Hold the nut with a 21mm socket and a breaker bar and remove it. Remove the upper shock tower by twisting it with a socket and ratchet into the frame with a tool.
Step 4: Disconnect the Shock
Remove the upper shock retaining nuts and bolts with a socket wrench, then disengage the knuckle. If the threads are worn out, use new hardware. Now, slide the shock right out.
Step 5: Install the New Shock
Use a new shock for chevy 1500 that has an updated metal dust shield. The size should be the same as the old shock, like it also has the rubber grommet and spring. Take a new shock, line it up top and down, and pressure attach it to the place. Reinstall the bolt on both sides and move the axle up a bit if you feel difficulties.
Install the upper shock bolt with socket and ratchet, then tighten it. Do the same process in the lower shock mount. See the user manual and set the torque properly. Also, install the extended shock brackets.
Step 6: Lower the Vehicle
Low down your Chevy and test drive your truck to see if the new shock works properly.
How Much Does It Cost to replace shocks on a Chevy Silverado?
The rear shock replacement cost of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is affordable, and if you replace it yourself, you can save almost $220 to $280(labor cost).
The price of the shock absorber-front replacement is nearly $321, and the shock absorber – rear replacement is $354. However, you do not need to buy all parts like rubber or suspension wire if the old ones are still perfect. The nuts and bolts come into the shock kit, so you don’t need to buy them.
Should You Replace All 4 Shocks at The Same Time?
The condition of shock should inspect after every 50,000 miles to determine when you should change it. Always replace front and rear shocks in pairs to better handle and control power.
If one of them is worn out, the same condition may be all those three shocks as they work simultaneously. In chevy Silverado, the rear shock gets the most pressure, so you can change only the rear shock and leave the front shock for change later.
How to Replace Front Shocks on Chevy Silverado (GMC Sierra)
- Jack and jack stand
- Penetrating oil
- Breaker bar
- New shock or strut
- Torque wrench
- Various mm socket with a ratchet
- Long extension
Process
Rise your vehicle with a jack stand, then go to the underneath of your truck, and you will see the strut and three nuts holding it on the upper side. Pull off the wire clip with your hand from the shock. Then remove those nuts with an 18mm socket. Remove the front wheel, then spray penetration oil on the shock area.
Now, remove the nuts from the downside of the shock with an impact wrench. After that, remove the shock from the front and reinstall the new strut back in. lift it into place and reinstall the nuts and bolts.
How to Know When the Rear Shocks are Bad
Driving with worn shocks can cause a serious accident, so you should always be careful about the warning signs. You can easily notice the symptoms like,
- Your truck won’t move smoothly on the road
- You can not take a sharp turn
- Speed bump
- The front end moves unnecessarily
- The acceleration won’t be proper. When the rear end squat, the front end will rise.
- Tires will bounce or bump excessively. Also, it will make a clunking noise
- Hydraulic fluid leaks or tire wear.
How Long will a Rear Shock Last
It is hard to tell the exact validity of rear shock. Normally, you should check the rear shock after every 50,000 miles. Do not be late to repair the shock if you see any cracks or leakage, and when needed, replace the shock with a quality one.
Leave a Reply