Best Shock Absorbers for Your Car -Top Picks & Complete Guide

Best Shock Absorbers for Your Car - Complete Buying Guide

Did you ever wonder what makes a car ride smoother on the bumpiest of roads? If not, then the answer to your query is the shock absorber. Also known as the damper or strut, it is, indeed, one of the engineering prodigies in the modern automobile. Here we will talk about the best shock absorbers available in the market and its pros and cons.

Shock absorbers are a kind of mechanical or hydraulic device that, as the name implies, absorbs or damps shock impulses. It does so by turning them into another form of energy, especially heat. The best shocks are must for smoother rides with better control for any modern-day automobile. The importance of good quality struts is growing in the global market. According to expert research study, within the next five years the Shock Absorber market will record a revenue of 2.7% CAGR, the global market size will reach at US$ 18600 million by 2024, from US$ 15800 million in 2019.

Just so you know, shocks and struts are just as important as any other part of any automobile. However, a good number of people barely think about their importance and ignore them. This often results in horrendous riding experience and even broken car parts due to poor protection from the shocks a vehicle receives while driving. An excellent shock absorber can be one of the vital determinants for the lifetime of your car. Therefore, it's compulsory to choose a good shock absorber for your beloved automobile and also need to know the symptoms of bad shocks. 

However, when you need to choose the best shock absorbers for your vehicle, many questions may come to your mind like –

Question Comes in Mind

● Which ones are the best shock absorbers available in the market right now? How to choose the best shock absorber that meets your needs?

● Where to buy the best shock?

● How to install shock absorbers?

● Which ones will survive long, and which ones will not?

● How to make sure that the shock absorbers last long?

Now, with too many options available to choose from in the market, it's often a task of great difficulty to choose the best shock absorber for you, and upon that, if you are new to this, it's even more difficult. Without proper knowledge on what you're going to buy may also cause you to spend in vain ending up with the worst shock absorber available on the face of the planet earth. Well, I don't have any intention to scare you, but it's the harsh reality, and people have gone through horrible experiences for choosing bad shock absorbers.

However, you need not worry because we have come with a solution. Here is a detailed walkthrough on the best shock absorbers available in the market, how to find the best shock absorber for you, and how to install shock absorbers. Read the shock absorbers review attentively, and it will surely help you to make wiser decisions for buying the car shocks that will serve you right.

Best Shock Absorbers Available in the Market

1. Monroe 58620 Load Adjust Shock Absorber

Monroe is undoubtedly one of the best shock absorber brands available in the market right now. And their Monroe 58620 Monroe Load Adjust Shock Absorber can be considered as a piece of engineering art. Like other Monroe shocks, it can easily handle even the bumpiest of terrains, ensuring a comfortable and improved riding experience.

Since its launch, it has achieved great appreciation from a growing number of consumers as well as the experts.

Here is a preview on the Monroe 58620 Monroe Load Adjust Shock Absorber including the vital aspects you may take under consideration:

Features:

● Contains all Weather Fluid, a crucial element that helps reducing friction to ensure smooth shock absorption.

● Includes auto-adjusting valves. The valve mechanism is tuned to adjust its displacement specifically for each application, ensuring consistency and smoother riding experience.

● Contains heavy-gauge calibrated spring ensuring better control. Includes improved dust shield technology

● Comes with FBP or Fluon Banded Piston. The Fluon band ensures proper sealing between the piston and the pressure tube. This factor alone greatly improves control and ensures the durability of the shocks as well as your vehicle.

Final thoughts:

If you’re looking for a long-lasting solution costing no extra bucks for your light truck or tow trailer that carries varying loads, the Monroe 58620 Monroe Load Adjust Shock Absorber could just be the ideal choice for you.

2. Gabriel 43180 Rear Spring Load Carrier Shocks

Have you always wanted a smoother life? If yes, then why deprive your car? Get your automotive the smoothness it deserves with the new Gabriel 43180. This engineering marvel can turn your everyday bumps feel smooth like never before ensuring improved riding experience with better control. So, why bother sticking with those old bumpy rides as if life wasn’t bumpy enough when you know that you deserve better? Upgrade to Gabriel 43180, smoothen your life.

Features:

● Combined shock and spring mechanism for smoother rides

● Constant-rate front coil springs for stable height maintenance

● Variable-rate rear coil springs ensuring an increased load capacity of up to 500 lbs. per pair.

● Leak-proof piston seal for extended life

● Chromed piston rod for better corrosion prevention

● D.O.M tubing for reduced internal wear ensuring extended product life

• Rear: Cadillac: 1999 - 00 Escalade, Chevrolet: 1992 - 98 Blazer, 1992 - 99 C1500 Suburban, 1992 - 99 C2500 Suburban, 1996 - 14 Express 1500, 1996 - 02 Express 2500, 1996 - 02 Express 3500

• Rear: Chevrolet: 1992 - 99 K1500 Suburban, 1992 - 99 K2500 Suburban, 95 - 00 Tahoe; GMC: 1992 - 99 C1500 Suburban, 1992 - 99 C2500 Suburban, 1992 - 99 K1500 Suburban, 1992 - 99 K2500 Suburban

• Rear: GMC: 1996 - 14 Savana 1500, 1996 - 02 Savana 2500, 1996 - 02 Savana 3500, 1992 - 99 Yukon

Final thoughts:

3. Monroe 58637 Load Adjust Shock Absorber

Just like its antecedents from Monroe shock absorbers, the Monroe 58637 Monroe Load Adjust Shock Absorber is another engineering marvel. With the sole purpose of providing an economical solution to your everyday bumpy rides, it has almost identical specs like the Monroe58620, except it’s cheaper.

If you have small budget and want the best you can get for your automobile, the Monroe 58637 Monroe Load Adjust Shock Absorber is an excellent choice for you.

Features:

●Includes all Weather Fluid that helps to reduce friction to ensure improved road reaction.

● Brings with FBP or Fluon Banded Piston that ensures proper sealing between the piston and the pressure tube, promising greatly improved control and elongated durability of the shocks as well as your vehicle.

● Contains auto-adjusting valves. This mechanism ensures consistency and smoother riding experience due to being tuned to adjust its displacement specifically for each road type.

● Includes improved dust shield technology.

Final thoughts:

If you're searching for the best shock under 100 bucks for long-lasting, heavy-duty usage, the Monroe 58637 Monroe Load Adjust Shock Absorber could be the best choice for you.

Manufactured by one of the best shock absorber brands, Bilstein, the new Bilstein (24-186025) 5100 Series Shock Absorber is an absolute beast under your budget. With the sole purpose of providing quality performance, costing no extra bucks, it has been a trendy choice among its consumers.

As mentioned before, shock absorbers damp shock impulses by transforming them into heat and other types of energies. However, sometimes due to excessive heat being produced, your average shocks may get deformed as they are mainly made out of metals and metals deform depending on the heat. This is often ignored but is, indeed, a vital determinant for your shock’s lifetime. A shock absorber with improved heat dissipation is most likely to last longer than a shock absorber with poor heat dissipation.

And when it comes to improved heat dissipation, the new Bilstein (24-186025) 5100 Series Shock Absorber could just be the best economical and simple solution you can find in the market with a monotube design for better cooling and super easy installation.

Features:

● Monotube design.

● Improved heat dissipation ensuring better cooling.

● Zinc plated finish ensuring improved rust protection.

● Auto-adjusting disc valving for improved rod reaction.

● Gas-charged suspension.

● High-flow piston mechanism for better compression tuning.

Final thoughts:

If you’re in search of a reliable as well as inexpensive shock that will last, the new Bilstein (24-186025) 5100 Series Shock Absorber could be your automobile’s best buddy for years.

You already know about Monroe and its excellent shock absorbers like the 5820 and the 58637. However, the list just doesn’t stop there. The Monroe 58653 Monroe Load Adjust Shock Absorber is just another marvelous addition to its predecessors with a brilliant design that promises long time heavy-duty usage.

When it comes to Monroe, it’s all about better quality with long-lasting and smoother riding experience. And the new Monroe 58653 Monroe Load Adjust Shock Absorber does not disappoint at all.

Here is a preview on the Monroe 58653 Monroe Load Adjust Shock Absorber including the vital aspects you should take under consideration:

Features:

● All-Weather Fluid for improved friction reduction, ensuring smooth rod reaction.

● Self-adjusting valves tuned to adjust and maintain height for each specific road type for consistent and smoother riding experience.

● Heavy-gauge calibrated spring mechanism for better control.

● FBP or Fluon Banded Piston that ensures proper sealing between the piston and the pressure tube for elongated durability and control.

● Dust shield technology.

● Rust protection for improved corrosion prevention.

Final thoughts:

The Monroe 58653 Monroe Load Adjust Shock Absorber is an ideal long-lasting solution costing no extra bucks for your light truck or tow trailer that carries varying loads.

6. Bilstein (24-186643) 5100 Shock Absorber

Just like its forerunners, the Bilstein (24-186025), the Bilstein (24-186643) 5100 Series Shock Absorber is another genius yet inexpensive addition to the Bilstein shock absorbers family.

With a similar simple monotube design like its predecessor, the Bilstein (24-186643) 5100 Series Shock Absorber ensures better cooling with improved leakage protection.

Just so you know, leakage is a vital obstacle that affects the overall performance and lifetime of your shock absorbers. But the shock absorbers preventing leakage protection available in the market are often costlier and may just not cut under your budget. But fortunately, the Bilstein (24-186643) 5100 Series Shock Absorber has got your back pricing just under 80 bucks with improved leakage protection.

Features:

● Includes monotube design for better cooling.

● Washers and bushings for improved leakage protection.

●  Piston includes Velocity-sensitive mechanism. Gas-charged suspension.

● Digressive piston mechanism for improved reaction to variable road conditions.

● Contains Zinc plated finish that promises improved rust protection.

●  Improved rod reaction due to Auto-adjusting disc valving .

Final thoughts:

The Bilstein (24-186643) 5100 Series Shock Absorber is an inexpensive and direct-fit solution for your lifted trucks and SUVs with its improved cooling and leakage protection.

7. Monroe 58640 Load Adjusting Shock Absorber

If you have followed this far, you already know about Monroe shock absorbers. With self-adjusting valving and improved corrosion control, these shocks are one of the champions in their game. And the new Monroe 58640 Load Adjusting Shock Absorber is no exception at all.

Just like its precursors, the Monroe 58640 Load Adjusting Shock Absorber ensures quality with the performance that goes on and on for years of heavy-duty usage. Specifically ideal for your tow trucks, these shocks can maintain smooth rod reaction for loads even up to 1,100 lbs.

Here are the topics you should take under consideration:

Features:

● Ensures All-weather fluid to reduce friction and  smooth rod reaction.

● Full-displaced valve mechanism that adapts to each specific road condition ensuring comfort with consistency.

● Piston with Fluon banded and long-lasting sealing with the pressure tube ensuring better control and leakage protection.

● Nitro-carburized rod for improved corrosion prevention that promises long service life.

● Nitrogen gas-charged design for improved handling and ride that helps to maintain tire-to-road contact by aeration reduction.

● Self-lubricating fluid seal mechanism for retaining gas as well as excessive wear and friction prevention.

Final thoughts:

The new Monroe 58640 Load Adjusting Shock Absorber could just be the ideal choice for you for a long-lasting solution costing no extra bucks for your light truck or tow trailer that carries varying loads, .

8. Bilstein (24-185783) 5100 Shock Absorber

If you have read this far, I bet that you know who to call when you need an amazing shock absorber without expensive monstrosity – it's Bilstein and their genius shock absorbers.

For years, Bilstein has been turned into a brand of reliability under budget with its simple monotube shock absorbers that handle heat dissipation like none other. Their quality and inexpensiveness have given them the spot of peoples’ favorite for years after years, and the new Bilstein (24-185783) 5100 Series Shock Absorber does not disappoint at all.

Well, a similar monotube design for cooling and zinc plated rust protection that comes under 80 bucks, the Bilstein (24-185783) 5100 Series Shock Absorber is another Bilstein beast like its antecedents.

Features:

● Built in Monotube design for the sole purpose of better cooling.

● Impressive heat dissipation ensures elongated product service life preventing heat-produced mechanical distortion.

● Adjusts to variable road requirements for Velocity-sensitive piston mechanism.

● Super Zinc plated finish that ensures improved rust protection.

● Quality Gas-charged suspension for consistency and comfort.

● High-flow piston that ensures compression tuning.

Final thoughts:

9. Monroe 58648 Load Adjusting Shocks

Everyone wants better things for their life. But what is better may not always come inexpensively. We all know that, and yet we work for the better. And just like you, your automobile also deserves better shock absorbers, and if you prefer your car to expense and have what it takes to do the best for your automobile, you should take a look at the new Monroe 58648 Load Adjusting Shock Absorber.

These engineering beauties are also from the same manufacturer that blessed our automobiles with genius shock absorbers like the Monroe 58653 and the Monroe 58620.
These come at slightly over 100 bucks but delivers performance and quality over any other contemporary shock absorbers available in the market.

When it comes to Monroe, it’s about quality and performance merged for a more extended period of product service life, and the Monroe 58648 Load Adjusting Shock Absorber is, undoubtedly, no exception to that legacy.

Features:

● Improved friction reduction, ensuring smooth rod reaction for all-weather fluid that ensures Auto-adjusting valves tuned to adjust and maintain height for each specific road type for consistent and smoother riding experience.

● Heavy-gauge calibrated spring mechanism for better control.

● Ensures proper sealing between the piston and the pressure tube for elongated durability and control FBP or Fluon Banded Piston.

● Nitro-carburized promising improved corrosion prevention that promises long service life.

● Nitrogen gas-charged design that ensures improved ride and handling, which is a reliable method for maintaining tire-to-road contact by aeration reduction.

● Improved Dust shield technology.

Final thoughts:

The Monroe 586548 Monroe Load Adjust Shock Absorber is undoubtedly one of the best and long-lasting solutions for your light truck or tow trailer that carries varying loads.

10. Bilstein (24-186742) 5100 Rear Shock Absorber

Last but never the least, we have another significant piece of engineering genius from Bilstein, the Bilstein (24-186742) 5100 Series Rear Shock Absorber.

Cutting well below 80 bucks, the new Bilstein (24-186742) 5100 Series Rear Shock Absorber is an ideal choice if you're running a little low on budget and looking for a pair of quality shock absorbers with great long-time performance.

Judging by their quality as well as service over the years, there is no other competitor for the Bilstein (24-186742) 5100 Series Rear Shock Absorber at this price range.

Features:

● Superior single-tube design built for better heat management.

● Super heat dissipation that ensuring product service life preventing heat-produced mechanical deformation.

● Velocity-controlled piston that adjusts to variable road requirements.

● Zinc coated finish that ensures improved rust protection.

● Self-adjusting disc valving for improved rod reaction.

● Gas-filled suspension for better control and comfort.

Final thoughts:

The Bilstein (24-186742) 5100 Series Rear Shock Absorberis an ideal inexpensive solution for your lifted trucks and SUVs with its improved cooling and leakage protection.

If you have followed this article this far, you already know the best options available in the market right now. This gives you a significant advantage to choose the best shock absorber for car. But the most important question you should be asking yourself is -
“Which one is the best shock absorbers for me?”

Is it the one that costs the most? Or is it the one that has better cooling or leakage protection? Well, there is no stopping to these questions, but it can be resolved by considering a few vital determinants such as –

The type of your vehicle

You see, the same shock absorber can be the best match for you while being the worst choice for someone else. It depends on your conditions and requirements. For example, suppose you have a tow truck, and you buy the best shock absorber for an SUV. This may not end up serving you well as a tow truck has a different carrying load than an SUV, hence needs a shock absorber specifically made for such operations. So, the best shock absorber for an SUV may just not be the best shock absorber for your tow truck or farming vehicle or your everyday car. It varies depending on the vehicle type.

Again, if you have a decent budget, you don't have to worry much about the price of a top-notch shock absorber, but if you're running a little bit low, it’s better to find the best in your budget for immediate requirements.

Your region

Your region is another important factor as some of these shocks may not be available in your region. So, you may have to either order online or take similar steps.

Load specification.

Your carrying load is perhaps, the second most important factor for choosing a shock absorber. You see, some shock absorbers can handle many loads up to 1100 lbs. Where others may not. You must be sure about your load specification when choosing one for your vehicle.

It’s a very common occurrence where shock absorbers get damaged due to excessive load carrying that surpasses the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). So first, you should know the GVWR standard for your specific type of vehicle, whether it's a tow truck or an SUV, and then lookout for a shock absorber that can tolerate this much weight applied on top of it.

This will not only help you to choose the best shock absorber for you but also keep them serving for a more extended period. Because a light-tolerance shock absorber will last less if it is applied to do the job of a heavy-tolerance shock absorber.
Therefore, make your decisions with all of these parameters above well-considered. And only then, you are ready to choose the best shock absorber for your vehicle. The key to remember is that what is best for someone else may not be the best for you and vice versa.

How to Replace and Install Best Shock Absorbers

Replacement and installation of shock absorbers are just as important as choosing the best shock absorber for your vehicle. It is very much possible that you buy the most expensive and the best shock absorber ever produced on this planet, but unfortunately, your installation was just as bad as it can get. It will immediately or in time damage your shock absorbers providing poor or tragic performance and could even cause fatal road accidents.

Therefore, pay close attention while replacing and installing shock absorbers for your vehicles. For newbies, it, perhaps, is a task of difficulty as well as confusion; hence it's wiser to consult local experts or vehicle-repairing shops in the beginning.
However, if you want to learn how to do it yourself, do not worry because we are here to help. Here is a step by step walkthrough on how to replace and install shock absorbers for your vehicle

⮚ Step#1: Do I need new shock absorbers?

New shock absorbers do not only cost extra money but also require you to temper with the default system, and sometimes, improper installation turns out to be risky. So, first, ask yourself why you need new shock absorbers. These questions may help-

Are the old ones damaged?

Do you just need a better upgrade?

Damaged or worn-out shock absorbers must be replaced. There is no denying that. A good way to know if your shocks are damaged is to push down hard directly on the wheels and let it settle. If your shock absorbers are not damaged, it'll bounce up, forcing the car or vehicle to stabilize its height quickly. A damaged one, however, will show poor or weak deflection, hence, ensuring whether or not your shock absorbers are damaged.

You can also replace our old shock absorbers with new updated ones. The new ones offer new and improved features, but it’s up to you if you want to spend some extra bucks for those upgrades.
Therefore, if your shocks are working just fine and they are not so backdated, they do not require to be replaced, so think wisely before changing your shock absorbers.

⮚ Step#2: Jack your automobile in a proper location

Now that you are sure that you need a new pair of shock absorbers and you have also chosen the best ones for you, it is time to get your hands dirty.

First, park your vehicle on a plain surface and then using a wrench loosen the lug nuts on both sides of your automobile. Stabilize your car using a decent jack stand. Then carefully, remove the wheels and locate the existing shocks. These shocks are fixed with a vertical bolt extracted from the trunk. They are quite easy to notice for their coiled spring around a rod structure. Take help from experts if needed.

⮚ Step#3:Spray the shock mountings with a metal cleaner

If your shock absorbers are old or rusty or deformed or damaged, it is very likely to get stuck due to the shock mountings getting stuck because of the rust or the deformation. This makes removing old shocks very difficult. So check if the shock mountings are loose enough. If they are, then you are good to go to the next step. Otherwise, try spraying metal cleaner on the shock mountings and let it sit for a few minutes. WD-40 and PB Blaster are two widely used options in this kind of operation.

Repeat this step until the shock mountings are loose enough for easy removal.

⮚ Step#4. Remove the shock-tower bolts

Check if your car has the top bolts under the fabric in the trunk. If so, then you will need to lift up the lining and remove the shock-tower bolts using a ratchet. Your vehicle's shop manual can be very helpful in determining these locations.

Turn the ratchet counterclockwise to unfasten the bolts. Use grease if required.

⮚ Step#5. Remove the shock from the suspension

Disengage the nut connecting the shock to the suspension and carefully remove it from the bolt. Use a similar process to remove the nut from the top.

⮚ Step#6. Remove the old shock absorber

Removing the old shock off the bolts can be a task of difficulty. Sometimes, if the shocks are attached to the studs with a retaining bracket, which is rusty, the task becomes of even more difficulty. In this case, use metal cleaners and twist it until it easily comes off.

⮚ Step#7. Install the new shocks onto the suspension control arm:

Now that you have removed the old shocks, the hardest part is done. And installation of the new shock absorbers follows the same procedures but in reverse.
Use some pressure to lift the suspension and install the new shock absorber back into the existing suspension. Sometimes, it may need some help. Take expert help if you're stuck.

⮚ Step#8. Check your manual

Checking your manual is very important before fixing everything back together for proper positioning of the bolts and knowing the torque specs, which is a must. Go through the shop manual again and again before fastening or positioning of bolts.

⮚ Step#9. Read and repeat

Now that you have successfully installed a new shock absorber, all you have to do is read the instruction again and repeat them for the rest of the shocks to be installed into your vehicle.

⮚ Step#10. Check everything before driving

Driving without checking if your installation is a job done right is never a good idea. As you have replaced your shocks as well as tempered with the default mechanical structure of your vehicle, it’s a must to check if something is done wrong. Accidents often occur due to improper installation. So, pay close attention while checking if your installation is done in an appropriate manner. If something seems wrong, take help from expert mechanics.

Conclusion

Car Struts can greatly influence the overall performance, control, safety, and lifetime of your beloved vehicle. Hence, choosing a decent shock absorber is just as important as choosing the brakes for your vehicle. And always remember that it's always your requirements and conditions that define the best shock absorbers for you, so make your decisions with great consideration of the aforementioned facts. You may in search for best shocks for dodge ram 1500 4x4, best replacement shocks for chevy or  best shocks for f150 2wd, check the best fit shock absorbers according to your model. Then go for final decision of purchasing. Hopefully, you already know that the installation of shocks is another task of great importance, and the safety and overall experience hugely depend on proper installation. A proper installation will take you miles, whereas an improper one will result in really bad experiences and even safety issues. So make sure that your installation of new car shocks is just on point and always feel free to take expert help whenever needed. Drive safe, follow the traffic rules, and always remember – "Happy ride, happy life.”