How do I know if my shocks are shot?????

 

Ride quality, if they can easily be compressed, if they don't rebound, leaking, ect...

 

Are they the original shocks on your truck?

Almost any aftermarket shock is going to be an improvement over the one's that came from the factory...

Especially if they are 6 years old!

 

Bilstein HD's, not stiffer, just better ride.

 

i got the silver and black bilsteins they are a night and day difference!

 

They were shot the day you brought the truck home. Brand new they are extremely easy to compress. Designed to provide a soft ride on a test drive and not much more. X2 on the Bilsteins.

 

I was just wondering if there is a way to check without taking it in, as of late when I'm going over bumpy areas sounds a little clunky, but been under the truck and cannot find anything loose? And yes these are the original shocks that came with truck when new.

 

They are done. Stock shocks are not going to last you 5 years on any car or truck. Even if your riding on the smoothest of roads they wear very fast. At this point any replacement is going to be wonders over the one's you have on there, but the Bilstien HD (Yellow and Blue) shocks are designed for stock trucks. I would look at them.

 

If you are getting a clunk you probably need sway bar end links. They definately fail and they clunk.

As Danderson said, stock shocks are bad from the very beginning. Junk. No need to go to the dealer to find out. If they are stock, they are junk. If they are aftermarket and you are getting a lot of bottoming, it's time for new ones. I wore out a set of Bilsteins and am now going to KYBs for a change.

Sounds like it's time for a set of Bilstein heavy duty or KYB Monomax. Rancho 9000s are good on the rear but not too good on the front.

 

I have KYB's,stiffer ride,but better handling..

 

One way to test the shocks would be to make quick stops. Brake hard enough to get the front to dip an inch or two. The front end will go down but returning the front end should just come and stay there not keep bouncing. Now if it bounces 3 or 4 times you should be punished, something like shopping for purses with the wifey.

 

I'm happy w/ Monroe Reflex's on mine. Changed them at 20,000 miles and noticed an improvement in control. Also just had the sway bar bushings changed to quiet things down in the front.

 

so what would be a good reasonably priced shock, times are tough don't want to spend alot of money if I don't have to.
Also is that a hard job changing the sway bar bushings, is that something I could do myself?

 

Reflex's are not expensive. The bushings are, even just buying the parts. I actually farmed out the job so I dunno how tough it is.

 

sway bar bushings kind of a pita! but if you got the right tools you can handle it i would probably not do it again and just buy a thuren track bar!