Shock and Tire Recommendations : 1999 Z71 EXT Cab Stock Suspension

[XMalibu69X]

Anyone have any recommendations for shocks for a 99 Silverado Ext Cab Short Bed Z71? My truck's mostly used for on-highway driving with some occasional off-road exploring. Also, I'm looking to get a new set of tires, and I wanted some recommendations on which brands/models are the best (I want to keep the original size.) Thanks a million in advance!

[jumpingjack66]

I could be wrong about 99 models but i know that on the newest z-71 models, stock shocks are a larger diameter shaft and resevior then a truck without the z-71 package. So, just replacing them with a new style, stock, aftermarket shock, will give you more shock then anybody else gets out there when they replace theirs. Improvments, if thats what you want, may be getting an all gas/ or partial gas/oil shock combination.

tires: just opens up a can of worms. please note recent thread on this page titled 'best all season radials'. Personally i stick buy BFG'S All terrain/KO's or Michilins, but others will have there favorites as well. Jack

[XMalibu69X]

Jack: Thank you very much...i didn't realize that the all season radial thread was already posted, and I realized it after i already started a new thread. I also figured that i'd group it all together b/c i'm going to be replacing both at the same time. oh well...

Do you have any brand loyalty for shocks?

I checked the spec sheet for the 99 silverado z71's, and they list the z71 option as having a longer travel than the 4x4 models... Thanks a lot!

[jumpingjack66]

My shock manufacturer loyalty is rather limited for 4x4's as i am new to this hobby/obssesion. I have purchased several pairs of Monroe Load Leveler shocks for leveling sagging rear ends on some of my hot rod projects and heavy hauler vehicles. Load levlers are just a heavy duty shock with a coil spring over them desinged to give your leaf springs a little help. Monroe has always been a good shock i believe and i've never had one blow out the seals. It sounds like you do alot of the kind of driving i do with your truck , mostly highway driving and some four wheeling in between. I have been real happy with the way my 2000 silverado rides even on long 1000 mile trips, so if i replaced my shocks i would not change much except maybe looking for the best warrenty. Atleast untill you start changing things like lift kits and such, which i plan to do in the future, but then I'll be in the same boat as you are and will have to start askng people for advice. Finally, i have heard on some automotive tv shows that gas shocks can get a little stiff on long highway trips because they get very warm and this ofcourse is how a gas shock works, the warmer it gets means the harder it is working and so the stiffer it gets. Thats how i understand it anyways. hope this helps, Jack

[XMalibu69X]

Jack, I really appreciate your help...Thanks!