Wondering what the best shocks for a Chevy Express van are? Then, you’re in the right place.
In case you own a Chevrolet Express, using the van mainly for transporting heavy loads and towing trailers, then you’d want to keep your vehicle roadworthy. Unfortunately, despite being a very tough and hardwearing vehicle, the Chevy Express’s OEM shocks do not match the other components’ robustness.
However, you can always choose from a wide variety of high-quality aftermarket shocks and struts for boosting your Chevy Express’s performance.
In this review, we take a close look at nine top-quality shocks that could go a long way in helping boost up your vehicle’s performance.
Best Shocks For Chevy Express Van – Comparison Table
| Image | Model | R/F | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilstein 24-221948 (Top Pick for Rear) | Rear | Check Price |
 | Bilstein 24-187435 (Top Pick for Front) | Front | Check Price |
 | Monroe 34763 | Rear | Check Price |
 | Monroe 34741 | Front | Check Price |
 | Monroe 34530 | Front | Check Price |
 | KYB 554356 | Front | Check Price |
 | KYB 554348 | Rear | Check Price |
 | Monroe 911086 | Rear | Check Price |
 | Gabriel 77638 | Rear | Check Price |
Bilstein 24-221948 46mm Monotube Shock Absorber (Editor’s Choice)
The 46mm Monotube Shock Absorber from Blistein goes a long way in boosting the performance of your Chevy Express van. The 24-221948 Blistein Monotube Shock sports a monotube design, thereby delivering consistent execution, resulting in more comfortable and smoother rides.
No matter whatever road surface you drive on, the 46mm 24-221948 Monotube shock offers steady fade-free performance, thanks to the digressive and velocity responsive shock shaft.
Features
- Monotube shock with 46mm borehole size and bore eye 14.1mm.
- Included Boot: Blue Straight, Finish
- Series: 4600 Series
- Internal Design: Monotube
- Lifetime warranty
Pros
- Exclusive piston design for improved sensitivity and better vehicle control
- Direct bolt-on installation
- Exploits high-pressure nitrogen gas
- Fine-tuned for vehicle-specific application
Cons
- Not quite suitable for off-roading
Bilstein 24-187435 Shock Absorber
The Blistein 24-187435 Shock is similar to the Blistein’s 24-221948 4600 Series shock absorber in terms of features and functionalities. However, the 24-187435 shock is more companionable with vehicles having a higher center of gravity, such as stock height trucks, vans, and SUVs. In addition, Blistein has carried out stringent quality control checks and road-tested this shock that makes most gas pressure and monotube upside-down technologies.
Features
- Monotube design
- Hydraulic fluid with high-pressure nitrogen gas for efficient damping
- Convenient and simple bolt-on installation
- Limited lifetime warranty
Pros
- Adjusted for use with a wide range of vehicles
- Neutralizes impacts and shocks from bumps and indentations on roads
- Promotes more comfortable rides
- Superior handling and enhanced control
Cons
- Twin-tube shocks work better with off-road vehicles
Monroe 34763 Gas-Magnum Truck Shock Absorber
The 34763 Gas-Magnum Truck Shock Rear Drive Shock from Monroe has been created mainly for pickups, vans, and SUVs. This Monroe gas-magnum strut assembly provides you with substantial control over your vehicle, resulting in more comfortable rides. Featuring a large bore size and containing twice the run-off-the-mill 1-inch bore shocks, this truck shock absorber has been engineered to deliver.
Features
- Twin-tube shock
- The superior valving range for a smoother ride
- High-pressure nitrogen gas for greater vehicle control
- All-weather fluid minimizes friction.
Pros
- Twin-tube design more suitable for use with off-road vehicles
- Smoother rides with improved control
- Boosts up vehicle performance
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Susceptible to aeration as the gas and oil chambers are not separated
Monroe 34741 Gas-Magnum Truck Shock Absorber
The 34741 Gas-Magnum Truck Shock Absorber from Monroe’s house features a functional design that offers drivers and motorists excellent power over their vehicles. This Gas-Magnum Truck Shock comes with a borehole size of 1-3/8″, twice that of the typical 1″ bore struts. In addition, these Gas-Magnum truck shock absorbers contain a more enormous sintered piston rod that is more robust than pistons crafted from standard metal.
The shock comes with a high-pressure nitrogen gas chamber to boost tires’ surface contact, resulting in comfortable rides. In addition, the fluid includes specific and unique modifiers that enable the fluid to improve rod reaction by reducing friction and wear and tear.
Features
- Twin-tube structure
- Sintered piston improves durability.
- Lifetime warranty
- Weatherproof fluid alleviates friction.
Pros
- Firm and consistent control
- Works with greater efficiency using less effort as it has twice the fluid capacity of standard 1″ bore shocks.
- Designed especially for mid to full-size vehicles with a higher center of gravity
Cons
- Can be challenging to install because of the construction
Monroe 34530 Gas-Magnum Truck Shock Absorber
The Monroe 911086 Reflex Truck Shock Absorber has been designed with scrupulous care, making it ideal for full-size and midsize vans and pickups. Monroe’s strut unit reacts almost immediately when your vehicle encounters a bumpy road surface, speed bumps, and potholes, offering you consistent control. In addition, the 911086 reflex truck shock absorber comes equipped with nearly two times the fluid volume of standardized 1-inch bore struts.
Hence the Gas-Magnum truck shock needs minimal effort for performing with greater efficiency. Monroe Gas-Magnum Truck Shock Absorbers are meticulously engineered for offering you better control of your vehicle, resulting in smoother drives. In addition, the massive frittage iron piston is incredibly more challenging than conventional metal, making the strut incredibly durable.
Features
- 2″ reserve tube furnishes additional fluid for performance with greater consistency
- 1-3/8″ borehole makes the shock operate at lower pressure compared to traditional 1″ bore units
- Juice contains specialized modifiers for minimizing friction and bettering natural rod reaction
- Self-lubricating fluidic seal for boosting gas retention without causing excessive wear and tear
Pros
- Long-lasting performance thanks to the sintered piston
- 25% better damping performance compared to OEM shocks
- High-pressure gas technology for quick and extra control
- Steady control minus the bumpy rides
Cons
- Smaller piston rod size in comparison to the monotube shock
KYB 554356 Gas-a-Just Gas Shock, Silver
If you’re someone who uses a vehicle more often to transport heavy payloads or tow trailers, then the KYB 554356 shock is your best bet. The 554356 Gas-a-Just Gas Shock lives up to its name unmistakably, as the strut automatically adjusts to road bumps and unevenness and softens their impacts. In addition, with a unique capability for mechanically appending performance whenever required without ever experiencing damping fade, this monotube gas-a-just outperforms conventional twin tubes.
This gas shock comes with a broader cylinder, ensuring that the hydraulic fluid is held in the upper chamber, thereby boosting the reaction. The lower section of the cylinder contains nitrogen gas in a highly pressurized state, set apart from the hydraulic fluid section via the sealing and floating piston. When you’re driving on city roads and highways, the pressure exerted by the gas cushions the ride.
Alternatively, when you make your vehicle perform heavy-duty tasks, extra damping force is furnished as the floating piston pushes more in-depth into the gas compartment.
Features
- Vehicle-specific fitting/installation
- The exclusive air-free hydraulic component does away with performance fade.
- A high-pressure nitrogen gas chamber furnishes 25% additional control and instantaneously.
- Highly responsive to changes in loads, adding instantaneous receptiveness on GM Fleet vans
Pros
- Improves stability and vehicle control, particularly when driving on bumpy and rugged tracks
- Superior steering response
- Single-tube design implies better performance than twin-tube shocks.
- Enhances the effectiveness of braking
Cons
- Many users have reported that the shocks were of inferior quality and did not perform up to expectations.
KYB 554348 Gas-a-Just Gas Shock
The 554348 Gas-a-Just Gas Shock by KYB with a single-tube design enjoys a distinct edge over twin-tube struts, performance-wise. However, perhaps the best reason you should choose the KYB 554348 is that the shocks mechanically and instantaneously fine-tune themselves, following your driving style. In addition, the functional monotube design and the entire air-free hydraulic unit checks aeration, improving performance, and boosting longevity.
The internal structure of the 554348 gas-a-just shocks from KYB consists of two distinct working compartments. The lower section comprises a high-pressure nitrogen gas chamber typified by a floating piston, ensuring smooth rides while driving on city roads. A vacuumed valve area tops the nitrogen-gas box with a hydraulic piston that boosts responsiveness, damping, and control.
Features
- Monotube design for better response, control, and performance
- A gas-a-just shock designed with meticulous care for effectively responding to load variations and changes
- Perfectly compatible for using with GM Fleet Vans such as Chevy Express for instant response
- High-pressure nitrogen gas chamber with a suspended piston for immediate and boosted control
Pros
- The monotube profile makes the strut perform much better compared to twin-tube shocks.
- Supplements the damping effectiveness of OEM shocks & struts by almost 25%
- The seamless extruded mount goes a long way in boosting durability and performance.
- Segregated gas and hydraulic chambers keep aeration and foaming at bay.
Cons
- Inverted design leads to greater friction from moving components
- Maintenance of sufficient stroke becomes increasingly tricky owing to the juxtaposition of hydraulic and gas chambers
Monroe 911086 Reflex Truck Shock Absorber
The USP of the Monroe 911086 Reflex Truck Shock Absorber is that it exploits ASD valving technology, enabling the unit to absorb and damp shock impulses. The 911086 shock absorber from Monroe reinforced with ASD valving technology seamlessly works with vehicles having a higher center of gravity like vans, SUVs, and lifted trucks.
This Monroe Reflex Shock Absorber makes the most of Acceleration Sensitive Damping (ASD), allowing you to drive your vehicle smoothly and consistently on different road surfaces.
The OEM weatherproof fluid includes unique additives to prevent overheating of the piston chamber and checks the oil breakdown. On the other hand, the oversized reserve tube can hold a more significant amount of fluid for better lubrication. In addition, the hot-formed fluoropolymer banded piston furnishes regular sealing between the pressure tube and piston for improved sturdiness and consistent control.
The full-scale displaced valving has been fine-tuned, keeping in mind the mechanics of different makes and models of vehicles. As a result, the full displaced valving allows your SUV or pickup to adapt to a wide range of terrains and off-road environments. Alternatively, the larger than average borehole offers greater damping control, resulting in smoother and more comfortable rides.
Features
- Takes optimal advantage of ASD (Acceleration Sensitive Damping) technology
- Fluon-banded piston for failsafe sealing between piston and pressure tube
- All-weather fluid for enhanced rod response and mitigating friction
- Bigger bore for delivering better damping control
Pros
- The superior valving range on both extension and compression cycles
- Reflex shock absorber engineered and customized following the machinery of different vehicle models.
- Compatible with vehicles having a higher center of gravity
- Provides excellent stability, especially during tight turns or slippery maneuvers
Cons
- Rides tend to be stiffer owing to the injection of high-pressure gas
Gabriel 77638 Max Control
If you’re looking for an efficient, versatile, resilient, and pocket-friendly shock absorber, then you don’t need to look any further. The Gabriel 77638 Max Control v2.0 Shock exploits groundbreaking technology and features a vast bore size, enabling the strut to respond faster. No wonder the MaxControl shock featuring a monotube design comes in perfectly handy for smooth handing and steady control of any light pickup or SUV.
The MaxControl strut, akin to all other Gabriel shocks and struts, keeps performing for years without corrosion, thanks to the sealed piston and the piston rod chrome plating.
The piston rod guide bearing mechanism, bigger bore size, and the superior monotube technology coordinate to enable MaxControl to cushion shocks while driving on potholed and bumpy roads immediately. The outer rubber boot keeps the piston rod dirt-free, while an extra rod sealing on the inside ensures that the chamber stays consistently clean.
Features
- Multistage sealing and monotube profile keep chamber from overheating and free of debris.
- Responds instantaneously to imperfections on roads, thanks to the bigger 46mm bore size
- Extended functional life owing to the drawn-over-Mandrel (DOM) tubing that minimizes internal wear and tears.
- Better response and sensitivity due to the rod guide bearing that facilitates graceful rod movements.
Pros
- Floating piston and high-pressure nitrogen gas technology enable quick response to movements of the steering wheel.
- Instant responsiveness and sensitivity help tires to maintain constant road/surface contact, thus improving braking efficiency.
- Leak-proof pistol sealing for enhancing the product’s active life
- Ergonomically designed monotube for boosting the performance of SUVs’, vans, and pickups’ chromed rod
Cons
- Not quite suitable for off-road vehicles
- Achieving a natural frequency below 5Hz can be difficult
Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Shocks for a Chevy Express Van
What is a Chevy Express Van?
The Chevrolet Express, popularly known as ‘Chevy Express,’ and its twin ‘GMC Savanna’ are heavy-duty vans from General Motors.
The vans jointly referred to as the GMT600 platform feature body-on-frame construction, toughened GMT400-styled chassis, dual front airbags, and the state-of-the-art central-port fuel injection V6 and V8 engines. Of all the different makes and models of vans you usually see on the roads and highways, the Chevy Express is invariably one of them.
How to Find the Best Shocks for a Chevy Express Van?
Regardless of whether your Chevy Express is brand new or a few years old, you’ll have to replace the vehicle’s suspension system’s components sooner or later. So in due course, you’ll have to consider replacing the worn-out factory-fitted shocks in your van. Like most vans and cars manufactured post-1995, the Chevrolet Express comes with rear shock absorbers and front suspension struts.
When it comes to opting for replacement shocks and struts, ensure that you always replace them in pairs. Substituting in teams helps you save upfront and guarantees compatibility and, consequently, consistent performance. But before you go in for replacement, make sure whether you need to take the step.
How do you establish that you need to swap the old struts and shocks with new ones?
When It’s Time to Replace the Shocks and Struts of Chevy Express
- The truck bobs up and down on the front or rear suspensions.
- Oil spilling onto the shock/strut body from the shock piston rod
- Broken or fractured mounts/bushings
- Even tiny depressions or bumps on the road will feel like heavy shudders.
- The vehicle will tilt or incline perilously across the entire length/width whenever you make a swerve or negotiate a bend.
- The vehicle’s front will nosedive when you apply the brakes.
- Lane changing, especially when driving at high speeds, will become risky owing to the steering that responds poorly
We also shared a lot of helpful information about replacement tips in our article about the best shocks for Chevy Astro van.
Selecting the Struts and Shocks for Chevy Express
Remember to go through the vehicle owner’s manual before choosing the replacement shocks/struts – we explained why in our guide on choosing the best Avalanche shocks. The owner’s manual enumerates the OEM suspension system’s details, including the make, model, and year. Additionally, make yourself familiar with more information regarding the vehicle’s trim level and engine size aids you choose the right product/products.
Having a fair idea of the different shock types such as overload shocks, air shocks, standard shocks, single-tube, and twin-tube shocks also comes in handy. In addition, you’ll be better off picking and choosing from reputed brands such as Monroe, KYB, or Bilstein if you’re looking for OEM-grade replacements. To say last but not least, you’ll save a considerable amount if you purchase online compared to buying from dealerships and stores.
In our opinion, the 24-221948 Blistein are the best shocks for a Chevy Express van available on the market at the moment.