Shock absorbers are an important part of every vehicles' suspension. Trucks, in particular, are not known for their smooth ride, and selecting the right shock can drastically change your vehicle's handling. Shock absorbers attach from the axle to the frame of the truck and contract with the bumps and contour of the road. Prices on shocks can range from under $100 for the lower-end shocks, to over $1000 a piece for high-end racing shocks.
Know how you intend to use the truck. The type of driving the vehicle is intended to do will affect the type of shocks you buy. A daily driven street truck doesn't need high performance off-road shocks, and a Baja truck will not survive with regular street shocks.
Choose between gas and oil shocks. Gas shocks tend to provide a more stable ride over terrain that is rough for long periods of time. The gas chamber compresses and refills, without disturbing the integrity of the gas inside, but oil shocks tend to bubble or create oil pockets when they are under continuous stress. The oil pockets translate into the shock absorber not being able to absorb the bumps effectively.
Consider the quality of the ride that you would like your truck to have. The higher quality shock absorbers generally offer greater handling and control than lower quality shocks. The more absorption the shock is capable of acquiring, the softer the ride will be. Stiff shocks offer less absorption, and often allow the vehicle to feel most of the vibrations.
Consider if the vehicle is modified. If your truck has a suspension lift, larger tires or other modifications that affect the driving height of the truck, then longer aftermarket shocks are in order. Remember, factory components are meant to work properly with other factory components; this means the stock suspension is not build for larger tires and factory shocks are not meant to be used with suspension lifts.
Upgrade your suspension to allow for multiple shocks. Aftermarket suspension manufacturers for trucks fabricate multiple shock brackets for both front and rear applications. Heavier trucks, such as diesels, often require multiple shocks to make the ride smoother.
Consider the possible brands that you can buy. Most manufacturers produce several types of shocks that fall into various price ranges, while other companies specialize in only high-end products. Fox Racing designs shocks for all applications and carries O.E. shocks starting around $100 each all the way to racing shocks called the Fox 4.4 that retail for almost $2000 each. Other shock manufacturers, such as Rough Country, Bilstein, Monroe and Rancho cater more to the average consumer rather than the high-end racing shock market.
