SDHQ Shock Skids

[JPI]

I know there is already a running thread concerning shock skids in this forum, but I wanted to make a new one with 'SDHQ' in the title to make it easier if someone wanted to specifically search for these skids in particular.
I had previously installed 589 Fabrication shock skids on my 2022 Colorado (which also had the same curious rear shock placement the the Silverado has) and I found those to be of high quality and perfect fit. So I assumed the same would be the case with the 589 Fab skids for my 2025 Silverado TB.
Unfortunately, as illustrated in the photos, for some reason the 589 Fab Silverado skids are just too wide. I know it's tough to tell from the pic, but I did line up the sides of the SDHQ & 589 Fab skids exactly, look how much wider the 589 is. If installed I would either have to use spacers, or torque them down enough to crimp them against the shock mounts. Both solutions were unacceptable to me so I decided to change course and give the SDHQ skids a chance.
Happy to report, the SDHQ skids were a perfect fit and of good quality. Installation was very similar to the 589's that I put on my old Colorado and took about 30 minutes.

FYI, they come with a bare metal finish (see the pic where I'm holding it upside down) and can be installed like that without modifications. However I chose to break out the automotive primer and red spray paint. Because everyone knows that red makes everything better off-road.

 

[Stormin08]

nothing wrong with adding a washer to compensate for the gap....alot of custom fabbed parts need to havb shims, it helps them to adapt to various manufacturer differences.

 

[Murph76]

That looks like weak sauce 1/8" plates...still dont get y chevy cant put the mount on top of the axle housing

 

[JPI]

That looks like weak sauce 1/8" plates...still dont get y chevy cant put the mount on top of the axle housing

They are definitely thinner than the 589's but they suit my planned usage best. They offer more coverage than the Pinnacle Offroad skids and as I mentioned, their fitment is much better than the 589's. Sure they wouldn't be able to take as many hits, but I'm not rock crawling. At no point will I be dragging the entire weight of my truck across a boulder on my rear shock. My off roading is done on the beach at higher speeds where half buried smaller rocks and driftwood are the everyday dangers to my underside. These should be able to take a least a few of those hits before they would take any real damage.

As far as why GM insists on mounting the rear shocks where they do, your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Stormin08]

my belief, the shock also aids on control of axle wrap....pretty reasonable to understand of you have ever fabbed any suspensions set ups.

 

[Murph76]

my belief, the shock also aids on control of axle wrap....pretty reasonable to understand of you have ever fabbed any suspensions set ups.

Never fabbed any suspensions set ups...so why are most on top yet chevy builds a lug on each side towards the bottom is this supposed to replace the sway bar ..
.?.....so i just watched a video on this...always wondered y kids were putting those long bars angled under there 3/4ton + trucks...that look ridiculous . ..looks like RAS solves all that nice and neat.

 

[mrcolieman]

I've owned quite a few 4x4 vehicles over the years... Jeep, Ford, Toyota, Ram, GM have all the rear shock mount on the bottom of the axle tube... In my humble opinion and experience, dragging the bottom of the shock mount is a wheel location problem on the obstacle and not a design issue. That little bit of extra money spent on shock skids would be better used for improving the suspension, tires and a cold beer for the spotter on the trail.