2001 Chevy Silverado questions

[OrangeSkidPlate]

Recently picked up a 2500 Silverado, needs some work but I am hoping for some advice. I know it needs new shocks, so I am thinking Bilstien, any experience?
Second, i suspect the wheel bearing on the driver side is bad because i am getting vibrations around 40-45 mph and it seems to shake in some corners. How do I properly diagnosis this?
Thirdly, Looking to put a different muffler on it, I had a short body magnaflow on my Jeep and i really enjoyed the quality and the lack of droning on the highway. How do LQ4s sound with magnaflows?

 

[UNSTUCK]

Bilstiens are great.

Get the tire off the ground then grab the top and bottom of the tire and lift up and pull down. If you can feel the tire/wheel lifting, the unit bearing is bad.

Mufflers are personal preference. What I think sounds good might be horrible to you. Go with your experience.

 

[SAVAGE]

I agree with UNSTUCK

Blistens are good.

Lift that corner off the ground. Wiggle the tire. Basically....
Up and down movement only = Bad ball joint, either upper or lower ball joint is bad but youll have to look at it closly while someone else wiggles.
Side to side only = Tie rod, Pitman arm or Idler arm. Since its a used chevy chances are these have been replaced, or they are due to be replaced. Again you might need a helper to pinpoint.
Up and down and side to side movement = Bad bearings. Or a combination of bad ball joints and steering.

I had a work truck with the Flowmaster 50's, but it did drone at low rpm on the freeway.

 

[Toad]

you will need to lift the tire up with a pry bar to check for bad ball joints.

 

[Toad]

I just removed a magnaflow from a Tahoe. It was to loud for the guy. Price? 12 pack Dew.

 

[Houndoc]

With the vibration don't forget the simple possibility of out of balance tire.

 

[OrangeSkidPlate]

I'll have to try and see what sort of movement I can see. I know its not a tire out of balance because I rotated the tires myself and didn't seem to make anything worse or better.