Shocks, Struts & Coilovers

Shocks and Struts for Sale

This category holds the shocks and struts we sell, plus coilover kits, complete strut and spring assemblies, air suspension struts and air bag kits. You can buy every part shown above online, and each product page lists the vehicles, years and OE numbers it was built for. If your car bounces after bumps, dives under braking, leans hard in corners or leaks oil from a shock body, you are in the right place.

We stock three kinds of suspension parts here. The first is standard replacement shocks and struts, made to drive like the originals. The second is coilovers for Honda owners who want to lower the car and adjust damping. The third is air suspension: electronic air struts for the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Mercedes GL, air bag kits for heavy-duty pickups, and air-to-coil conversion kits for owners who are done fixing air leaks.

Below is a list of the products with their key specs, a plain explanation of what shocks and struts do, how to tell when they are worn, how to choose between OE-style, coilover and air options, and answers to the questions we hear most.

Products in This Category

Complete Strut Assemblies (Strut, Spring and Mount)

A complete or loaded strut comes with the spring, top mount and bearing already fitted. You bolt it in as one unit, with no spring compressor needed.

Replacement Shocks and Struts

Coilover Kits

Air Suspension Struts, Air Bags and Conversion Kits

What Shocks and Struts Actually Do

People often think shocks hold the car up. They do not. The springs carry the weight. The job of shocks and struts is to control how fast those springs move. Without them, a car would keep bouncing after every bump like a ball.

Inside a shock absorber is a piston moving through oil. As the wheel goes up and down, the oil is forced through small valves, which turns the energy of the movement into heat. That slows the spring down and keeps the tyre pressed onto the road. Most modern units are gas-charged as well, with nitrogen added to stop the oil foaming when it gets hot on rough roads.

A strut does the same damping job but is also a structural part of the suspension. It holds the spring, carries the top mount, and on most front-wheel drive cars it sets the wheel angle and acts as the steering pivot. That is why a strut is bigger, why it needs a wheel alignment after replacement, and why many people buy it as a complete assembly with the spring already fitted. The shock absorber page on Wikipedia has diagrams if you want to see the inside.

Air suspension replaces the steel spring with a rubber air bag and uses a compressor to fill it. The Escalade, Suburban, Tahoe and Yukon use it at the rear to keep the truck level when loaded. The Mercedes GL uses it at all four corners, with an electronic damping system called ADS. When the bags age, they crack and leak, and the compressor runs constantly until it burns out.

Signs Your Shocks and Struts Are Worn

Worn shocks and struts fade slowly, so most drivers get used to the change and do not notice it. Here is what to look and feel for.

  • The car keeps bouncing. Push down hard on one corner and let go. A good shock settles in one movement. If it bounces two or three times, it is worn.
  • Nose dive when braking. The front drops sharply when you brake. This also makes your stopping distance longer.
  • Squat when accelerating. The rear sinks as you pull away.
  • Body roll and sway. The car leans more in corners and feels unsettled in side winds or when trucks pass.
  • Oil on the shock body. A wet, oily film on the outside means the seal has failed and the oil inside is leaking out.
  • Cupped tyre wear. Scalloped dips around the tread happen when the wheel hops on the road instead of staying in contact.
  • Clunks over bumps. A knock from the top of a strut often means a worn top mount or bearing, which is why complete assemblies are popular.
  • Air suspension warning or sagging. On the Escalade, Tahoe, Yukon or GL, a corner that sits low overnight or a compressor that runs for a long time points to a leaking air strut or bag.

Many service guides suggest checking shocks and struts around 50,000 miles (about 80,000 km) and replacing them when they show the signs above. Rough roads, heavy loads and towing all shorten that life.

How to Choose: OE-Style, Coilovers or Air

OE-style replacement

If you want the car to ride the way it did when it was new, pick a direct replacement like the CR-V, Sorento, 4Runner, Durango or Lexus RX units above. They use the factory ride height and mounting points. For front struts, a complete assembly saves time and avoids the risk of compressing an old spring at home.

Coilovers

A coilover is a shock with the spring mounted on a threaded body. You can wind the spring perch up or down to change ride height, and on our kits you can turn a knob through 24 damping settings. They suit people who want a lower stance, sharper handling or a car set up for track days. The trade-off is a firmer ride and the need for an alignment after every height change. Our coilovers cover the 1989-2000 Civic, CRX and Integra, the 1992-2001 Prelude and the 1999-2004 Odyssey.

Air suspension parts

If your vehicle came with air suspension, you have two choices. You can replace the failed air strut with a new air strut, which keeps the self-levelling and the original ride. Or you can convert to steel coils, like our Hummer H2 conversion kit, which removes the air system at that axle for good. Conversion is cheaper over time but you lose automatic levelling under load. On pickups like the Ram 2500 and 3500, add-on air bags work alongside the steel springs to keep the truck level when towing.

How to Make Sure the Part Fits

  1. Find your exact year and trim. Many models changed suspension mid-generation. The Escalade, for example, has different rear struts for 2000-2014 and 2015-2020.
  2. Check front or rear, and left or right. Fronts and rears are different parts. Some struts, like the Mercedes GL front unit, are side-specific.
  3. Check for adaptive or electronic damping. If your car has a sensor plug on the shock, like the Lexus RX350 and RX450h, you need a shock with the same connection.
  4. Match the OE number. We show OE numbers such as 272491, 172712, 48510-48440 and 15938306 in the titles. Compare with the label on your old part.
  5. Check drivetrain. 2WD and 4WD versions of the same truck can use different shocks.

Not sure? Send us your VIN through our contact page before ordering and we will check fitment for you.

Installing Shocks and Struts

Rear shocks on most trucks and SUVs are simple: two bolts top and bottom, with the vehicle on stands and the axle supported. Front struts on cars take more work. Some general advice from the workshop:

  • Replace in pairs. Always fit both sides of an axle at the same time. A new strut on one side and an old one on the other gives uneven handling and braking. That is why most of our shocks and struts are sold as pairs.
  • Use a complete assembly if you can. Compressing a coil spring without proper tools is dangerous. A loaded strut avoids that step entirely.
  • Tighten at ride height. Bushing bolts should be torqued with the suspension loaded, or the rubber bushes twist and wear early.
  • Get an alignment. After replacing front struts, have the wheel alignment checked. Tyres wear quickly if the camber or toe is off.
  • Air struts: release the air pressure first and follow the service procedure for your vehicle. On some models the suspension must be put into service or jack mode before lifting.
  • Coilovers: set the ride height on the car, not on the bench. Leave enough thread engagement and recheck height after a few days of driving as the springs settle.

Caring for New Shocks and Struts

Once fitted, shocks and struts need very little. Wash road salt and mud off the shock bodies now and then, especially in winter, because grit wears the seals. Keep an eye on the dust boots and bump stops and replace them if they split. For air systems, listen for the compressor running longer than usual, which is the first sign of a new leak. For coilovers, clean and lightly grease the threads every few months so the adjusters do not seize.

Other Suspension Parts You May Need

Worn shocks and struts rarely fail alone. While the suspension is apart, check these too:

You can also shop by vehicle on pages like Honda parts, Toyota parts, Cadillac parts and Mercedes-Benz parts.

Ordering, Delivery and Returns

Shocks and struts can be ordered straight from this page. Delivery options and times for your country appear at checkout and on our shipping page. Struts and coilover kits are heavy and bulky, so check the delivery estimate before you plan the job. If something arrives that does not match your vehicle, our returns page explains how to send it back, and the warranty page covers faulty parts. Please compare the new part with the old one before fitting.

Shocks and Struts FAQ

What is the difference between shocks and struts?

Both control spring movement. A shock is only a damper. A strut is a damper that is also part of the suspension structure and holds the spring and the top mount. A car has either a shock or a strut at each corner, not both.

Should I replace all four shocks and struts at once?

At minimum, replace both on the same axle. Doing all four gives the most even feel, especially if the car has high mileage and all four are the same age.

Do I need an alignment after replacing struts?

Yes, after front struts on almost every car. Rear shocks on a solid axle truck usually do not change alignment.

How long do shocks and struts last?

It depends on roads and load, but many last 50,000 to 100,000 miles. Check them every service and replace them when you see the signs listed above.

Will coilovers make my car ride harder?

Usually a little, because the springs are stiffer than stock. Adjustable damping lets you soften them for daily driving and firm them up for spirited driving.

Is converting air suspension to coils a good idea?

It is popular on older vehicles where the air system keeps failing. You get a fixed ride height and no more compressor or bag repairs. You lose automatic levelling, which matters if you tow or carry heavy loads often.

Can I drive with a leaking shock?

You can drive carefully to get it fixed, but a leaking shock gives poor damping, longer stopping distances and faster tyre wear. Replace it soon.

Do you deliver shocks and struts internationally?

Available countries and delivery costs are shown at checkout. See our shipping page for current details.

Gas, Twin-Tube and Monotube Shocks and Struts

Most factory shocks and struts are twin-tube designs: an inner working tube sits inside an outer reserve tube that holds extra oil. They are cheap to make and ride comfortably. Monotube designs use one tube with a floating piston separating the oil from high-pressure gas. They shed heat faster and resist fade on rough roads or long descents, which is why many coilovers use them. Gas-charged versions of both types reduce foaming of the oil, so the damping stays consistent when the road gets choppy. None of these is automatically better; the right choice depends on how and where you drive.

Complete Strut Assemblies vs Bare Struts

A bare strut means you must compress the coil spring with a spring compressor, move the top mount and spring across, and reassemble. It is cheaper, but the job takes longer and needs care, because a compressed spring stores a lot of energy. A complete strut assembly, sometimes called a quick strut, arrives with a new spring, top mount, bearing and dust boot already fitted. You bolt it in and go. For older vehicles, a complete assembly often makes sense because the top mounts and springs are tired too. Several front strut assemblies in this collection, such as the Honda CR-V front strut assemblies, come this way.

Air Suspension: Repair, Replace or Convert

Large SUVs like the Escalade, Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon and Mercedes GL use air struts or air springs. When one leaks, the vehicle sags, the compressor runs constantly and a warning appears. You have three options. You can replace the failed air strut with a new air unit, which keeps the self-levelling ride. You can replace both sides on the axle at once, which is the usual advice because the other side is the same age. Or, on some trucks, you can convert to coil springs, which removes the air system from that axle. Our rear air struts for 2015-2020 Escalade, Suburban and Yukon and the Hummer H2 air to coil conversion kit cover both approaches.

Adding Load Support with Air Bags

Helper air bags are not the same as air suspension. They sit alongside your existing leaf or coil springs and are inflated to stop the rear of a truck sagging when you tow or carry heavy loads. You adjust the pressure to suit the load, then let some air out when you drive empty. The Ram 2500/3500 rear air bag kit and the universal 2500 lb air suspension bags are examples. Always keep within your vehicle's rated payload and towing limits; helper bags level the load but do not raise those limits.

Coilover Setup Tips

If you fit coilovers, set the ride height first, then the preload, then the damping. Measure from the wheel centre to the fender lip on each corner so the car sits level. Start with the damping in the middle of its range and adjust a few clicks at a time on a familiar road. Get a wheel alignment after any height change, and recheck the lock rings after the first few hundred kilometres. Find matching parts in control arms and sway bars.

More Questions About Shocks and Struts

How long do shocks and struts last?

It depends heavily on the roads and the load. Many vehicles benefit from new dampers somewhere between 80,000 and 160,000 km, but rough roads, towing and heavy loads shorten that. Judge by symptoms, a bounce test and an inspection for leaks rather than distance alone.

Do I need an alignment after replacing struts?

Yes, on most vehicles. Removing a strut usually disturbs the camber or toe, so book an alignment after the job to protect your tyres.

Can worn shocks affect braking?

Yes. Worn dampers let the tyres bounce and lose contact with the road, which can lengthen stopping distances, especially on bumpy surfaces, and makes the nose dive more under braking.

Are coilovers good for daily driving?

They can be, if set up sensibly. Choose a moderate ride height, start with soft damping, and avoid lowering so far that the car scrapes on speed bumps and driveways.

Should I replace the top mounts too?

If the mounts are cracked, the bearings are noisy or the rubber has collapsed, yes. A complete strut assembly includes new mounts, which is often the simplest choice on older vehicles.

Quick Shock and Strut Checklist

  • Look for oil running down the shock body.
  • Check the rubber bushings and mounts for cracks.
  • Push down on each corner; it should settle after one rebound.
  • Inspect the tyres for cupping, a common sign of worn dampers.
  • Replace in axle pairs and get an alignment afterwards.