FAQs

One of the most common questions we get asked is, “Do I need new shocks?” or “How do I know if my shocks should be replaced?” Shocks and struts are essential to driving safety, comfort, and vehicle control. We have a complete guide to evaluating shocks here.

There are four main reasons for replacing shocks and struts: 

1. When the vehicle has excessive ride control conditions, such as nose dive or body roll.
2. To restore the vehicle’s designed performance, including ride comfort and control (usually after 50,000 miles). 
3. When a unit has a mechanical failure, such as dripping hydraulic fluid or a broken bracket.
4. To upgrade vehicle performance.

Yes, KYB offers conversion units for some vehicles. Check whether your year/make/model is covered in our online catalog.

No. All KYB products are designed at the KYB world R&D offices, and every KYB manufacturing plant then builds each product to the designed specifications. High-volume part numbers are manufactured at multiple plants and in multiple countries. Since KYB designs and builds our own manufacturing equipment, we can control and replicate production specifications, ensuring identical performance and quality across all manufacturing facilities. Specific product performance is determined by part number, not by where it is manufactured. Product quality is consistent across all KYB part numbers and manufacturing facilities.

Many KYB strut mounts do come with the bearing, but only where the strut mount is also the steering pivot. The bearing is a wear item that affects steering response and wheel alignment. Check whether your year/make/model’s strut mount includes a new bearing in our online catalog.

Struts cannot be refilled or rebuilt. However, some struts have a replaceable cartridge. These repairable struts can be identified by a large hexagonal-shaped nut at the top of the strut body. Remember that struts are usually gas-charged and that replacement should only be performed by a qualified technician.

Yes. Shocks and struts provide a damping force to control tire movement. When the tires move excessively, they develop a ‘cupping’ wear pattern that damages the tire and causes it to wear out faster. Other factors, such as incorrect air pressure, worn suspension components, or improperly aligned steering, can also cause uneven tire wear.

Many people believe that their shocks or struts absorb the energy from bumps or potholes. But that is actually the job of the vehicle’s springs (leaf or coil). Shock and strut’s primary job is to dampen the energy from the spring, and keep the vehicle from bouncing up and down over and over again after hitting a bump or pothole. That’s why in Britain, shocks are called “dampers.” If a car had no springs, it couldn’t move. If it had shocks or struts that weren’t working, it would feel like it was bouncing like a boat on choppy water.

These products are identical, except for their names and paint colors. KYB sells products throughout the world. Some part numbers fit vehicles from various countries that share the same chassis platform but have different nameplates. At one time, there were several KYB brand names, but we are now moving toward one name and color. All new part numbers will be branded as Excel-G and painted black.

Yes, it’s a good idea to replace both the strut mount and the strut boot when replacing struts. A new strut mount optimizes suspension performance by providing a smooth steering response and reducing vibration. New strut boots will help protect your new struts from dirt, dust, salt, and road debris.

Shocks are individual components, and while it wouldn’t be safe or comfortable, you could remove shocks from a vehicle and still drive it. Struts are an integrated assembly that combines the shock absorber and coil spring and serves as a suspension pivot point. If you removed the struts, a car would collapse and be undrivable. Compared to shocks, struts are usually more complex, expensive, and require a wheel alignment after replacement. 

It depends on the vehicle design. A strut, by design, supports the wheel and tire. Some models aren’t affected when the struts are replaced, while others do change the wheel alignment. Strut removal and installation can affect tire alignment. Some struts have adjustment slots to perform the alignment. All struts affect alignment in some way, so it’s best to check the specific vehicle service manual and specifications.

This is usually caused by a mounting problem, not by the shock or strut itself. Check the components that attach the shock or strut to the vehicle. The mount itself may be worn enough to cause the shock or strut to move up and down. Another common cause of noise is that the shock or strut mountings may not be tight enough, allowing the unit to move slightly relative to the bolt, bushing, or other attaching parts.

Not necessarily. You cannot judge the strength or condition of a shock or strut by compressing it with your hands. The fluid valves are calibrated to operate differently depending on the degree of movement inertia, a property that cannot be duplicated by hand pressure. The force and speed generated by a vehicle in operation exceed what you can apply by hand.