Struts & Shock Absorbers with Fitting Position Front Axle

Struts and shock absorbers control how a vehicle rides, steers and stops. They damp the movement of the springs so the tyres stay pressed onto the road, and every one of them depends on its mounts to stay correctly located. When the rubber in a strut mount or shock absorber bush perishes, even a new strut can clunk, wander and wear out early.

Nolathane focuses on the parts that hold struts and shock absorbers in place: strut mount bush kits, complete strut mount kits with mount pads and shock absorber pin bushes, and strut spacer kits for a modest lift on suitable 4WDs. They?re a practical repair and upgrade for passenger cars, pick-ups and 4x4s, and the ideal companion to a strut or shock absorber replacement.

How Shock Absorbers Work

A shock absorber, or damper, is essentially a hydraulic pump. A piston moves through oil inside a sealed tube, and small valves and orifices restrict how quickly the oil can pass. That resistance turns the energy of suspension movement into heat, which is released into the air. The faster the suspension moves, the more resistance the shock provides.

Springs carry the vehicle?s weight and absorb bumps, but on their own they would keep bouncing. The shock absorber controls both compression and rebound, settling the body quickly and keeping the tyres in contact with the road. That contact is what gives you consistent steering, braking and traction.

Struts vs Shock Absorbers

The terms are often used together, but the parts do different jobs.

• Shock absorbers only damp movement. They?re mounted separately from the spring and don?t carry the vehicle?s weight or locate the wheel.
• Struts combine a damper with a structural role. A MacPherson-style strut supports the coil spring, carries part of the vehicle?s weight and forms part of the suspension geometry, so its upper mount also locates the top of the wheel assembly. On the front of many vehicles, the strut mount includes a bearing or pivot that lets the strut turn with the steering.

Because a strut is part of the suspension?s structure, a worn strut mount affects alignment, steering feel and noise, not just ride comfort.

Types of Shock Absorbers and Struts

Most vehicles use one of a few designs:

• Conventional telescopic shocks: a sealed unit mounted between the body or chassis and the axle or control arm, replaced rather than repaired.
• Struts: sealed or repairable units that combine damping and structural support, common on passenger cars, SUVs and the front of many independent front suspension (IFS) pick-ups and 4WDs.
• Spring seat shocks: a damper with an integrated spring seat, similar to a strut but without the structural role.
• Twin-tube and mono-tube designs: twin-tube dampers suit most everyday vehicles, while mono-tube designs run higher gas pressure and resist fade under heavy, sustained use.
• Coilovers: a damper and coil spring assembled as one unit, often adjustable for height or damping.

Whatever the type, each connects to the vehicle through bushes or a mount, and those connections wear out on their own timeline.

Signs of Worn Struts, Shocks and Mounts

• The vehicle keeps bouncing after a bump or dip
• Nose-diving under braking or squatting under acceleration
• Body roll and sway through corners or in crosswinds
• Oil leaking down the body of a shock or strut
• Clunking, knocking or creaking from the front or rear over speed humps and driveways
• Vague or notchy steering, or a steering wheel that doesn?t return smoothly
• Cupped or scalloped tyre wear
• Cracked, split or flattened rubber at the top mount or shock bushes

Damping faults usually point to the strut or shock itself. Noise, clunks and visible cracking more often point to the mounts and bushes, which is good news because they cost far less to replace.

Strut Mounts and Shock Absorber Bushes

The upper strut mount isolates the strut from the body, absorbs vibration and holds the top of the strut in the right position. Shock absorber pin bushes do the same at each end of a conventional shock. Over time, heat, load and road contaminants break down rubber, letting the strut or shock move in its mount. That movement causes the clunks and vague steering that many drivers blame on the shock itself.

Hard-working and lifted commercial vehicles and 4x4s tend to wear strut mount and shock absorber bushings early, because of heavier loads, longer travel and constant rough-road use. Nolathane strut mount bush kits replace the worn rubber pads and pin bushes, while complete strut mount kits restore the full upper mount assembly. Each listing shows the kit contents, fitting position and the vehicles it suits.

Replacing Struts and Shock Absorbers

Struts and shock absorbers should be replaced in pairs across an axle. A new damper on one side and a worn one on the other leaves the vehicle behaving differently left to right under braking and cornering.

Replacing the mounts and bushes at the same time is the most cost-effective approach. The strut has to come out and be dismantled with a spring compressor either way, so fitting new mounts adds parts cost but very little labour. Fitting a new strut against an old mount often brings the noise straight back, and a worn mount can shorten the life of the new strut. It?s also worth checking the bump stop and dust boot, which protect the piston rod from grit and corrosion.

Tighten shock and strut mount fasteners with the vehicle at ride height wherever the manufacturer specifies it, and have a wheel alignment (tracking) carried out after replacing front struts or mounts, as they can change camber and caster.

Choosing the Right Parts

When choosing struts, shock absorbers or their mounts, consider:

• How the vehicle is used, from daily driving to towing, touring and off-road work
• The usual load, including accessories, a canopy or regular heavy cargo
• Whether ride height has changed, as longer travel and steeper angles need compatible mounts
• The position, as front and rear mounts are usually different parts

Our fitment guarantee means the kit you order for your vehicle is confirmed to suit it.

Upgrading With Polyurethane Mounts and Strut Spacers

Polyurethane strut mount pads and shock bushes hold their shape under load where rubber compresses and tears. Nolathane has been making polyurethane suspension bushings since 1974, originally developed to replace brass bushes in hillclimb competition. Made in a range of durometers (hardness grades) to suit each position, the signature red bushings offer outstanding abrasion resistance, high load-bearing capability and resistance to oil, grease, ozone and weathering.

Strut spacer kits fit at the top of the strut assembly to raise ride height slightly on suitable 4WDs without replacing springs. Each listing shows the lift it provides.

Trade-Offs to Plan For

A firmer mount transmits a little more road feel than soft factory rubber, which most owners notice as sharper response rather than harshness. Strut spacers change suspension geometry and reduce available droop, which can alter CV joint angles, ride quality and alignment, so an alignment is essential after fitting. Any change to ride height should meet the vehicle standards where the vehicle is registered, as rules differ across the UK and Europe, including MOT or periodic inspections. Tell your insurer about suspension modifications.

Shop Struts & Shock Absorber Parts

Restore damping and the rest of the ride with Nolathane's suspension parts range.

Find the strut mount or bush kit for your vehicle, then order online with fast shipping or have it fitted by a Nolathane reseller. Every kit is backed by our warranty, 60-day returns give you time if a part isn?t right, and our local support team can help whether you?re repairing worn suspension, replacing components or upgrading for improved handling and performance.