Common Shock Absorber Fitting Tips

Don’t hold the piston rod with any tools (mole grips etc), as this will damage the surface of the piston rod and the marks on the rod will damage the seal during operation and cause the oil seals to leak.

Don’t put any water, oil or other liquid inside the strut housing as this may damage the cartridge. KYB cartridges are designed to be used without liquid at both high and low temperatures.

Don’t use an impact wrench to tighten a nut onto a piston rod. This can make the torque higher than the recommended limit.

Use only fitting parts (nuts, spacers, washers etc) supplied with the KYB shock absorber, rather than the OE parts, as sometimes they may be a different size.

If the shock absorber being replaced is not the original one, but an aftermarket part from another brand, any ancillary parts (dust cover, bump stop, bushing etc) cannot be re-used for KYB shock absorbers. You may need to order KYB or OE parts.

Shock absorbers should always be fitted in pairs.

Always ensure the vehicle is back on all 4 wheels before tightening upper mountings.

• When disassembling, it is recommended to mark the parts of the suspension to secure the proper positioning and sequence of parts that are re-used. This is known as “clocking”.
• Pay special attention to the correct sitting of the upper coil to the upper mounting plate, to ensure the reassembly is correct and accurate.
• Elastic brake hoses should be safely fixed to the neighbouring suspension elements by using special clamps to reduce the load and protect them from any damage.
• Do not use an impact wrench, as this risks damaging the piston rod. An impact wrench will spin the piston rod and can damage the thin valves in the body of the shock absorber.
• Use only fitting parts (nuts, spacers, washers etc) supplied with the KYB shock absorber, rather than the OE parts, as sometimes they may be a different size.
• Shock absorbers should always be fitted in pairs.
• Always ensure the vehicle is back on all 4 wheels before tightening upper mountings.

You can also read our in-depth guides on how to replace shock absorbers for your vehicle type.