Best Suspension Struts for Your Money: Start Here

Lisa Conant, Automotive Features Reviewer at CarParts.com

Reviewed by

Lisa Conant, Automotive Content Specialist

Automotive Features Reviewer at CarParts.com

Written by CarParts.com Research Team - Updated on April 4th, 2024

Reading Time: 7 minutes
Summary
  • A strut is a suspension system component that dampens the oscillations of the coil spring, allowing for a smoother riding experience.
  • The top suspension strut brands on the market today are TrueDrive, Arnott, Bilstein, Monroe, Rancho, and KYB.
  • CarParts.com recommends TrueDrive suspension struts since they offer the same durability and quality as more major brands while also being much more affordable than them.

Replacing suspension system components is a complicated affair that requires you to consider several important factors, such as performance, riding comfort, handling, and more.

A strut is a suspension system component that dampens the oscillations of the coil spring, allowing for a smoother riding experience. Find out more about this part and what to look for in a replacement with this guide.

A strut is a suspension system component that dampens the oscillations of the coil spring, allowing for a smoother riding experience.

Need high-quality replacement suspension struts for your vehicle? Check out TrueDrive® suspension struts. Designed with longevity and consumer safety in mind, TrueDrive® parts promise an uncompromised fit, finish, and level of quality. TrueDrive® is the true choice for aftermarket suspension and ride control, keeping your vehicle strong and steady on the road so you can drive with confidence, no matter where the road takes you.

Best Suspension Struts

What characteristics should you look for in replacement suspension struts? How do you know if the part you intend to buy works well with your vehicle? Listed below are the top suspension strut brands and series we’ve compiled to help you decide what to get.

Brand List

TrueDrive Loaded Strut

TrueDrive is one of the most popular choices because it offers a full lineup of premium products at a great value. The brand provides customers with a high-quality, low-cost option by streamlining the costly supply chain. All parts are made in the same top-tier factories as other name brands to ensure reliability.

If you’re looking for a loaded strut that’s easy to install, consider choosing TrueDrive. Each of the brand’s loaded struts is built to strict manufacturing standards to ensure reliability and safety. At the same time, a state-of-the-art design process guarantees your part is install-ready.

What’s more, all TrueDrive loaded struts come with a 1-year, unlimited-mileage warranty for peace of mind.

If you’re looking for a loaded strut that’s easy to install and can save you a lot of money, consider choosing TrueDrive.

Key features:

  • Install-ready
  • No spring compressor required
  • Manufactured to strict ISO 9001 / TS 16949 / OEM / OES production standards
  • 1-year, unlimited mileage warranty
  • Premium gas-charged design

Our Score: 10/10

Arnott Loaded Struts

Arnott is one of the leading manufacturers of aftermarket air suspension products for luxury cars, trucks, and SUVs. It produces quality suspension components for several well-known makes such as Audi, BMW, Ford, GMC, Jaguar, Tesla, Ram, Toyota, and more.

The Arnott product line-up consists of air springs, air struts/shocks, compressors, and ride height sensors, to name a few.

Arnott suspension components are engineered to last and adhere to strict OE standards.

Arnott is one of the leading manufacturers of aftermarket air suspension products for luxury cars, trucks, and SUVs

Key Features:

  • Recommended Use: OE Replacement
  • Built according to strict OE tolerances
  • Fully assembled with new components
  • Reduces sag and optimizes drivability
  • No hassle to install – simply bolts on
  • Dated and serialized for guaranteed quality
  • Lifetime Arnott limited warranty
  • Recommended for: Luxury and high-performance rides

Our Score: 9/10

Bilstein B4 OE Replacement Series Struts

Bilstein’s B4 OE Replacement Series Struts are engineered for both safety and durability. Developed in coordination with Mercedes-Benz, this series offers maximum driving comfort.

Struts in this series provide excellent damping, suspension, and level control, and are available for both passive and active systems. This series ensures you get the best driving experience out of an OE replacement part.

Bilstein’s B4 OE Replacement Series Struts are engineered for both safety and durability.

Key Features:

  • Recommended Use: OE Replacement and Performance Replacement
  • Provides more than just conventional dampening
  • Air suspension is available for both active and passive systems
  • Active systems allow the driver to select between sport and comfort mode or the system can choose the optimum damping characteristics
  • Meanwhile, passive systems have a single damping setting
  • Restores original functionality 100%
  • Warranty: Lifetime Bilstein limited warranty
  • Recommended for: Restoring the original ride quality

Our Score: 9/10

Monroe Quick-Strut Series Struts

Monroe Shocks and Struts was founded in 1916 by mechanic and entrepreneur August F. Meyer in Monroe, Michigan. It started out as a tire pump manufacturer for early automobiles.

Now, the brand is one of the leading innovators in the automotive aftermarket industry, particularly of suspension system components. Monroe is known for its quality engineering and durable, state-of-the-art shock absorbers and struts.

Monroe is known for its quality engineering and durable, state-of-the-art shock absorbers and struts.

Key Features:

  • Recommended Use: OE replacement
  • Damping Type: Non-Adjustable
  • Made of US grade steel
  • Package contains everything you need for an easy, safe, and quick repair
  • Effectively reduces body sway and vibration
  • Armed with a corrosion-resistant protective coating that shields the unit from the elements
  • Warranty: Lifetime Monroe limited warranty
  • Recommended for: Restoring OE performance

Our Score: 9/10

Rancho RS5000X Series Struts

Established in the 1950s in Long Beach, California, Rancho has expanded into the off-road and performance suspension components manufacturer it is today. The RS5000X series offers top-of-the-line features that deliver rugged performance for both on and off-road driving experiences.

The Rancho RS5000X series offers top-of-the-line features that deliver rugged performance for both on and off-road driving experiences.

Key Features:

  • Recommended Use: Performance replacement
  • Features progressive rebound and compression discs.
  • Equipped with high-strength polyurethane bumper that helps control the rebound motion in harsh driving conditions
  • Bushings made of natural rubber provide additional support and reduce transmitted road noise
  • Comes with a 1 ⅜ inch diameter sintered iron piston
  • Warranty: Lifetime Rancho limited warranty
  • Recommended for: Performance upgrade

Our Score: 9/10

KYB GR-2/ Excel-G Series Struts

KYB is an aftermarket manufacturer that is focused on creating products that are the perfect solution to your specific application. The brands it services include Mazda, Honda, GM, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Infiniti, Volkswagen, and more.

KYB produces the largest volume of shock absorbers in the world and has facilities in 32 locations in 21 countries. Despite this, the company is devoted to partaking in sustainable practices.

KYB is an aftermarket manufacturer that is focused on creating products that are the perfect solution to your specific application.

Key Features:

  • Recommended Use: Performance replacement
  • Nitrogen gas-charged, twin-tube design
  • Sintered iron rod guide helps maintain alignment despite different driving conditions
  • Restores the vehicle’s designed stability and its original capabilities
  • Helps prolong tire life, improves stopping distance, and maintains wheel alignment
  • Warranty: Lifetime KYB limited warranty
  • Recommended for: Performance upgrade

Our Score: 8/10

Our Recommendation

We recommend TrueDrive® suspension struts since they offer the same durability and quality as more major brands while also being much more affordable than them. They’re made in the same world-class factories and undergo the same quality checks as the products from the major brands on this list. They also offer a guaranteed fit right out of the box, so you should have no trouble when it comes to installation.

Parts Recommended For:

Shop this Project

Arnott® – SK-2954 Front, Driver or Passenger Side Loaded Strut – Sold individually
$265.38 Price and rating may change from the time content is published.
Bilstein® – 22-246578 Rear, Passenger Side Strut – Sold individually
$116.00 Price and rating may change from the time content is published.
Monroe® – 139105 Front, Driver or Passenger Side Loaded Strut – Sold individually
$115.99 Price and rating may change from the time content is published.
Rancho® – RS55836 Front, Driver or Passenger Side Strut – Sold individually
$140.69 Price and rating may change from the time content is published.
KYB® – 335079 Rear, Driver Side Strut – Sold individually
$69.99 Price and rating may change from the time content is published.
About The Authors
Reviewed By Lisa Conant

Automotive Features Reviewer at CarParts.com

Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, including research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. Lisa has written for Car Bibles and The Drive.

Written By CarParts.com Research Team

Automotive and Tech Writers

The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.