When a shock absorber fails, the symptoms accumulate gradually until the car feels unsettled on every road surface: excessive body roll through corners, a nose that dives sharply under braking, or a characteristic bouncing sensation after passing over a speed bump that takes several oscillations to settle. The shock absorber — more precisely, the monotube or twin-tube damper — controls the rate at which the spring compresses and rebounds, keeping the tyre in contact with the road surface throughout. Without it functioning correctly, neither steering response nor braking distance behaves predictably. Replacement is typically due around 80,000 miles, though road conditions, driving style, and the quality of the original fitment all affect service life. Leaking damper fluid visible on the outer casing is the clearest sign the seal has failed. Because damping characteristics are matched axle-by-axle, fitting a replacement on one side while leaving the other worn introduces imbalance that can feel worse than the original fault. SACHS and KYB are among the volume-leaders in this category, supplying units to vehicle manufacturers directly; BILSTEIN and Monroe are well regarded for performance and standard replacements respectively. Using the OE number guarantees the correct stroke length, mounting geometry, and valving specification for your specific model variant.
Every shock absorber listed here is cross-referenced against TecDoc's vehicle linkage data, which maps OE numbers to specific chassis codes, engine variants, and build dates. The most reliable check is to use your VIN with the make-model-year selector to narrow to your exact variant, then cross-reference the OE number against what is stamped or labelled on your existing damper. Even minor variants within the same model generation can use different stroke lengths or top-mount configurations, so the OE number is the definitive identifier.
Yes — always replace shock absorbers in axle pairs. A new damper on one side alongside a worn unit on the other creates an imbalance in cornering stiffness and braking stability. The new side will resist body roll more effectively while the opposite side continues to allow excessive travel, which can make the car feel unpredictable, particularly on uneven roads. Replacing both at the same time also means a single workshop visit and avoids labour costs doubling when the second side inevitably fails shortly after.
OEM shock absorbers are manufactured to the exact specification used during vehicle assembly, often by the same supplier — SACHS, KYB, and BOGE are all major original-equipment damper manufacturers. Quality aftermarket replacements from those same brands carry equivalent OE references and equivalent tolerances. Budget aftermarket units may use lighter-gauge tubes, lower-quality seals, or simplified valving, leading to shorter service life and softer damping response. Matching the OE number ensures you get the correct valving profile and mounting interface regardless of which tier-one brand you choose.
The most telling sign is persistent bouncing after a road undulation — a functioning damper settles within one or two oscillations. Other symptoms include excessive dive under braking, body lean in corners that is notably worse than it used to be, a cupped or scalloped wear pattern on the tyres caused by the uncontrolled wheel hop, and visible fluid weeping along the outside of the damper body. In severe cases a seized shock absorber transmits road impacts directly into the suspension top mount, producing a knocking sound at low speed on rough surfaces.
Showing 100 of 68,513 Shock Absorber OE numbers. Enter the OE on the main OE search to jump to any reference.
