Shocks and struts: twin-tube, monotube, and what a lift changes
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MapleTorque lists 9,337 shocks and struts. Half of them sit between $179 and $744, with a median of $319 — and the spread inside that range is the whole point: a replacement shock and a remote-reservoir shock are both on this page, and they are not the same purchase.
Every figure below was counted from our own catalogue on 11 September 2026, not estimated. Prices are MapleTorque prices in Canadian dollars.
| What it is | Products | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shock absorber, replacement | 3980 | $157 | $247 | $434 |
| Strut assembly | 1405 | $224 | $307 | $504 |
| Monotube | 113 | $162 | $162 | $402 |
| Coilover | 339 | $427 | $1,611 | $2,997 |
| Remote reservoir | 236 | $1,182 | $2,171 | $3,038 |
Low and high are the 25th and 75th percentiles, so half of each group sits between them.
Twin-tube, monotube, reservoir — what actually differs
A twin-tube shock has an inner and an outer cylinder and is what most vehicles leave the factory with. A monotube puts everything in one larger bore, which holds its damping better when it gets hot — towing a long grade, or washboard gravel. A remote reservoir moves the oil and gas volume outside the body entirely, which is why that group's median is $2,171 against $247 for a plain replacement shock. You are paying for heat capacity, and if your truck never gets the oil hot you will not feel the difference.
Shock or strut?
It is not a preference. A strut is a structural part of the suspension and carries the spring; a shock only damps. Your vehicle has one or the other at each corner and you replace like for like. We list 1405 strut assemblies against 3980 shocks, and the strut median sits higher — $307 — because an assembly arrives with the spring and mount already on it.
What a lift changes
A lift moves the suspension through a different part of its travel, and a factory-length shock in a lifted truck can run out of down-travel or bottom out early. Lift kits that include shocks are sized for their own lift height; if you lift with a kit that does not include them, the shock length is a decision you still have to make. Our lift kits and our shocks are separate collections for exactly that reason.
Common questions
Do I replace shocks in pairs?
Per axle, yes. A new shock on one side and a worn one on the other gives you different damping left and right, which is most noticeable in a crosswind or a hard stop.
Are these prices a quote?
They are our listed prices in Canadian dollars, counted from the catalogue on 11 September 2026. They move as the catalogue moves; the product page is always the price.
Is a more expensive shock a better shock?
It is usually a shock built for more heat and more travel. For a truck that tows or runs rough roads that is worth paying for. For a commuter that never loads up, it is capacity you will not use.
How do I know these fit my vehicle?
Use the vehicle selector on the shocks and struts page. Fitment on our listings is checked against manufacturer data.
