Second Hand Nissan NV300 Shock Absorber

The NV300 was introduced to the UK in 2016 and has remained within a single generation throughout its production run, so a 2017 unit and a 2020 unit are broadly from the same platform. That said, whether a specific used shock absorber crosses cleanly between those years in practice is worth confirming with the breaker against your exact registration, as there can be running-gear variations tied to payload rating rather than year alone. Always check the vehicle plate for your GVW rating and pass that to the breaker.

Yes, this is one of the most important things to get right on the NV300 — vans of the same model name can be rated at different payload levels, and heavier-rated versions typically run stiffer suspension components to cope with the extra load. The GVW rating is on the plate in the door jamb or engine bay, so check that before contacting a breaker rather than relying on the model name alone. Give the breaker your registration and GVW figure so they can match the correct unit.

Trim level on its own does not determine shock absorber fitment on the NV300 — the parts that matter are the generation, the GVW or payload rating, and which axle or corner you need (nearside front, offside rear, and so on). You may find minor cosmetic differences on a part pulled from a different trim van, but the functional fitment is driven by weight rating and axle position rather than trim name. Tell the breaker your trim if you like, but lead with your registration and payload rating.

The front suspension on both wheelbases shares the same basic architecture, but the rear suspension and rear shock absorbers on a long-wheelbase van can differ because the extended body changes the load distribution and the rear spring-and-damper setup. For front units the fit is more likely to be shared, but for rear shocks you should confirm with the breaker against both registrations before committing. Wheelbase and GVW together are the key details to pass on.

The Nissan NV300 launched in the UK in 2016, so 2016 is correct as the start of the range. Parts from across the 2016-to-present span are broadly from the same generation, but spring and damper rate variants tied to payload rating mean a shock from one GVW-rated van won't necessarily be correct for a differently rated example even if the years look close. Confirm the specific part against your registration and GVW plate with the breaker before purchase.

Yes — shock absorbers are handed on many applications, meaning the nearside (NS, kerb side, left-hand side on a UK vehicle) and offside (OS, driver's side, right-hand side) are not always interchangeable. When contacting a breaker, state clearly whether you need NS or OS, along with front or rear, and your registration. Fitting the wrong side can affect handling and safety, so don't assume they are the same part.