Van and motorhome shock absorbers: load, wear and replacement

Shock absorbers keep the van or motorhome stable and the tyres on the road. The ANWB (the Dutch motoring organisation) describes their job as damping the up and down movement of the suspension. The springs carry the weight and provide the springing. The shock absorbers make sure the vehicle settles quickly after a speed bump or pothole, instead of bouncing on.

On a van or motorhome, weight plays a big part. An empty van and a full van spring differently, and a motorhome is tall and heavy because of its living area. If you notice something mainly when the vehicle is loaded, tell us when you book. Then we take that into account during the check.

According to the ANWB, shock absorbers last at least 8 years or 150,000 km with normal use. The ANWB does not give a separate figure for vans or motorhomes. That is why we do not replace them based on mileage or age, but on what we see on the test drive and on the lift.

You notice worn shock absorbers in how the vehicle behaves over speed bumps, in corners, when braking and in crosswinds. According to Sachs, the gradual loss of damping usually goes unnoticed by the driver. So look out for these signs from the ANWB and KYB:

Sources: ANWB (shock absorbers) and KYB (workshop training and FAQ), consulted November 2026.

The most important consequence is a longer stopping distance. According to KYB, one worn shock absorber can increase the stopping distance at 50 km/h by up to two metres. How the brakes of a van or motorhome wear is explained in van and motorhome brakes.

If your van or motorhome sits lower or leans to one side, we look at the springs and the spring seats as well as the shock absorbers. The springs carry the weight. At the APK, a broken or cracked spring is a rejection point, so the vehicle fails, and according to the APK manual of the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority) a rusted-through spring seat must not have been repaired but must be replaced. Bilstein names rust and breakage as points to look out for when checking the springs.

If one spring is broken, we replace both springs on that axle. KYB writes that springs should be replaced in pairs and that different types of spring should not be mixed on one axle. That way the van sits at the same height on the left and the right again.

Look at the bump stops too. According to Monroe, a bump stop limits roll, dive and squat of the body. A worn bump stop can lead to more wear on springs and ball joints, according to Monroe. If anything on the suspension of your motorhome or van has been modified, tell us when you book. Then we know what to expect on the lift. More about springs, struts and top mounts is in struts, top mounts and coil springs.

We replace shock absorbers per axle, left and right together. The ANWB and manufacturers such as Monroe and Sachs advise this. Monroe explains why: a new shock absorber is stiffer than the old one on the other side and then has too much work to do. No source says that all four shock absorbers must be replaced at once. If only the rear shock absorbers are worn, we only replace the ones on the rear axle.

Whether your Fiat Ducato, Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or other van has separate shock absorbers or complete struts differs per model and per axle. We can see this from the registration number. According to KYB, a strut cannot be refilled or rebuilt. On struts, manufacturers such as Sachs, KYB and Monroe recommend replacing the top strut mounts (top mounts) at the same time. We show you the cost in advance and you decide.

The ANWB does not give a price guide for vans and motorhomes. We tell you what it costs for your van or motorhome in advance, based on the registration number, as one price. More about signs, costs and how we work is on our page about shock absorber replacement in Rotterdam.

Whether an alignment is needed depends on the van. New front struts can change the position of the wheels. KYB writes that struts usually need an alignment after replacement, and also that it depends on the design of the vehicle.

Apart from the shock absorbers, alignment deserves attention on a van. If the van pulls to one side, the steering wheel is off-centre when driving straight or a tyre wears on one edge, the alignment may be out. We measure all four wheels first. Vans up to 3,500 kg fit on our lifts. If you have a motorhome, call us with your registration number and we will tell you whether it fits. If an alignment is not needed, we tell you that too. Read more on our page about wheel alignment in Rotterdam.

At the APK, a commercial vehicle up to 3,500 kg must have a suspension system that works properly and shock absorbers that work properly and are securely fitted. This is set out in the RDW APK manual for light commercial vehicles (article 5.3.28). The inspector (keurmeester) looks from the pit or on the lift and, where possible, pushes the van down a few times. If he is in doubt, he carries out a test drive.

Source: RDW, APK manual for light commercial vehicles (article 5.3.28) and list of inspection items, consulted November 2026.

As an RDW-approved APK station, we inspect vans registered as a commercial vehicle (often called a grey plate) up to 3,500 kg, see van APK in Rotterdam. We also inspect motorhomes up to 3,500 kg, but not heavier ones. You can read more about this on our page about the motorhome APK. If you get an advisory point for a leaking shock absorber, that is a good moment to have the shock absorbers assessed.

We test first and only replace what is worn, per axle. We tell you one price in advance, based on your registration number. Our workshop has five heavy-duty lifts, including lifts for motorhomes and commercial vehicles up to 3,500 kg. This is how it works:

1. Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number and tell us what you notice. If you have a motorhome, also give us its height, and we will tell you whether it fits on our lifts.
2. We take the vehicle for a test drive and inspect the shock absorbers, springs, spring seats, bump stops, the mountings and the tyres on the lift.
3. We tell you what is worn and what replacing it costs. Extra parts we advise are listed separately, so you choose for yourself.
4. After your approval, we replace the parts per axle and take the vehicle for another test drive.
5. We call you when the van or motorhome is ready.

If you use a van for your work, tell us when you book. On Saturdays, replacing shock absorbers is possible by arrangement. More about other work on your vehicle is on our pages about van repairs in Rotterdam and motorhome repairs in Rotterdam.

That depends on the car. New front struts can change the position of the wheels. If the manufacturer asks for an alignment after this work, it is included in the quote straight away.

Yes, if it weighs no more than 3,500 kg. Our heavy-duty lifts are suitable for motorhomes and vans up to 3,500 kg. Call us with your registration number and the height of your motorhome, and we will tell you whether it fits and what the work on the shock absorbers costs.

No. Shock absorbers are replaced per axle, left and right together. The ANWB, Monroe and Sachs advise this. No source says that all four must be replaced at once. We only replace the shock absorbers on the axle that is worn.

According to the ANWB, shock absorbers last at least 8 years or 150,000 km with normal use. The ANWB does not give a separate figure for motorhomes or vans. That is why we assess the shock absorbers on the test drive and on the lift, not on age or mileage.

According to KYB and Sachs, a thin, even film of oil at the top of the shock absorber is normal. If oil is clearly running down the shock absorber and oil is left on your fingers, it is leaking. Check this when the shock absorber is dry, not straight after a drive in the rain.

The ANWB does not give a guide for vans and motorhomes. For a passenger car, the ANWB gives € 500 to € 1,000 for two shock absorbers on the front axle (consulted November 2026). We tell you what it costs for your van or motorhome in advance, based on the registration number, as one price.

• ANWB: Shock absorbers: function, signs, lifespan, replacing as a set and cost (in Dutch)
• KYB Europe: Workshop Training: signs of worn shock absorbers, stopping distance, springs in pairs (pdf)
• RDW: APK manual, light commercial vehicles: suspension system, article 5.3.28 (in Dutch)
• RDW: APK manual: list of inspection items, leaking shock absorber advisory point AC2 (in Dutch)
• Professional Motor Mechanic: Monroe discusses shocks and struts replacement (per axle, top mounts, bump stops)
• KYB: What’s the difference between shocks and struts? (alignment after struts)