Best Shock Kit for Nissan Frontier 4WD 2005-2014

The Nissan Frontier 4WD is a vehicle you can use for off-roading, towing, and hauling.

Which means this is a car that has a powerful engine and is built for strength.

And with such a car, you need shocks that can boost its performance.

You need shocks that you can use for a long time and over that period, get excellent service from them. This is the reason why it’s important to choose durable shocks that are superior in quality and can deliver peak performance.

Don’t worry if you don’t know much about buying shocks. This article reviews three of the best shock fit for Nissan Frontier 4WD. And if you want to know what shocks we are talking about, read on.

Top pick

Bilstein 5100

• Mono-tube Gas Shock Construction
• Corrosion Resistant Zinc Finish
• Floating Dividing Piston
• Valved specifically for the Nissan Frontier

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We’ve tested 3 shocks kit for Nissan Frontier 4WD 2005-2014 and the winner is above!

Shock Kits for Nissan Frontier 4WD 2005-2014 Comparison Chart

4 Best Shock Kits for Nissan Frontier 4WD 2005-2014 (as of October, 2024):

1. Bilstein 5100 Shock Kit for Nissan Frontier 4WD 2005-2014 Review

The Bilstein 5100 series shock kit comes with front and rear shocks, and ride height adjustable struts.

You can choose to buy the shocks without the struts if you are simply looking for good shocks that are reliable and efficient.

But if you want to give your truck a lift, you’ll need to buy the struts.

All Bilstein shocks use monotube gas pressure technology. This technology prevents what is known as foaming which occurs when there is a buildup of heat within the shock.

Aside from giving you more control over your car when driving on rough terrain these shocks are also designed for ride height. You can raise your truck from zero to 3 inches.

Another great feature is that the shocks are coated with zinc to give them a glossy look and to enhance their durability.

Main Features

• Mono-tube Gas Shock Construction
• Level front of Frontier with the rear
• 0″ (stock height) to 2″ of front lift
• Multiple snap-ring grooves allows different spring seat positions
• Replaces factory strut/shock & maintains factory coil springs
• Corrosion Resistant Zinc Finish
• Alternative for coil / strut spacers
• Massive Self-Adjusting Digressive Piston
• Floating Dividing Piston
• Bilstein superior, race inspired performance characteristics
• Valved specifically for the Nissan Frontier
• High Pressure Nitrogen Gas Performance
• Designed for vehicles with lift kits & leveling kits
• High performance shocks ideal for towing, off-road & daily driving

2. Rancho RS9000XL Shock Kit for Nissan Frontier 4WD 2005-2014 Review

The Rancho RS9000XL leveling strut is designed to boost the suspension performance of your Nissan Frontier 4WD.

This kit comes with front and side struts, and rear shocks.

The Rancho quicklift struts and shocks are designed using the 9-position tuning technology.

This technology provides 9 different levels of performance that enable the driver to control the firmness or softness of the ride by manually controlling the shocks damping.

This means that you have the flexibility to adjust your ride quality for peak performance on any road surface. You can adjust from one level to another using the adjustment knob. And each level is labeled to show you clearly what level you are at.

Each Rancho RS9000XL shock has a polyurethane bumper that aids in controlling the rebound motion that occurs when driving on rough terrain.

They minimize the effects or vibrations felt when driving on rough terrain. The rebound bumper also reduces wear and tear.

The shocks come fitted with red polyvinyl boots for protection during on and off-road driving.

Main Features

• 9 Position Tuning Technology for a custom ride on any terrain
• 2.75″ (70mm) body diameter body and 18mm Nitro Carb rod deliver strength and durability off road
• Double welded loops guarantee even the roughest terrain will not leave you on the side of the trail
• Graphite filled Fluon banded piston for longevity and increased durability
• Twin tube nitrogen gas charged design
• Rebound bumper on top of the piston isolates impact if the shock is ever topped out
• Premium, Durable Liquid Metallic Finish
• Simple to Installation: Comes pre-assembled with coil spring and upper mount
• Removes the factory rake, creating a custom look with extra ground clearance
• Levels the front end of the Nissan Frontier
• Limited Lifetime Warranty & 90-day Free-Ride Offer

3. Bilstein 4600 Shock Kit for Nissan Frontier 4WD 2005-2014 Review

The Bilstein 4600 shocks are ideal for vehicles that have stock height.

These are cars like SUVs, minivans, and passenger cars.

So if you have a Nissan Frontier 4WD, you can fit it with these shocks to boost performance.

However, if you are looking to lift your truck, use the Bilstein 5100 shocks which are designed for ride height as the Bilstein 4600 shocks are not.

Main Features

• Bilstein Mono-tube Gas Shock Construction
• Massive Self-Adjusting Digressive Piston
• Floating Dividing Piston
• High performance shocks ideal for towing, off-road & daily driving
• Valved specifically for the Nissan Frontier
• Yellow powdered coated, with blue boot or cover
• High Pressure Nitrogen Gas Performance

4. Sensen Shock & Struts 7160 – Not Recommended Products Review

If you are looking to fit your Nissan Frontier 4WD with some good quality shocks, then stay away from Sensen Shock & Struts 7160 shocks.

Here is why according to customer reviews:

• Leakage – some customers have experienced oil leakage after just one year. Others say that after 10,000km the shocks did not have any fluid left and shocks had failed completely. This puts a huge question mark on the design and durability of the shocks
• Poor quality materials – They have been complains about the rubber being of poor quality. Some customers reported experiencing rattling and clanking noises after having fit new Sensen shocks
• Weak springs – Some customers complained of the spring being weak and the shocks inability to provide a lift
• Short service life – this is one of the many complaints customers have reported. It seems that Sensen shocks are not built to last.

Main Features

• Precision designed for a direct fit and restore factory ride height
• Nitrogen Gas charged, Twin-tube design
• Premium powdercoated finish
• Precision robotic welding for consistent, accurate quality and dependability
• Quality Control system certified by ISO9001:2000 and ISO/TS 16949:2196
• Limited lifetime warranty

Based on customer reviews, there is a general view that buying Sensen shocks is not only a waste of money, but also a risk to your life.

Choosing shocks for your Nissan Frontier 4WD – Buyer’s Guide

This article has discussed three of the best shocks that are great for a Nissan Frontier 4WD. But it is important to realize that there other shocks out there that are great for such a car.

But with that said, choosing shocks for your Nissan Frontier 4WD requires some thought. You need to ask yourself a couple of questions.

What is wrong with the already fitted shocks and why do you want to replace them?

If your Frontier is fitted with twin-tube shocks, they are a couple of things that you won’t be able to do such as as carry heavy loads or haul heavy stuff.

So if you intend on carrying heavy loads or doing a lot of off-road driving, choose shocks that are designed for that type of application such as monotube shocks.

Why monotube shocks?

Unlike the twin tubes which have two cylinders, monotube shocks have a single cylinder. And this is what makes all the difference between these two shocks.

All the components of a shock in a monotube system are contained within a single cylinder this is not the same case with a twin-tube system. In addition, monotube shocks have a free-piston which keeps the oil and gas within the shock separate.

Another reason to consider when choosing shocks is durability. You want shocks that can last long while providing you with excellent performance. You don’t want to keep buying shocks every few times a year.

What is the primary use of your Nissan Frontier?

Do you use it for on-road driving only or do you sometimes go off-roading? Do you use it for hauling or towing or carrying heavy loads.

Once you have answered these questions, there are a few things you should not prioritize when choosing shocks. These include:

• Price tag – Not all cheap shocks are bad and not all expensive shocks are good. So avoid buying cheap shocks to save money unless you are sure they are of good quality and can deliver good performance
• Brand name – Just because a brand is popular and is known to produce quality shocks doesn’t mean that other less known brands produce less quality shocks. Compare all brands, see what other customers are saying about these brand and then make a decision

Verdict

Whether you use your Nissan Frontier to tow, haul, or do off-road driving, choose shocks that are designed for the specific application. It is easy to want to go for cheap shocks, but it’s better to buy expensive shocks that are durable and reliable.