Parts for your 2006 Nissan Navara-Struts

2006 Nissan Navara struts — are they used, and what should owners know?

For the 2006 Nissan Navara, “struts” aren’t actually a thing. Both Navara platforms sold in AU/NZ around that year are built on a ladder frame and do not use MacPherson struts. The D22 variant runs an independent front suspension with torsion bars and separate shock absorbers, while the D40 uses an independent double-wishbone front with a coil-over shock absorber. The rear on both is a live axle with leaf springs and conventional shock absorbers. That means any “strut” listing you see is usually just a parts-catalogue shorthand for a front shock or a complete coil-over shock assembly, not a true load-bearing strut.

Why don’t they use struts? A MacPherson strut doubles as a suspension link and needs a rigid body tower to locate the wheel — great for monocoque cars, not so flash for a ladder-frame ute designed to tow, haul and go off-road. The Navara’s double-wishbone layout uses upper and lower control arms to locate the hub and handle side loads, leaving a shock absorber (with a coil spring on D40) to manage damping and ride height. This setup offers strong geometry control, suspension travel and durability under load — perfect for Aussie and Kiwi conditions.

What should owners service instead of “struts”? Focus on:

• Front shock absorbers (D22 and D40), front coil springs/top mounts/insulators (D40 only)
• Upper and lower control arm bushes and ball joints
• Sway-bar links and bushes
• Rear shock absorbers, leaf-spring bushes, shackles and U-bolts

Tell-tales it’s time to refresh: excessive bouncing, nose-diving under brakes, clunks over bumps, cupped tyres or oily shock bodies. On vehicles that tow, carry loads or see corrugations, shocks can fade well before 100,000 kilometres, many owners budget for replacement in the 80–120,000 km window. Always replace shocks in axle pairs and book a wheel alignment after any front-end work.

If a retailer lists a “front strut” for a 2006 Navara, they almost certainly mean a shock or complete front coil-over assembly (D40). Use quality components, new top mounts where applicable, and torque everything to factory specs.

Technical sources referenced

• Nissan Navara D40 Factory Service Manual (Suspension section: Front independent double wishbone with coil-over shock, Rear rigid axle with leaf springs)
• Nissan Navara D22 Factory Service Manual (Front independent suspension with torsion bars and separate shock absorbers, Rear leaf-spring axle)
• Gregory’s/Nicholas Navara D22 & D40 Workshop Manuals, suspension architecture descriptions and specifications
• Nissan technical press materials on D40 chassis and suspension layout (engineering overview)

Popular questions

Does a 2006 Nissan Navara have struts?
No. The D22 uses torsion bars with separate shocks up front, and the D40 uses a double-wishbone front with a coil-over shock. In both cases, they’re not MacPherson struts. Parts catalogues sometimes use “strut” loosely for a front shock assembly, which causes the confusion.

What suspension parts usually wear out on a 2006 Navara?
Front shocks, top mounts (D40), control arm bushes and ball joints, sway-bar links/bushes, and rear shocks and leaf-spring bushes are the usual suspects. If there’s bounce, clunks or uneven tyre wear, it’s time for an inspection and likely replacement.

Can a MacPherson strut conversion be fitted?
It’s not practical. The Navara’s ladder frame and control-arm geometry aren’t designed for strut towers. Any attempt would mean major chassis and body changes, and wouldn’t offer benefits over the robust factory setup for towing and off-road use.