Parts for your 2013 Holden Colorado-Struts

2013 Holden Colorado Struts — What’s Fitted and What to Service Instead

For anyone hunting “2013 Holden Colorado struts”, here’s the straight answer: this ute doesn’t use MacPherson struts in its suspension. The RG-series Colorado (2012–2016) runs a body-on-frame chassis with independent double wishbone front suspension and a rear live axle with leaf springs. That setup uses separate shock absorbers, not load‑bearing strut assemblies.

This isn’t guesswork. GM Holden service information for the RG Colorado identifies the front end as double wishbone with a coil spring over a shock absorber, and the rear as leaf spring with a separate shock. Suspension catalogues from Monroe and Bilstein list shock absorbers (front and rear) for the 2013 Colorado, with no MacPherson strut assemblies offered. The platform twin, the Isuzu D‑Max of the same era, documents the same architecture. Those technical sources line up: shocks yes, struts no.

Why no struts? MacPherson struts double as a structural member and replace the upper control arm, which suits lighter passenger cars and crossovers. The Colorado’s double wishbone front end uses upper and lower control arms for strength, wheel travel, and durability under towing, payload and off‑road conditions. It’s tougher, easier to package for a frame chassis, and better for alignment control over rough ground.

If someone’s trying to sort “strut” servicing on a 2013 Colorado, what they really want is shock absorber maintenance and a general suspension check. Key items worth attention during servicing include:

• Front and rear shock absorbers: check for oil weep, dented bodies, worn bushes and inconsistent damping, many drivers see best results replacing around 80,000–100,000 km in mixed Aussie/Kiwi conditions.
• Control arm bushes and ball joints, sway bar links/bushes, and wheel alignment after any front-end work.
• Rear leaf spring bushes, shackle pins and U-bolt torque, especially after off-road or load-hauling duty.
• Tyre wear patterns and a bounce/brake dive test to pick up fading shocks.

A quick side note on “struts”: the Colorado’s bonnet typically uses a prop rod from factory, not gas struts. Canopies and some hard lids do use gas struts, but those are separate from suspension components.

Bottom line for Colorado owners: shop for quality shock absorbers and associated bushes/links rather than “struts”, and keep the front double wishbone and rear leaf-spring hardware in good nick for a quieter ride, better tyre life and safer braking on corrugations.

FAQs

Does a 2013 Holden Colorado have struts?
No. The RG Colorado uses double wishbone front suspension with a coil spring over a separate shock absorber, and a rear live axle with leaf springs and shocks. Technical references from GM Holden service documentation and suspension catalogues (e.g., Monroe, Bilstein) list shock absorbers for this model, not MacPherson strut assemblies.

What should be serviced instead of struts on a 2013 Colorado?
Focus on front and rear shocks, control arm bushes and ball joints, sway bar links/bushes, wheel alignment, and rear leaf spring bushes and U-bolts. Look for oil leaks on shocks, uneven tyre wear, excessive bounce, brake dive or rear-end hop on corrugations—classic signs your dampers or bushes are tired.

Can MacPherson struts be retrofitted to a Colorado?
Practically, no. Converting a body-on-frame ute with double wishbones to a strut-type front end would require major structural changes to the chassis and steering knuckle, re-engineering of geometry, and likely certification. If the goal is better ride or control, fit quality shocks and appropriate springs, then align it to spec.