Parts for your 2020 Holden Colorado-Struts

2020 Holden Colorado — Struts or Shocks?

Short answer: struts aren’t used on the 2020 Holden Colorado. The RG-series Colorado runs an independent double-wishbone front end with a coil spring and separate shock absorber (damper), and a live rear axle with leaf springs and shock absorbers. That means a MacPherson-style strut assembly isn’t part of the design, so “struts” as a part category doesn’t apply to this ute.

Technical references that describe this include Holden/GM’s RG Colorado Service/Workshop Manual (GM Service Information for MY20), the 2020 Colorado Owner’s Handbook, and published MY20 specification sheets that list “Front: independent double wishbone, coil spring, gas shock, Rear: leaf spring, gas shock.” These sources consistently show shocks and springs as separate components rather than structural struts.

Why no struts? A body-on-frame ute like the Colorado is built for load-carrying, towing and rough-road durability. The double-wishbone layout up front uses upper and lower control arms to locate the wheel, with the shock acting only as a damper inside a coil (a coilover), not as a structural member. At the rear, leaf springs handle payload and axle location, again with standalone shocks to control bounce. MacPherson struts are brilliant for packaging in many passenger cars, but they carry lateral loads through the strut body, which isn’t the direction Holden/GM chose for this platform’s heavy-duty brief.

If someone is chasing “struts” for a 2020 Colorado, they almost certainly need shock absorbers (front coilover shocks or rear shocks) or related suspension hardware. For servicing, it’s smart to:

• Inspect shocks every 20,000 km or 12 months for leaks, dented bodies, worn bushes, or reduced damping.
• Check front control-arm bushes, ball joints and tie-rod ends, rear leaf-spring bushes, shackles and U-bolts.
• Look for uneven tyre wear, nose-dive, floaty ride, or longer stopping distances — classic signs the dampers are tired.
• Replace shocks in axle pairs and get a wheel alignment after front shock work.

Lift kits sometimes mention “strut spacers” for Colorados, but that’s a naming quirk — they’re spacers for the front coilover/shock assembly, not a true strut. Always choose parts engineered for the RG Colorado and keep ADR/WOF and ESC calibration in mind.

Popular questions about 2020 Holden Colorado struts

Does the 2020 Holden Colorado have struts?
No. It uses front double-wishbone suspension with a coil spring and separate shock absorber, and a rear leaf-spring setup with shocks. There are no MacPherson strut assemblies on this model.

What should be serviced instead of struts on a 2020 Colorado?
Focus on the front and rear shock absorbers, front control-arm bushes and ball joints, steering tie-rod ends, and rear leaf-spring bushes and shackles. An alignment after front shock work is a good shout.

Are “strut spacers” OK on a Colorado?
Many kits use the term, but they’re actually spacers for the front coilover/shock assembly. Use reputable, vehicle-specific kits and consider geometry, CV angles, ESC calibration and legal requirements before lifting.