Shock absorber and strut product attributes

Shocks and struts span several distinct products: a bare shock absorber, a bare strut, a complete strut assembly with spring and mount, and adjustable coilovers. Supplier files often label all of them loosely, and the difference decides whether a job takes one hour or needs a spring compressor. Part type and assembly contents are therefore core attributes, not descriptive extras.

Dimensional data does the rest of the work. Extended and collapsed lengths, upper and lower mount styles and rod size let a buyer match a part on a lifted, lowered or unlisted vehicle, where fitment tables do not help. Mount types are frequently written as supplier-specific codes, so they need a controlled list that maps those codes to plain descriptions.

Some attributes carry more risk. Vehicles with electronically controlled suspension need a matching damper and connector, or a documented conversion kit. Gas-charged units can be subject to transport rules, and many are sold individually while others ship in pairs. Each of these should be a structured field, taken from manufacturer documentation, so pricing and shipping do not rely on guesswork.

The shocks & struts attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 9 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	SS-171427
Sold As (Package Quantity) sold_as_package_quantity	Controlled list	Core	Each
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Channel / evidence	00812345171426

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Extended Length extended_length	Number · in	Core	21.81 in
Collapsed Length collapsed_length	Number · in	Core	13.35 in
Gas Charge Pressure gas_charge_pressure	Number · psi	Buyer decision	260 psi
Piston Rod Diameter piston_rod_diameter	Number · mm	Buyer decision	18 mm

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Part Type part_type	Controlled list	Core	Strut assembly
Damper Design damper_design	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Monotube
Damping Adjustment damping_adjustment	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Single-adjustable, 10-position rebound
Assembly Contents assembly_contents	Text	Buyer decision	Strut, coil spring, upper mount, boot, bump stop

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Vehicle Fitment (ACES) vehicle_fitment_aces_application	Text	Core	2012-2017 midsize sedan, 2.5L, FWD
Position position	Controlled list	Core	Front left
Upper Mount Type upper_mount_type	Controlled list	Core	Stud
Lower Mount Type lower_mount_type	Controlled list	Core	Eye with bushing and sleeve
Electronic Damping Interface electronic_damping_interface	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Electronically adjustable, 2-pin connector

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Text	Channel / evidence	Assembled in USA from domestic and imported components
Transport / Hazmat Classification hazmat_classification	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	UN3164, Class 2.2, excepted (per manufacturer SDS)

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Assembly contents
• Electronic damping interface
• Upper and lower mount types
• Ride height / lift range
• Transport / hazmat classification

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing shocks & struts ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Is this a bare strut, or the complete assembly with the spring and top mount?
• Will it work on the trim with electronic adaptive suspension?
• Is this priced for one shock or for a pair?
• What are the extended and compressed lengths, so I can check it against my lift?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ