Start with the GWM Cannon parts collection for the wider vehicle range, or compare the Cannon shock options and their fitment requirements if you are already choosing suspension parts.
A ute that bounces after a bump, sits low under a canopy, or feels harsh when empty needs a clear diagnosis before a parts order. A shock absorber, a spring and a ride-height adjustment address different aspects of that behaviour.
This guide uses Australian and New Zealand ute terminology. Identify your exact model, build date, existing modifications and typical load; a shared Cannon badge does not establish that every generation or related GWM model uses the same parts.
What problem are you trying to solve?
Describe the symptom to the workshop rather than starting with “I need the hardest setting”. Noise, tyre wear, repeated bouncing and uneven height can involve more than the dampers.
| What you notice | Check first | Possible buying direction |
|---|---|---|
| Repeated bouncing after a bump | Dampers, mounts, bushes and the condition of the rest of the suspension. | A matched replacement pair on the affected axle, if inspection identifies worn dampers. |
| Low ride height with a canopy or permanent equipment | Actual axle weights, spring condition and the load the springs were selected for. | A suitable spring-and-damper plan, rather than assuming shocks alone restore height. |
| Harsh ride when the tub is empty | Load, tyres, existing spring specification, damping setting and available travel. | Match the setup to everyday use before choosing a stiffer package. |
| Clunks, uneven tyre wear or one low corner | Mounts, joints, bushes, alignment, springs and damage as applicable. | Repair the diagnosed cause; a bundle is not a substitute for an inspection. |
| Bottoming or topping out | Load, spring support, damper lengths, travel and contact points. | Have the complete setup assessed before buying a different damper. |
Replace parts according to the vehicle and component instructions. Do not continue testing a vehicle with a broken mount, severe leakage, damaged spring or other unsafe condition to choose a setting.
How do shocks, springs and adjustment affect your Cannon?
Springs provide the principal support for the vehicle’s weight and influence its static ride height. Dampers control the rate of suspension movement. Monroe’s coil-spring technical guidance explains why application-specific spring selection matters; it does not validate the spring rate or fitment of the EVparts4x4 kit.
A damping adjuster changes a damper characteristic within its design range. It does not, by itself, make the spring stiffer or raise the vehicle’s permitted mass. Confirm whether an adjuster changes compression, rebound or a combined circuit, and obtain the manufacturer’s baseline setting.
Double wishbone does not rule out a coil-over arrangement
The linked NZ GWM Cannon brochure describes the Cannon Lux Dual Cab with coil-spring double-wishbone front suspension and a leaf-spring live rear axle. That brochure concerns the vehicle version it documents; it is not a fitment approval for every Cannon sold since 2021.
A spring-and-damper unit can be used within a double-wishbone suspension. Its appearance or a seller’s use of “strut” does not determine whether it fits. Compare the actual upper and lower mounts, spring seats, lengths and assembly specification with the vehicle.
For the leaf-sprung rear arrangement described in that brochure, a rear damper pair does not replace the leaf springs. Treat rear spring support and rear damping as related but separate choices.
Front pair, rear pair or 10-piece set: what should you select?
Choose the coverage you need before comparing the displayed starting price. The three listed options are not equivalent packages, and the default selection may be the larger set.
| Listed option | When to investigate it | Confirm on the product page |
|---|---|---|
| Front pair | A workshop has identified a front damping replacement or a supported front setup change. | Damper-only versus assembled spring-and-damper units, springs and mounts supplied or reused, and applicable ride height. |
| Rear pair | You need rear damping components matching the existing or planned rear suspension. | Mounts, lengths, bushes, approved spring/height combinations and supplied hardware. |
| Listed 10-piece set | You are considering a broader suspension job with documented additional components. | An itemised packing list, each component’s function, axle coverage, spring specification and installation requirements. |
The pair options are labelled “10 sections hardness adjustable”. Treat that as an advertised adjustment description, not a verified spring-rate or load-capacity specification. Ask what the positions control and whether instructions are supplied.
Compare the parts your workshop actually needs
Use the product page to compare front, rear and set options. Confirm the exact supplied components before deciding whether the additional pieces are useful for your vehicle.
Will new shocks lift the front or correct a low rear?
A damper-only replacement is not automatically a lift kit. Height can change when the installation includes a different spring, a designed spring-seat adjustment or other specified components. First establish what the selected option actually contains.
The product page advertises front lift but does not clearly tie it to a confirmed spring-and-component package. Do not order a front pair expecting a guaranteed height change. Request the tested vehicle configuration, supplied springs, intended load and before/after measurement conditions.
Record height and load in a repeatable way
- Record the vehicle’s existing spring and damper part numbers where accessible.
- On level ground, record wheel-centre-to-wheel-arch measurements at all four corners with the vehicle in a stated load condition.
- List permanent accessories and distinguish normal weekday load from occasional touring or towing load.
- Compare before and after using the same measurement points and comparable load conditions.
- Have the workshop check usable compression and droop travel, clearances and the complete installed geometry.
These height records help describe the setup; they are not proof of legal ground clearance, a certification exemption or additional suspension travel. Do not adjust height solely to make wheel-arch gaps look equal.
What changes when you add a bull bar, canopy or trailer?
Permanent equipment and changing loads affect which spring-and-damper combination is appropriate. Give the workshop actual loaded axle weights where available, together with how often you tow or carry a load.
Separate the empty commute from the loaded trip. A setup selected for constant equipment weight may feel different with that equipment removed; selecting the firmest advertised setting is not a substitute for matching the components to the task.
Replacing shocks does not by itself increase permitted GVM, axle limits, payload, GCM or towing capacity. Check the limits for your actual vehicle and any documented approved changes. Our Cannon towing and payload guide covers that separate checking task.
What should the workshop check during installation?
Give the installer the selected part numbers, packing list and fitting instructions before the parts arrive. Confirm whether springs and mounts are supplied, reused or transferred, and whether any arms, links or brackets are part of the job.
- Verify the application: match vehicle build, generation, variant and existing suspension to the supplied components.
- Check mounting and travel: compare upper/lower mounts, extended and compressed lengths, bushes and the intended operating height.
- Resolve spring work: use the correct workshop equipment and instructions for any spring transfer; this article is not a spring-compression procedure.
- Inspect the complete geometry: check relevant joints, arms, hoses, wiring and clearances through the required operating range.
- Set and verify: use the component and vehicle torque procedures, documented adjustment baseline and applicable alignment checks.
- Record the result: keep fitted part numbers, height/load records, adjustment settings and any inspection or certification documents.
Alignment requirements depend on what the job changes. Monroe’s alignment guidance notes both the importance of checking geometry after relevant suspension work and exceptions where replacement does not affect the angles. A rear damper-only job should not automatically be described as requiring the same alignment work as a front height or control-arm change.
Australia and New Zealand use different approval processes
Australia: check the registration authority for the state or territory where the vehicle will be used. The official VSB 14 information explains that technical requirements and jurisdictional administration are separate. A product described as bolt-on is not automatically approved for every installation.
New Zealand: confirm the proposed changes with a WoF inspector or an appropriately authorised LVV certifier before ordering. The New Zealand Government modification guidance explains the certification pathway. This guide does not classify the unverified kit as exempt or certified.
What information should you confirm before ordering?
Send the delivery market, build date, exact model and powertrain, plus photographs or part numbers for the existing suspension. Include current modifications, normal load, desired outcome and the option you are considering.
Get a useful option-specific answer
- The exact components and quantity in the selected front pair, rear pair or set.
- Springs, top mounts, bushes and hardware supplied versus reused.
- Verified fitment, damper lengths, intended spring/load combination and any height change.
- Adjustment function, baseline settings and fitting documentation.
- Installation labour, alignment and applicable approval requirements.
- Delivered total in your chosen currency, shipment method, timing and return conditions.
Compare complete jobs rather than subtracting old blog prices. A front-and-rear damper order and a bundle with springs or other components may involve different parts and labour. Review the live selected option and the shipping policy and return conditions.
Compare Cannon shock options and confirm supplied parts
Send your Cannon details and ask which parts are supplied
For other vehicle accessories, return to the GWM Cannon parts collection.
GWM Cannon shock absorber FAQ
Should I buy front shocks, rear shocks or the complete set?
Choose by the diagnosed job and your current suspension. Front and rear pairs cover different axles; the listed set needs an itemised component list before you can compare its scope or value.
Does the front pair include springs?
Confirm the selected packing list. The front-pair label does not establish whether it is damper-only or an assembled spring-and-damper package, or which mounts and springs are reused.
Will the front pair provide the advertised lift?
Do not assume so. Confirm which spring-and-component combination produces a height change, on which vehicle and load condition. A damper-only replacement is not automatically a lift kit.
Does a double-wishbone front suspension rule out coil-over units?
No. A spring-and-damper unit can be used within a double-wishbone suspension. Fitment depends on the actual mounting, spring-seat arrangement, lengths and application; a generic part label is not enough.
Do the rear shocks replace the leaf springs?
For the leaf-sprung rear arrangement discussed here, rear dampers and leaf springs are separate components. Confirm what is supplied and whether the existing spring setup suits the intended load.
Does a harder setting increase payload or towing capacity?
No. A damping adjustment does not by itself raise the permitted vehicle, axle or towing limits. Match the complete setup to the load while staying within the applicable ratings.
Can these shocks guarantee that the vehicle will not bottom out?
No such guarantee is established. Have load, spring condition, damper lengths, travel and contact points checked before buying parts to address bottoming or topping out.
Is wheel alignment always required after replacing rear shocks?
The required checks depend on the vehicle and work performed. Have the workshop confirm whether geometry is affected; do not treat a rear damper-only replacement as identical to a front height or control-arm change.
Will the same parts fit every Cannon, Cannon Alpha and KingKong?
Do not assume interchangeability. Confirm the delivery market, build, exact model, powertrain, mounting arrangement and existing modifications against the selected part numbers.
What is included in the listed 10-piece set?
Obtain a labelled photograph and an itemised packing list identifying each component, quantity and axle. The set name alone does not establish springs, arms, links, brackets or fasteners supplied.
Do bolt-on parts automatically avoid certification?
No automatic approval is established by that description. Check the actual installation and the requirements of the Australian registration jurisdiction or the New Zealand WoF/LVV process as applicable.
What should I include in a fitment enquiry?
Send vehicle build and model details, current spring and damper information, modifications, normal load, intended outcome, selected option and delivery postcode. Request the exact contents, fitting documents and complete delivered cost.
