Car Parts Guide
REAR SHOCK ABSORBER Mazda CX-5 · PARTS GUIDE

Mazda CX-5 Rear Shock Absorber: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

Genuinely worth knowing: even within the same generation, Mazda changed the rear shock's mounting hardware mid-production — a detail several parts suppliers still get wrong.

Illustration of a rear shock absorber and coil spring Illustration for editorial purposes
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Confirmed: A Genuine Mid-Cycle Mounting Change Within the Same Generation

Genuinely worth knowing before ordering: owners and suspension specialists have confirmed the first-generation CX-5's rear shock mounting stud changed size partway through production — early cars (roughly pre-mid-2013) use a 14mm eyehole/bolt-through mounting, while later cars (mid-2013 to 2017) switched to a 20mm threaded stud with a nut and washer. This is a genuinely common source of ordering the wrong part, since it's not a generation change but a running change within the same model years, and several suppliers don't distinguish between the two when listing parts.

A further genuinely important distinction: AWD and front-wheel-drive versions use different rear shocks, reflecting the different rear axle layout needed for the AWD driveline.

Mazda CX-5 Rear Shock Absorber: The Part That Takes Every Bump Before You Feel It

Because the Mazda CX-5's front suspension is tied to steering feel, it tends to get all the attention — but rear shocks wear at a similar rate, with symptoms subtle enough to be mistaken for road noise until the problem has clearly worsened.

Before you buy: exact build date (for the mounting stud size), drivetrain, and left/right side all affect fitment. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering, and check the physical mounting style on your existing shock if possible.

Mazda CX-5 Rear Shock Absorber: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: Mazda cx-5 rear shock removal and replacement (2013-2016)

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Mazda CX-5 Rear Shock Absorber reference plate

OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — rear shock absorbers (aftermarket) Monroe 5530ST / Bilstein 19-264004

Accuracy note: Covers the Mazda CX-5 (KE 2012-2017) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Rear shock absorbers are replaced as a pair across the axle, because a new damper beside a worn one leaves the car feeling uneven. The right one depends on the engine, the suspension type (standard, sport or heavy-duty, and electronic damping on some models) and sometimes the body style. The references below are UK aftermarket catalogue listings for this generation, labelled by brand with the fitment details the catalogue gives; carmakers rarely publish the genuine number against these, so match a genuine damper against your VIN if you want a guaranteed fit. genuinely worth knowing: confirm the physical mounting stud style on your existing shock (bolt-through eyehole vs threaded stud) in addition to drivetrain and side, since suppliers don't always distinguish this mid-cycle change clearly.
Rear shock absorbers (aftermarket)Monroe 5530ST (gas, telescopic); Bilstein 19-264004 (gas); Mapco 20231 (gas)
Genuine (OE) numbers quotedNone quoted in the catalogue listings — the genuine damper varies by engine, suspension type and body style, so order it against your VIN
Front-wheel drive, rightGenuinely a different part number from the left-side shock, and from the AWD version below — confirm mounting stud style and side before ordering
Front-wheel drive, leftA genuinely different reference from the right-side shock above
AWD, right/leftGenuinely different references from the front-wheel-drive shocks, reflecting the different rear axle layout

Shock absorbers should always be replaced in pairs on the same axle.

Mazda CX-5 Rear Shock Absorber: What It Does

On the Mazda CX-5, the rear shock absorber's role — separate from the coil spring — is managing how quickly the suspension compresses and rebounds over bumps. When it wears out, the rear end keeps bouncing rather than settling quickly.

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Mazda CX-5 Rear Shock Absorber: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Rear Shock Absorber Guide for symptoms of a worn shock, confirming fitment against your VIN, and OEM vs aftermarket guidance.

More Mazda Rear Shock Absorber

The same part, covered across other Mazda models.