The 2026 Nissan Navara can be more expensive than that Mitsubishi Triton on which it is based, but the company promises better ride and handling – thanks to a local chassis tune from engineering firm Premcar.
However, as the locally manufactured shock absorbers are unique to Navara models in the Australian market, Nissan has revealed that dealers will be required to install the new suspension on each vehicle before delivery.
While the program will provide Nissan dealers with an “additional revenue stream” – which partly explains the Navara’s higher price – the company says the nearly new shock absorbers removed from each vehicle will be scrapped.
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“When they remove the shock absorbers, they use a standard procedure that recommends draining the oil (from the shock absorbers), disposing of it like motor oil in a car, and sending the shock absorbers for metal recycling,” a company spokesperson said Daily Sparkz.
The Nissan spokesman said the approach is in line with the automaker’s sustainability policies, which, according to Nissan’s website, place an emphasis on “reusing parts and components whenever possible, while recycling ensures material cycle.”
Nissan says there is a process whereby when a new Navara is ordered, the new South Australian-made shock absorbers are sent to a dealer so they can be fitted before the customer takes delivery of the ute.
“They have a standard and very comprehensive process for installation – in line with the installation of original accessories which is part of their pre-delivery process,” the spokesperson explained.
“The removed shock absorbers do not go back to a warehouse or are sent somewhere else. They have already covered a few kilometers.
“So they’re drained, the oil is recycled or disposed of the same way motor oil and fluids are disposed of and recycled. And the steel and components are recycled as well.”
Premcar has developed three different suspension tunes for the four Navara variants – one for the SL and ST, which use heavy-duty four-leaf springs, while the ST-X and Pro-4X (equipped with three-leaf springs) have tunes specifically for the 18-inch wheels and road-oriented tires and 17-inch wheels with off-road tires, respectively.
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