Availability is tops when repair shops choose their source for shocks and struts, according to repair shops surveyed for Counterman magazine’s 2010 Professional Automotive Repair Technician Survey (P.A.R.T.S.). And brand trust is by far the most important reason a certain brand of shocks or struts is chosen, with 78 percent of respondents saying they only use a brand they trust.

According to P.A.R.T.S. results, shops perform an average of three jobs a month requiring shocks and struts and only 8 percent keep these parts in stock. As a result, shops rely on 2.4 sources, on average, for these parts, with jobbers and WDs being their preferred source for shocks and struts.

These and other statistics can be found in P.A.R.T.S., produced annually by Counterman magazine. Ten years ago, Counterman began surveying repair shops annually to determine when, how and why they source specific automotive parts and products. The resulting data, published every fall, offers perspective on how sourcing and brand-loyalty trends have changed.