How do I determine if I have CATS? I just purchased an 01 Vanden Plas that needs new shocks. I believe from my research that this car didn't come with the CATS system and that the Bilstein 24-023726 are the correct front units and a similar setup in the rear. But how do I make sure? I'd much rather spend ~$400 than ~$1200 but I also want to get the correct units for my vehicle.

 

I was under the impression that only the 2003's had it, with the exception of the 02 XJR 100. Hopefully someone else will chime in though.

 

Maybe I'm looking at this too simple. Can't you just look at the shocks? If there is a wire to the shock it's the CATS system. If not it's not CATS.

 

larney is right, if you have cats shocks you will have a wire going into the shock mount, and probably a black plastic cone-ish cap sitting over that, if not it'll just be the regular shock mount with no wiring



non-CATS

 

My VDP is a year newer than yours and I just replaced the 4 shocks - no cats on the standard VDP (maybe on the VDP s/c aka super v8 though)

 

After I posted it dawned on me that I should probably look at them and see if I can tell from a visual inspection. I'll check in the morning and report back.

 

I have a 2003 XJR with CATS. The top of my shock towers under the hood have plastic caps covering wires that go into the shock shaft. It looks very different from this. With the cap in place, you can't see the large metal washer and nut at the top of the shock. My 1999 VDP, w/o CATS looks just like the picture.

TLDR: If you front shock tower top does not look like the picture you have CATS.

-Mike

 

For reference, here's a pic of a CATS shock top with wire attached and a shock tower top cap in place. These are from my 2001 VDP Supercharged.

 

After checking today I appear to be CAT free. Thanks for the info everyone.

One more question, this site has two part numbers for the front and two for the rear, how do I know which is correct?

Bilstein - KYB - Rancho - Monroe - KONI Shocks and Struts - Shockwarehouse.com

Looking at the 4600 Heavy Duty (B6) units.

 

the ones with part no 757 and 740 in that section are described as touring when you click on the part number, while the other two, 733 and 726 are the heavy duty ones. it looks like the $300 ones are the cats shocks, if the description is right.