Guest JAMIE T Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 What is the differance between a strut and a shock? Also inlude Coilover Shocks. Coilover shocks support the complete weight of a car as does a strut some times right? What conditions must be present to need one or the other? Or, would a coilover shock be interchangable with a coilover strut given the right mounts are added? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 What is the differance between a strut and a shock? Also inlude Coilover Shocks. Coilover shocks support the complete weight of a car as does a strut some times right? What conditions must be present to need one or the other?Or' date=' would a coilover shock be interchangable with a coilover strut given the right mounts are added?[/quote'] A strut bears load. A shock does not. So in a Z for example, you can't remove the struts and set the car on the ground. In a pickup truck you can remove the shock and it set the truck down with no problems. As to the second part of your question I think the answer is yes. In a 510 for example you have rear shocks, but some people use a strut that incorporates the spring, like the back of a 280ZX and then remove the separate spring, basically converting it from shock to strut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 A strut is an upper suspension locating member that is typically a vertically oriented metal tube that is connected to the hub. A shock is a hydraulic device the dampens the motions of the suspension springs. On a McPhereson and Chapman Strut suspension the strut has a coil spring located around it and the spring sits on a lower spring perch attached to the strut. In addition, a shock is installed inside the hollow tube of the strut with the shock body clamped in the tube and the shock shaft is attached to the vehicle body at the upper spring perch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2126 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Jamie T, To add to John's post.....a McPhereson strut is used in a steering application (front suspension) and a Champman strut is used in a non-steering application (rear suspension). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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