Originally posted by Wharbone
What are the differences between shocks and struts? I know this has been covered, but I am still confused on this one. The service manual just calls them dampers.
This has also been bothering me lately so get this right.
They're actually called a shock in a Double Wishbone suspension.
A strut is what a Macpherson strut suspension has. The basic difference with the strut is that it rotates as you steer the wheels.
There is a bearing in the strut mount which sits on the top of the strut. Also a Macpherson strut suspension doesn't have a upper control arm.
A strut and shock have the same job, they're often called dampers. They dampen shocks that the springs absorb, hence the name damper.