Alright I always get confused between shocks and struts.. Can anyone enlighten me on what setup we have..


Im looking at Eibach lowering springs, and bilstein shocks.. but im confused when it comes to struts and such

 

bump... just trying to learn

 

Struts up front and shocks in the rear like most cars. However, unlike most cars, the stock suspension is all coilover setup. BTW, I wouldn't get Eibachs. Check out the Hotchkis Springs from GSC motorsports. They are awesome. That's what I have.

 

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/4997

I think all four corners would be considered struts. The front setup definitely is since it's a McPherson strut setup. The rear is a multi-link steup, but I think the shock and spring are integrated into one unit, which would probably classify it as a strut.

By buying Bilstein shocks, you're just replacing the shock absorber part of the strut assemblies.

When I think shocks, I normally picture the cylindrical tubes you see as shock absorbers on SUVs and pickup trucks. It's just there to provide motion damping. You could take it out and the suspension still holds the car up (you'll just have a bouncy ride).

When I think struts I picture what you have inside your front wheel well, a shock body with spring perch, a spring compressed into it, with it providing an essential connection from the strut tower to the control arm. If you take that out, you don't have a front suspension.

 

Ok so Ill buy 4 Springs, And 4 Struts.. Im gonna go with the bilstein from the MR and then have the Tein S Springs.. Sounds like a plan..

Thanks

 

Spend that money on some nice coilovers instead of the MR setup. I have S-Stechs and I'd hate to see you mess one of those really expensive Blistiens because your car is too low.

 

Yeah and only the front would be too low. S-Techs look ridiculous, IMO.

If you are going to blow through 2K+ on the MR stuff and springs, you are WAY better off with coilovers.

 

Evo has front struts and rear shocks. They are not coilovers either.

 

The coil is over the damping device in the front and rear. Thus they are coilovers. Most cars have a separate shock and spring assembly in the rear.

 

you have a losser definition of coilovers than I do.

 

Haha, that may be true, but doesn't help answer the original question.

For the "dampening devices": struts up front and shocks in the rear.

Here's an article I found that may shed some light:
http://www.prostreetonline.com/pso/p...p?articleid=36

 

Struts comes with spring on top and usually located in front suspension in most cars, Shocks are just dampers, no springs. Hope this helps.

 

Attached is Evo shocks and struts.

The shocks are laying down and the struts are standing up. They are the stock setup but aftermarket parts.

Also attached is a picture of aftermarket coilovers.

Are they both coilovers setups? I think so.

 

Tell em Cody. The coiled spring fits over the "damping device", a.k.a. shock, therefore "coilover". Pretty much the same front and rear. I got a box full of that EVO stuff at home.

 

So then you would call all struts coilovers also? If I sell my MR and I list that it has coilovers your not going to be upset when you find that it is stock?

Coilovers to me has always means some form of adjustable spring perch on the shock body.