What is the Difference Between Shocks and Struts
What are struts on a car? What are shocks on a car? Both struts and shocks are critical to the suspension of your vehicle and how it manages the road below it. The correct suspension system helps with your car’s ride quality and handling, so fabulous struts and shocks can help create a corner-carving monster or a pillowy soft cruiser, whatever you want. The shocks have a minor role in the suspension system by absorbing any bumps in the road. While struts also mitigate bumps from the road, they also have more of a structural role by supporting the vehicle’s chassis, especially if you’re driving offroad. Both are there to ensure every drive you take is as tight as the previous one, so keeping them in good condition will benefit you greatly. Know the difference between shocks and struts on a car with Mandal Buick GMC.
What are shocks?
As far as shocks, also referred to as the shock absorbers, are a key component of the suspension system. They control the impact and rebound movement of your vehicle’s springs and suspension, they ensure that the vehicle’s tires remain in contact with the road surface at all times .ultimately, they absorb energy. Without shocks, the wheels on the car or truck will actually bounce off of the road surface, and vibrate erratically down rough roads.
The key components of the shock absorber are a piston, a coil, and hydraulic fluid. When the car wheel dips down, for example into a pothole or crevice, the shock initiates a compression cycle, and a piston exerts pressure on hydraulic fluid in the upper chamber of the device. The fluid serves to slow down the coil as it relaxes back into place, and this helps prevent an excessively bumpy feel to the ride.
What are struts?
Struts are the structural part of the suspension system and they are used on the front end of nearly every front-wheel –drive vehicle. A strut integrates numerous different suspension parts into one compact assembly. The latter include:
- The Coil Spring
- The Spring Seats
- The Shock Absorbers
- The Strut Bearing
- The Steering Knuckle
The shock absorber portion of the strut is the most commonly serviced part of the strut assembly.
The coil spring can support the weight of the vehicle and adjust to road irregularities like bumps, hills and valleys. Specifically, the struts connect the upper bearing to the lower ball joint so that the entire assembly can pivot when the vehicle is turned in any direction. Struts serve multiple purpose : the internal shock absorber will dampen the movement of the spring as it compresses and rebounds itself while the vehicle is travelling and with its spring it will support the weight of the vehicle while it is moving so that it can adapt to road irregularities In sum, while the shocks simply absorb impact, the struts also function to support and control the vehicle in motion.
Shocks vs. struts: What’s the difference?
While shocks and struts are both parts of your car’s suspension system, they are fundamentally different components. Shock absorbers are located behind the tires and work alongside a separately mounted spring. The sole job of car shock absorbers is to stop the car from bouncing.
Car struts combine a shock and spring assembly in one unit that is part of the structural make-up of the vehicle. These heavy-duty, weight-bearing components are attached to the wheel. In addition to softening the ride, struts also hold the tire in position and provide valuable support to the vehicle’s braking and steering systems.
“Depending on the suspension, some cars feature a combination of both shocks and struts,” Castle says.
