What's the difference between:

shocks

struts

springs

coilovers

kangaroos

 

ok a shock or strut is more properly called a damper. it is there to dampen the resonance if a spring.

a strut is a damper that is used as part of the suspension linkage, like the front of an fc.

a shock is like on an old american car where it only is a shock.

you know what a spring is, its a wound coil of spring steel to hold up the car.

technically a coil over would be like what the rear of an fc has where the spring and shock are built as one assembly.

kangaroo's are marsoupials native the austrailia



mike

 

lol good explanation

 

so a coilover is a spring, together with a shock (aka strut, aka damper). Is that it? What confused me was the different terms.

me: "I think I need new shocks, my car is extra bumpy."

other guy: "Really? Are you sure you don't mean your struts?"

me: "Well, damn, now I'm just confused."



Also, what makes coilover so much better than a shock and spring? (if they are better, they sure do seem a lot more pricey)

 

Springs have the most effect on a suspension. A bumpy ride is usually springs. If you car dipped and rolled alot it could be struts or springs. Personally I usually never change one without the other. Only time I did was on my Jeep with the leaf springs, I had them redone, a spring added and the ride heing incresed by about 2.5 inches. With the shocks that are on there, and are probably original, the thing rides like a million dollars, I still havent changed the shocks the entire time I have the thing. They are rusty nasty looking things, but the truck rides good so **** it I say!

 

you must have been taking to a redneck, next time fake an english accent and ask for dampers. see if he know what you are talking about



mike

 

Coilovers are springs with adjustable collars on them.

 

no coil overs are any spring / damper combo where the spring is over the damper. ("coil over" the damper) the FC has coil overs from the factory.



if it has an adj. perch, like the aftermarket ones, then they are "adj coil overs"



shock / strut are basicly interchangable word wise... you either have one or the other, minor diff. say either and they will know what you mean. shock doesn't have a spring on it (non coil over..) and strut does.

 

coil overs stock

 

you must have been taking to a redneck, next time fake an english accent and ask for dampers. see if he know what you are talking about



mike[/quote]

You're right on the money...he lives "way out 20," which, in this town, means really redneck.