what is the difference between shocks and struts?

 

The term strut refers to a damper that has been designed as a suspension control arm. On a strut suspension, the knuckle bolts solidly to the damper, and the damper connects to a pivot on the chassis. This design elminates the need for an Upper Control Arm. The steering itself actually rotates around a lower balljoint, and the shock shaft itself (instead of a lower & upper balljoint).

Strut suspension:


Upper & lower control arm (w/ coilover shock) suspension:

 

Excellent example...I've been looking for a good one myself.

 

yeh nice picture of expaining the differences~!

 

WOW nice explanation

 

The easiest is to see if there is an upper control are (shock) or not (strut). For the front wheels, you can ask if when turning the steering wheels, does the damper itself turn (strut) or not (shock)?