Shock Absorbers, Struts, and Coil-overs explained. What is the difference between them?

The world of car suspension components is already extremely convoluted, and industry jargon doesn't help matters. When you think about it, the goal of oversimplifying suspension part names was to make things easier to comprehend, not the other way around.

Words like "shocks," "shock absorbers," "damper," "coil-over," and "strut" are frequently jumbled and used interchangeably, adding to the confusion.

Coil-overs and struts are frequently confused, and it's easy to understand why. Even though they are both technically shock absorbers, they work in quite different ways and have various amounts of responsibility.

We'll clarify the air and explain the distinctions between struts and coilovers in this quick essay. Let's get started.

Struts vs. Coil-overs:

One of the reasons for the ambiguity surrounding these phrases is that suspension component makers target various markets — namely, the light truck/off-road and street/track car industries.

The contrast is actually fairly apparent and straightforward. Once you understand the fundamental notion, you'll know exactly what to look for when purchasing aftermarket suspension. We'll go through the similarities and differences between shocks, struts, and coilovers below.

Suspension damper Shocks:

Simply said, "shocks" is an abbreviation for "shock absorber." Many people use any of these terms to describe a damper, which is a tube-like device that controls the compression and decompression of coil springs. The damper is simply a piston in an oil or gas-filled cylinder.

The phrase "shock absorber" refers to any device that dampens the feedback from the road. It can refer to a strut coupled to a coil spring, a coil-over, or merely the damper.

Off-road coil-over suspension:

The semantics of "shock" and "shock absorber" is very contextual. That is, depending on the context, the proper meaning can be assigned to these phrases.

For the sake of clarity, we prefer to term dampers "dampers," and "shock" or "shock absorber" should only refer to the full unit, which includes the damper and coil spring, depending on the suspension type being addressed.

The elliptical leaves of a leaf spring suspension, for example, can properly be considered shock absorbers. But it makes no sense; simply call them what they are: springs.

Struts:

Strut KYB:

Strut slides are an important component of the suspension system. They serve more than simply as shock absorbers but as a structural link between the automobile and the steering knuckle. In other words, they offer structural support for the vehicle, support the spring, and keep the tire aligned.

Struts carry the majority of the weight of your suspension's overall duty. They are responsible for not just absorbing shocks but also supporting the entire weight of the vehicle.

If the factory struts are removed, your car will no longer be drivable and you will be unable to steer the wheels.

It's worth mentioning that because they contain a coil-over shock, fully constructed and/or adjustable struts can theoretically be called coilovers.

Coil-overs:

Coil-overs from the Fortune Auto 500 Series

Understanding how to coil overs function will eliminate half of the ambiguity around this topic. As the name implies, a coil-over is a coil spring looped over a damper and enclosed over a threaded body.

They're quite similar to struts in that they both work to decrease the pressures imposed on the automobile when traveling over bumps and potholes.

The main difference between the two is that coil-overs are often designated for performance-oriented driving situations since they provide a large amount of flexibility, allowing you to set your suspension exactly as you want.

Coil-overs, which enable you to adjust your ride height and camber settings, may also be utilized to modify your suspension geometry to some extent.

Coil-overs are far more adaptable than struts due to their ability to vary camber angle, preload, and ride height.

The one thing coil-overs cannot do is sustain the weight of your vehicle. For example, if you remove your coil-overs, your automobile may still drive and steer. Although it will eventually bottom out.

To summarize:

As you learn the distinctions between shocks, struts, and coilovers, your thoughts should be clear. Previously, full-frame and unibody automobiles may employ a specific one of these three. However, with the emergence of new suspension arrangements, this is no longer a hard and fast rule. They all contribute to a safe and enjoyable ride by absorbing suspension energy. Isn't it crazy how sophisticated today's vehicle suspension system is?

Knowing what's what and how these items function can help you make an informed selection while searching for vehicle components.