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What is the Difference Between Shocks and Struts?

The Difference Between Shocks & Struts

How do your shocks and struts help you manage on the roads?

  • Part of Your Car’s Suspension System
  • What is a Shock?
  • What is a Strut?
  • How to Tell Your Shocks or Struts Are Worn

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1. Shocks and Struts are Both Part of Your Car’s Suspension System

2. What is a Shock?

3. Don’t Skip What is a Strut?

4. How to Tell Your Shocks or Struts Are Worn

5. AAMCO Can Help!

6. More From Our Blog

Shocks and Struts are Both Parts of Your Car’s Suspension System

Your car stays elevated off the ground thanks to your suspension system and you enjoy a smooth ride thanks to shocks and struts. In this way, both parts are similar because they serve a similar ultimate purpose in your car. When parts of your suspension system wear out and break, you’ll notice much more extra motion when braking, turning and driving over bumps because a key purpose is to steady the body of your car.

What is a Shock?

Shocks are also known as shock absorbers and that actually tells you a lot about what they do. They help keep your wheels in contact with the ground when you go over a bump, so if yours have worn out, you may notice some skidding if you hit a bump on a turn. They’re comprised of a sealed tube filled with gas and/or liquid. Inside of that is a coil and piston. Whenever you go over a bump, that system absorbs the energy created so that it doesn’t carry into other parts of your car, causing a rough ride, skidding, and tricky handling.

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Your Car’s Shocks Are a Key Component of the Suspension System

While shocks are an important part of your suspension system, they also are not a true structural component of the suspension system. In fact, your shocks can be part of struts if your car utilizes struts. Basically, all cars have shocks, which may be part of struts, but not all cars have struts.

What is a Strut?

Struts are a true structural part of the suspension system and are really an assembly of several different suspension parts, including shock absorbers. In all, the parts of a strut include a coil spring, spring seats, shock absorbers, and strut bearing. All of these components work together to help keep the body of your car on the ground and keep your wheels in contact with the ground to give a smooth ride. As you can see, your struts are much more complicated than shocks.

Your Car’s Struts Are a Structural Part of the Suspension System

Within your struts, the coil spring supports the weight of your car and the shock absorbers dampen the movement of the spring and therefore the body of your car when going over bumps. The rest of the components play a role in keeping the whole strut together, in place, and allowing for necessary motion. Because there are more working components in your struts, it’s even more important not to procrastinate if you suspect a repair is necessary.

How to Tell Your Shocks or Struts Are Worn

There are a few signs you can look out for that your shocks or struts are wearing out. Many of them will be pretty noticeable when you’re driving, while others may require taking a closer look for yourself once the car is parked. Most people will notice a change in handling first. This can be extra motion when braking, skipping when turning a corner, and extra motion when driving over bumps. Otherwise, you may notice a fluid leak, shocks or struts that look dented or damaged, or uneven tire wear. As a good rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to think about having them replaced around every 50,000 miles, since letting them go too long worn can add to damage and wear of other parts.

For Any Suspension Service, Give AAMCO Colorado a Call

Whether it’s time for new shocks or struts or you simply need some regular maintenance done, you can trust the mechanics at AAMCO Colorado to take care of your car. We’re able to accurately diagnose and repair any issue you’re having – and scheduling an appointment online is quick and easy.

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