There are a lot of misconceptions about shocks and struts. Shocks are basically standalone units and are installed with a separate set of coil springs. Manufacturers will typically tune the ride, handling, and bounce rate of the vehicle depending on the resistance of the shock absorbers.

The resistance of the shock absorber will all depend on the size and number of orifices in the piston. Keep in mind that shock absorbers are similar to oil pumps. As the suspension travels up or down, hydraulic fluid inside the pressure tube will force the fluid inside the orifices in the piston. As only a small amount of fluid is permitted to enter the orifice, this will inevitably slow down the movement of the springs and the suspension.

Struts are commonly found on the suspension system of modern vehicles. The struts are the main structural part of the suspension system. The basic strut design will negate the use of separate upper control arms and upper ball joints. The result is a suspension package that is lighter and more compact. The basic components of a strut suspension system includes the coil spring, the strut housing, and the damping unit. The bottom portion of the strut system is connected to the steering knuckle via the lower control arm and the lower ball joints.

The shocks or struts in your vehicle are not designed to last forever. Depending on the severity of the usage, the shocks and struts will need to be replaced as your vehicle ages. The most common symptoms of bad or faulty shocks and struts are poor handling, suspension bottoming out when you drive over humps or bumps, and a wallowing feeling when you drive on the highway. The shock absorbers will also take a lot of punishment as you drive over potholes at speed.

Whether you need high-quality shock absorbers for street and off-road applications, or if you happen to be looking for performance-oriented strut suspension systems, you can find them all here at Sam’s Motorsports. We offer shocks and struts at discounted prices so you can endow your vehicle with better ride and handling characteristics without breaking the bank.