2007-05-09 15:54:05 · 4 answers · asked by Schleifer 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If they are the original struts, you likely do need new ones.
Shock absorbers (aka dampers) are units that add damping to the suspension. If you only had springs, the suspension would bounce up and down after hitting a bump, without stopping. Dampers help maintain control of the wheel and tire. This is how it keeps your car riding nicely.
Struts are a type of shock absorber. Struts are structural components of the suspension. They also control some attributes of the suspension geometry.
Your Geo Prizm has struts both front and rear.
Not all cars have struts front and rear, not all cars have struts front and shocks rear. Your Prizm, Neons, Corollas and Camrys have struts front and rear. Cars like the new Sebring, Caliber, G6 have struts front and shocks in the back. Cars like the Honda Accord and the Mazda 6 have shocks in the front and in the back.
Struts do not always have to have coil springs on them. Shocks can have coil springs over them. Where the spring is has no bearing on whether the damper is a strut or just a "shock."
2007-05-09 16:43:35 · answer #1 · answered by Steve B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm guessing for a 94, you have a lot of miles on the car and never changed them before. Struts are in front suspension and shocks are in back and they absorb the impacts of bumps in the road and keep the front end of the car from nosediving when braking and keep the car from leaning to much in turns or severe manuevers.....very important that they perform well.
One test is to stand on the bumper, if possible, front or back and get the car bouncing good and then jump off....the car should stop bouncing right away if your shocks/struts are ok. If it keeps bouncing a couple times, it's time for new ones. Another indication is if you have someone inspect them and they are leaking fluid, it's time to replace. Factory shocks and struts are not known to be the best quality for longevity...they usually put the cheapest ones they can get by with............Paul
2007-05-09 16:09:28 · answer #2 · answered by paul h 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Struts are part of the suspension and steering assembly,shocks are usually mounted separately from the springs,struts are a shock a spring and are mounted to the front steering knuckle to form part of steering and suspension
2007-05-09 16:05:49 · answer #3 · answered by the bear facts 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In so many words a shock is separate from spring spring. A strut is the shock and spring together in one assembly.
2007-05-09 16:08:41 · answer #4 · answered by troutdog311 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋