SVThuh

iTrader: (2)

4th gen F-Bodies dont have struts.. They have shocks, and the front suspension setup on a 4th gen is called SLA or Short Long Arm, meaning a short arm at the top and a long arm at the bottom.. Third gen f-bodies however did have a McPherson Strut front suspension design where the spindle actually mounted to the shock or strut body.

Visual Differences:
This is a strut front end.. Notice how the spindles bolt up to the dampers?


This is a SLA front end.. Notice how the top of the spindle attaches to an upper A-arm as opposed to the damper body itself?



Ok.. I feel better now..

[/rant]


Can we get a word filter on here or something for "strut/struts"="front shocks" or something..

ChrisRZ28

LOL! I don't know why people always say struts when talking about 4th gens. Hopefully everyone will see this before asking about their struts.

Wesmanw02

iTrader: (4)

This is correct.

4th gens use Short-Long-Arm front suspension with coil-over-shocks.

99FormulaM6r

iTrader: (2)

lol, glad someone made a thread instead us of having to correct people in nearly every thread (I've given up).

Good visuals though, should clear things up for people.


EDIT: I vote sticky

1BAD02WS6

iTrader: (-1)

Is it really that big of a deal? Just seems like a lot of effort over something so small. But I'm lazy.

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

its a STRUT ............LOL

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

While I do think this is silly, I also think its silly to call an automatic flexplate a flywheel when its not. So, carry on.......

lusting4ls1

iTrader: (15)

im glad i read this. i would be one of the dumbass people calling it a strut. thanks for saving me.lol

unknown pontiac

LOL, the main difference is that the struts turn with the wheels, struts are bolted-on to the spindel. On the McPherson when the wheels turn the struts turn also. On the 4gen it is SLA, the front shocks are bolted on to the lower A-arm. You can better understand by looking at the second pic op posted. When the wheels are turn right or left the shock stays stationarys. The front shocks just move up and down like the rear ones.

Just trying to help others understand.

Detoxx03

iTrader: (14)

I get tired of people saying struts

MeentSS02

iTrader: (11)

But...but...what about all those people with strut tower braces? What are they supposed to do?

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

I agree with you, however there are tons of uneducated people who will never understand the subtle differences or benefits of the two. Like 01ssreda4 who mentioned flywheel and flexplate, this is a global problem not a forum problem. Don't believe me, just ask your local parts monkey for a flexplate and see what type of blank stares you get. But don't even get me started on parts monkeys...

...and not to rain on your parade, but the Global West instruction sheet incorrectly calls them struts which doesn't help the cause.

First line of the instructions:

1BAD02WS6

iTrader: (-1)

But when you call those parts monkeys, call it a shock or a strut for our cars they send you the correct part. So what's it matter?

99FormulaM6r

iTrader: (2)

When I called around to see if someone would swap springs from my stock shocks to my Koni's, the guy I talked to on the phone of a local shop kept on correcting me by saying "strut" under his breath whenever I said "shock". When I took it in I showed it to him he finally understood, lol.

SVThuh

iTrader: (2)

Not anymore.. Just got mine this week.. LARGE pdf though.



http://www.zenithmotorsports.com/docs/charts/GW.pdf

TheSilverOne

iTrader: (22)

just as bad as people calling wheels rims

94 Camaro Z28

If we were on Facebook, I would like this.

SVThuh

iTrader: (2)

lmao!!!

pillarpod

sticky!

TransAmWS.6

Hmm, Short-Long-Arm front suspension, I had no idea about this. Extremely interesting, thanks for posting this man. I learned another new thing about my car.