PLZ READ! 4th gens DONT HAVE STRUTS!!!
10-12-2014, 04:53 PM
#42
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Bolt to..... 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..
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..
10-13-2014, 06:42 AM
#44
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My pet peeve is everyone calls an engine a motor.... Its NOT a motor. A motor needs an external power source to run. (as in volts) An engine runs under its own power.
10-15-2014, 03:54 PM
#47
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The top of the shock does not bolt to the upper arm, it bolts to a plate that goes against the body. If it bolted to the arm it wouldn't damper because the arms (better known as the two mounting points) would be moving in sync. Suggesting they bolt to the upper arm just made us all a little dumber!
10-15-2014, 04:14 PM
#48
I still get a kick out of how many alignment shops tell people they need caster/camber plates to align their 4th gen.
While I know the difference, I have found that when a customer is referring to the front shocks as struts, I usually just kinda go with it to avoid confusion, as long as it doesn't involve confusing the actual workings of the suspension and components. Otherwise, it involves me getting into this whole conversation. Some people still call them struts just because of the spring over shock design. Another factor that confuses many is the fact that 3rd gens so use a true strut front end. With both cars sharing rear suspension components, many assume the fronts are similar as well. When in actuality, they have nothing in common in the front.
While I know the difference, I have found that when a customer is referring to the front shocks as struts, I usually just kinda go with it to avoid confusion, as long as it doesn't involve confusing the actual workings of the suspension and components. Otherwise, it involves me getting into this whole conversation. Some people still call them struts just because of the spring over shock design. Another factor that confuses many is the fact that 3rd gens so use a true strut front end. With both cars sharing rear suspension components, many assume the fronts are similar as well. When in actuality, they have nothing in common in the front.
10-15-2014, 09:01 PM
#49
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And, an iroc 3rd gen was a damn good performer around corners, obtaining higher G forces then your standard issue 4th gen! While the motors got better during fbody production, the suspension really didn't.......
10-16-2014, 07:27 AM
#51
TECH Senior Member
11-16-2016, 05:17 AM
#54
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..
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..
Well while we're talking about the suspension names (found this while trying to find tubular front suspension threads) third gens do NOT have MacPherson... they have what's called Modified Strut. MacPherson is what is typically referred to as coil-over-shock. But third gens have the coil sandwiched between the A arm and the K member, with the strut attached from the body to the spindle. Therefore it is not MacPherson...
Last edited by JCS94; 11-16-2016 at 10:45 AM.
