need help not the sharpest tool in the shed

[utekid2]

can some one tell me what is the difference between shocks and struts?? no techno bulls@*t as i dnt know. I need some for my vt with lower king springs allround allready. pictures to show the difference would be great!!! ive serched this fourm over and over to try find out whats the difference but still im unsuccessful. are they one in the same? i do know the strut tops need replaceing. so ive been told by local goodyear

i have been quoted to replace front strut tops and front shockers (monroe gt sport i think as they are recomended with kings lowered) $390 plus $160 labour!!
is this a good price?? as i dnt want to be ripped off!!

any help with both or just one of my questions would be a big big help thanks email pictures to utekid2@hotmail.com

[lothaer]

Shocks
The shock absorbers duty is to absorb or dissipate energy. One design consideration, when designing or choosing a shock absorber is where that energy will go. In most dashpots, energy is converted to heat inside the viscous fluid. In hydraulic cylinders, the hydraulic fluid will heat up, while in air cylinders, the hot air is usually exhausted to the atmosphere. In other types of dashpots, such as electromagnetic ones, the dissipated energy can be stored and used later. In smaller terms shock absorbers help cushion cars on uneven roads.

Struts
A strut bar, strut brace, or strut tower brace (STB) is a mostly aftermarket car suspension accessory usually used in conjunction with MacPherson struts on monocoque or unibody chassis to provide extra stiffness between the strut towers.

from wikipedia.com

[strgas]

struts are normally used to support the spring and to allow the wheels to turn from side to side with a shock absorber in the middle . A shock absorber can be attached to the lower arm of the rear suspension and is to dampen the suspension movement without supporting the cars weight as-well unless its a coil over shocker unit . your vt is fitted with struts front and shockers rear two very different looking units

[utekid2]

thanks guys as its a standard vt strgas it has strut front end and shockies in the rear is that wat u sayin? sorry im just trying to take it all in. so if it has two different type do i need two different types of shockies fonth and back??

[strgas]

that's right it has strut front end and shockers in the rear check any pedders website for pics of the two different units and you will see the difference for yourself . early commodores had replaceable strut inserts but most late models have struts which are not serviceable . so you require struts for the front end and shockers for the rear . prices will vary from product to product

[utekid2]

ok cool i get ya know, we back to my first post 390 for parts and 160 for labour i think that is just the front end( again monroe gt sports struts) cos they recommend them with kings lowered

[utekid2]

http://www.monroe.com.au/uploads/ima...c-gt-sport.jpg in this picture the top one is the shockie and the lower one with the big collar round it is the strut!! YES????

[strgas]

Depends what you want the car to do and the handling you want out of it springs and shocks are just part of the suspension set up . consider bushes sway bars wheel alignment camber caster kits you could spend a little or a lot . get advice from people like pedders or suspension specialist .

[utekid2]

yeah ive been told i will need a camber kit cos the vts have a habit of scubbin rear tyres when there lowered without a camber kit. is this true??
the whole reason for the king springs was cos the idiot be4 me lowered it and cut all four springs!! now shocks are buggered cos of extra down pressure on them so ive been told

[strgas]

In your pic theyre both struts the one on top is a fixed strut found in most ford front ends the lower one is holden or toyota type strut . both these units have a spring support . most rear shockers have no spring mounts .

[strgas]

cutting the springs is the cheap and dangerous way of lowering a car and as for shocks they have hammered the inside valve due to incorrect length of due to cut springs . when lowering cars always consider suspension travel .

[strgas]

camber kits will help correct the rear toe and camber but not rid the car of tyre scrub completely thats a design fault . you may need two kits four bushes all together for maximum adjustment .

[utekid2]

ok atm the car drags mud flaps wen riding over bumps but im hoping to fit that with some hd rear springs and shockers
what kind or suspension do i have in vt rear irs or wat

[strgas]

being a vt sedan it will have irs

[utekid2]

what is all the camber and bushes
things i may need so i can do some research

[strgas]

Pedders Suspension - E-Catalogue
check this link

[utekid2]

ok there is a few isnt there. i think at this stage ill just do a bit at a time thanks moneys abit short. but does the 390 for the strut tops and shockers and 160 for two hours labour sound ok

[strgas]

sounds a fair price to me

[utekid2]

thats just for the front. plus anther 145 for low kings for rear plus what ever the pair of shockes cost. still fair??

[GAMBLR]

I hope for your sake the springs aren't cut buddy. This is dangerous enough on a live axle car, on a car with IRS it could be catastrophic...

[utekid2]

they were cut mate all four so thats why im goin all out to replace the lot with something decent

[GAMBLR]

Good idea mate! Glad to hear you're in the mind of fixing it!
See you're from Snowtown aye? Is that the one in SA?

[utekid2]

yeah mate snowtown SA bout 2hrs north of adel. i have a price for all parts supplied KYB front struts 145 each rear king spring lowered(already have front king in) 145 the pair and rear KYB shockers 70 -80 each.

[GAMBLR]

Hmm that seems like a fair price for it all... to me anyway, wait until one of the other guys adds their bit :P
Pass by Snowtown all the time on my way to Adelaide, I live in Whyalla, but rents live in Pirie

[utekid2]

no worries i used to work in roxby and grew up in woomera till woomera shut down, parts will be ready for my to pick up monday