KYB AGX shocks or struts?

[gregshin]

I got my AGX in the office now...and im wondering if they are shox or struts? If they are considered just shocks then they should be very cheap to install...if they're struts then i'm gonna just install em myself...so what are they classified under as?

[nrcooled]

shocks

someone correct me if I am wrong:
Shocks have the springs mount on them
Struts have the springs mount next to them (or elsewhere)

[gregshin]

i just got off the phone with tire rack and they told me the fronts are struts and rears are shocks.

[Drifted off road]

yes the front are struts (they have the bigger springs in them) and the rear are shocks (they have smaller springs around them)

[weirdstyles.net]

too my limited knowledge, struts is teh spring wrapped around the shock, while a shock is just the shock, with the spring mounted close by. Like shock and spring setups on trucks in the rear.

[AKADriver]

To answer the original question, the KYB AGX come as complete "struts", not just the "shock" inserts, so with a spring compressor they're a bolt in job. Konis come as inserts only (no mounts or spring perches) which requires you to disassemble the "struts" to install them.

...

Now, to be totally pedantic, anal-retentive and frustratingly technical:

A "strut" in an automotive suspension is a vertical link that supports and locates the spindle or upright, and out of necessity of being vertical (in the direction of suspension motion) always includes the damper and usually includes the spring perch. This means that a strut mounts SOLIDLY to the spindle/upright at the bottom.

The 240SX front suspension is a standard McPherson strut type suspension, with the exception of the tension rods, which are a nice addition, when they work.

The 240SX rear suspension is a multi-link design that does not incorporate struts. The dampers are mounted via a bushing to the uprights, they do not serve to locate and support the uprights, and therefore are not struts. The damper assemblies DO include the spring perches, which leads most people to incorrectly call them struts, and most people know what you're talking about if you say "rear struts" to refer to the rear damper assemblies.

Also note my use of the word "damper" instead of "shock absorber". "Shock absorber" is an unfortunate misnomer. The springs absorb shocks, the dampers serve to damp the motion of the springs (hence "dampers").

[weirdstyles.net]

Originally posted by AKADriver
To answer the original question, the KYB AGX come as complete "struts", not just the "shock" inserts, so with a spring compressor they're a bolt in job. Konis come as inserts only (no mounts or spring perches) which requires you to disassemble the "struts" to install them.

...

Now, to be totally pedantic, anal-retentive and frustratingly technical:

A "strut" in an automotive suspension is a vertical link that supports and locates the spindle or upright, and out of necessity of being vertical (in the direction of suspension motion) always includes the damper and usually includes the spring perch. This means that a strut mounts SOLIDLY to the spindle/upright at the bottom.

The 240SX front suspension is a standard McPherson strut type suspension, with the exception of the tension rods, which are a nice addition, when they work.

The 240SX rear suspension is a multi-link design that does not incorporate struts. The dampers are mounted via a bushing to the uprights, they do not serve to locate and support the uprights, and therefore are not struts. The damper assemblies DO include the spring perches, which leads most people to incorrectly call them struts, and most people know what you're talking about if you say "rear struts" to refer to the rear damper assemblies.

Also note my use of the word "damper" instead of "shock absorber". "Shock absorber" is an unfortunate misnomer. The springs absorb shocks, the dampers serve to damp the motion of the springs (hence "dampers").


sweet christ....your way to learned for me

[AKADriver]

I try too hard :p

To bring some of the things I said back down to earth, the rear dampers not being struts is the reason you need adjustable rear upper control arms to adjust camber (instead of just a slotted upper strut mount like the front).