1998 Chevy Camaro Shocks and Struts

raymackin123 · Posted at Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:43 pm

Suspension problem
1998 Chevy Camaro 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 80,000 miles

My car ride is very bumpy and the ride is very uncomfortable. Also when i hit a bump the car hits real hard. I can barely go over a dip at an angle because my car bottoms out so easily.
Im pretty sure I need new shocks/struts but have no clue which ones to buy.
I need something that smooths out the ride and lifts the car up some which im assuming happens when you replace the shocks/struts.

My question is what is the difference between shocks and struts if any and is replacing them all i would need to do to fix my problems?

bluelightnin6 · Posted at Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:44 pm

Both shocks and struts serve the same purpose, to dampen the vibrations of a mechanical system. The difference is that a strut is an integral part of the suspension whereas a shock is just an add on damper. A strut supports the weight of the vehicle, and typically replaces the upper control arm and serves as pivots for the steering rack. A shock supports no significant weight and is installed soley to dampen the resonant vibrations of the spring.

From the symptoms you stated, it does seem that your struts or shocks need replaced (whichever your car is currently equipped with).

raymackin123 · Posted at Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:07 am

Are some cars equipped with both shocks and struts?
I found some cheap shocks online for my car but didnt notice any struts when searching. Does this mean my car online has shocks?

bluelightnin6 · Posted at Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:34 am

some vehicles can be equipped with both shocks as well as strut asssemblies. your vehicle is equipped with shocks all around.

raymackin123 · Posted at Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:01 pm

Thank you very much. Very helpful.
Hopefully replacing them all will fix this problem