Difference Between A Strut And A Shock?

Not always. Some cars have struts on all four, and there are lots of cars that don't have any struts.

Basically, a strut (more correctly, a MacPherson strut) does four things. It suspends the weight of the car with a coil spring, it dampens shock with a shock absorber, it transmits the forces of the

wheels to the car and vice versa, and it provides a pivot for steering.

A shock is just a shock... it resists movement but cannot support weight.

Multi link suspensions dispense with the strut to allow for better suspension geometry (and ergo, handling) so have shocks and springs mounted separately. Leaf spring suspension also uses separate shocks.... usually on non steerable wheels with a solid axle so no need for struts.

A lot of cars have struts front and back.

A strut is a supporting structure in your suspension. It fastens to a body mount at the top and the lower swing arm and supports the weight of the car. The spring and the shock absorber are both an integral component of the strut.

A shock absorber does not support the weight of the car. It is only a shock, separate from the spring. The spring is a separate component in your suspension, usually mounted between the frame and the lower swing arm in your suspension. The suspension structure is very different, with an upper and lower swing arm. The function of the shock is only to dampen the spring action. It also fastens between the frame and the lower swing arm, and usually (not always) is located inside the coil spring, but it can be removed without interfering with any other suspension component.

not all the time ! i had a Oldsmobile and it had struts on the front and back ! struts are mostly put on front wheel drive cars in the front but some cars like the one i use to own has struts on the back too ! with struts on the front the coil spring is on the strut and with shocks the spring is separate from the shock !

strut is a combo unit