Re: Suspension teminology clarification

[DeWitt Harrison <de@aztek-eng.com>]

Suspension terminology is pretty loose on this list but we
generally understand each other. The word "strut" is used at
various times to mean the wheel bearing housing, the damper,
the entire assembly or anything else more or less in the vicinity
of a front wheel.  There are several different words for damper
including your "strut cartridge." The control arm, the outermost
part of which carries a ball joint, is probably what you
have termed "lower A-frame."  (Some would prefer "A-arm.")
In any case it is not an "A" in this suspension because
the longitudinal location of the ball joint - which is not a
"lower" ball joint, exactly, since there is no upper - is controlled
by the front anti-roll ("sway") bar. I think almost  everyone will
be with you on " steering tie rod," tie "rod end," although the
outer end is a ball joint, and "subframe."

On Thu, 11 Mar 1999 09:52:08 EST, Dennis Graber wrote:

>Many on the list have referred to the "control arm" for front suspension
>repairs. What exactly are you referring to? I describe the front parts as 1)
>lower A-frame & bushings  2) lower ball joint  3) Strut spring & cartridge 4)
>strut top bearing 5) steering tie rod & rod end joint 6) sway bar with 4
>mounts & bushings 7) sub frame bushings. Is the steering arm the control arm?
>Is the "L control arm" the "lower" control arm? If so, is that the lower "A-
>frame"?