Re: Suspension teminology clarification

["Ken Keith" <ken.keith@specialdevices.com>]

Aleksander Mierzwa <alex@matrix.pl> wrote:
> 
> At 09:52 99-03-11 EST, DGraber460@aol.com wrote:
> <snip>
> >3) Strut spring & cartridge 
> 
> I find the term "cartridge" rather weird, I prefer to call it simply a
> "shock absorber" for clarity.

Over here, a shock absorber is more of a stand alone unit that does not play a 
role in alignment of the system, only dampening.  A strut holds the suspension 
and takes the place of an upper A-arm.  So, it not only dampens, but is 
integral to the suspension.  A car with no shocks will be bouncy, a car 
with no struts would not work.  IMO. 

> >4) strut top bearing
> 
> This was confusing me for a long time. I prefer to call the rubber part the
> shock piston mounts to a "strut mount" rather that "bearing". First, the
> "bearing" suggest a moving part, secondly, there's a "spring bearing" - the
> part the spring rides on, which (for example) in my native language is called
> "McPherson bearing" or "strut bearing".

IMO it's called a strut bearing because it's a bearing.  It is a moving part.  
It rotates when the wheels turn.

Not trying to flame, but I don't see why it would be confusing.

Ken