Shocks vs struts: what’s the difference

A shock absorber and a strut both damp suspension movement. They are not the same part, and this catalog does not treat them as interchangeable.

A shock absorber

On a conventional suspension the spring holds the vehicle up and a separate shock absorber damps the bounce. The shock does not locate the wheel. You can usually unbolt it without taking the spring out. KYB lists these as Suspension Shock Absorber. KYB 349108, an Excel-G rear shock, is that kind of part.

A strut

A strut is a damper built into the suspension structure. On a MacPherson strut the strut is one of the pieces that locates the wheel, and the coil spring often sits on top of it. Replacing it means supporting the suspension and often dealing with the mount at the top. KYB lists these as Suspension Strut. The front of a 2015 Ford F-150 uses struts. The rear uses shocks. That split is common, which is why the vehicle page is organized by part type and position.

A strut assembly

Strut-Plus, and the Truck-Plus assemblies in this catalog, combine a strut with the coil spring and mount. The part type is Suspension Strut and Coil Spring Assembly. KYB SR4443 is one of those front assemblies for the 2015 F-150. It is the same corner as a bare strut, sold as one unit, which matters when the spring or the mount is worn too. It is not a shock, and it does not fit a corner that was designed only for a shock.

How to tell what you need

The vehicle page lists the part type and the position for each KYB part that fits. Buy the part type the catalog shows for that position. A front strut part number will not replace a rear shock on the same truck. If the part is marked front left or front right, order that side. The part page links to the other side and to the other end of the vehicle when those parts are in the catalog.