Tacomas don't have struts

The level of suspension misinformation and incorrect verbiage and nomenclature on TW is spreading faster than herpes at ASU. Please educate yourself.

While they are visually similar, struts and coilovers are two very different things. The term "strut" originates from a MacPherson strut based suspension system. In a traditional MacPherson suspension, components include a lower control arm, a hub/spindle assembly, and a damper/coil assembly (known as a strut) that bolts to the top of hub at the bottom of the strut and attaches to the body or frame buckets at the top of the strut. Note...there is no frame mounted upper control arm with a MacPherson strut suspension. The strut itself is an integral part of the actual suspension pivots and steering. Struts provide vertical and lateral support. If you remove the strut, there is nothing holding the suspension together and the hub and wheels would flop all over the damn place however they see fit. Also the spindle/knuckle takes a significantly larger linear load when compared to a coilover based system as the entire weight of the vehicle is supported by the spindle. In addition, since there is only a single arm, the camber changes much more significantly as the suspension cycles up and down. This is why MacPherson strut based systems are used in vehicles with small amounts of wheel travel.




In contrast, a coilover (coil over shock) based suspension has both upper and lower control arms/links. The UCA/LCA have outer pivots that attach to the hub and inner pivots off the frame. The coilover itself plays no role in the suspension pivot points. You can remove the entire coilover assembly, and the suspension will pivot and turn exactly as it would with the coilover installed (the truck would just be sitting on it's nuts). The only purpose a coilover serves is to dampen the suspension oscillation (the shock's role), and to set vehicle ride height (the spring's role)...that's it! The double arm geometry allows for less extreme camber change as the suspension cycles. Every single 6 lug Tacoma since inception came from the factory with a coilover based front suspension. Yes...you have coilovers...stock. In addition, coilover does not mean adjustable. It simply means the coil spring surrounds the shock absorber and the assembly is independent of the suspension.






Now I realize this will probably fall on deaf ears. Typical responses are "tomato tamaato" or "you know what I'm talking about." But then again, why not sound like you actually know what the fuck you are talking about? It's not going to hurt you to sound and be more educated. Its the same contrast with firearm magazines vs. clips.

Go forth and be educated.

 

Touche. I'll change to 6 lugs.

 

Perfect example of a mental midget vendor.

 

No. I've have a better chance curing cancer.

 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand it's a sticky.
That's the second time I've made something sticky on TW (not including the forever lost UG).