In a strut assembly, the lower ball joint, steering knuckle, spindle, shock
absorber, and coil spring are incorporated into one unit. This type of suspension
design does not need upper control arms and upper ball joints. An upper strut
mount and bearing are used to connect the top of the strut to the vehicle. This
design allows for right and left turning and provides a cushioned attachment to
the vehicle’s frame via a strut tower.
A lower control arm connects the strut to the frame of the vehicle.
Two Types of Suspension Designs: Conventional and Independent
With conventional suspensions, each front wheel has its own separate suspension
parts, thus it interacts with the road surface independent from the other wheels.
In contrast, the rear wheels are connected to a straight axle and operate as a unit.
So when one rear wheel responds to the road surface the other is affected. The
quality of the ride and handling of the vehicle is somewhat compromised by this
design.
With independent suspensions, all four wheels have their own separate
suspension parts and thus interact with the road surface independently of each
other. This results in a better ride and improves the overall handling of the
vehicle.