Honda Car Forum

I have a 1993 Honda Accord, are there shocks OR struts on the car? Thanks

"Suzanne" <suzanne@brime.com> wrote in message
news:Kb_Pb.89746$6y6.1799045@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I have a 1993 Honda Accord, are there shocks OR struts on the car? Thanks

Yes.

On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 00:48:42 GMT, "Suzanne" <suzanne@brime.com> wrote:

>I have a 1993 Honda Accord, are there shocks OR struts on the car? Thanks

Though even some service managers will call them struts, they're not.
There are so many cars now which use the execrable MacPherson strut that
anything with a concentric spring/shock is called a strut. Strictly
speaking a "strut" is a combination damper (shock absorber) and structural
part of the suspension... which is not the case in the '93 Accord's double
wishbone suspension.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

Struts in the front to support the engine weight and regular shocks in the
rear. Becareful changing struts if you do it yourself. I sent a bolt flying
about 100 feet when I first changed one. After I changed my pants, I bought
the $14 tool to keep the spring compressed

On 23 Jan 2004 07:33:23 GMT, jello7653@aol.com (Jello7653) wrote:

>Struts in the front to support the engine weight and regular shocks in the
>rear.

Nope - no struts in an Accord since ~1985. The wheel hub carrier is
located/held laterally and longitudinally by the upper wishbone, lower
control arm and a radius rod - the spring/damper does not turn with the
steering.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

George Macdonald <fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> spake unto the
masses in news:kjd110l4e15f4f9pvc2bmgdvbvi5fb9jrn@4ax.com:

> On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 00:48:42 GMT, "Suzanne" <suzanne@brime.com> wrote:
>
>>I have a 1993 Honda Accord, are there shocks OR struts on the car?
>>Thanks
>
> Though even some service managers will call them struts, they're not.
> There are so many cars now which use the execrable MacPherson strut


"Execrable" it may be, but have you ever driven a new Toyota Corolla? I HAD
to check underneath twice to make certain they were actually struts, the
cars handling being so good I was sure they were not.


> that anything with a concentric spring/shock is called a strut.
> Strictly speaking a "strut" is a combination damper (shock absorber)
> and structural part of the suspension... which is not the case in the
> '93 Accord's double wishbone suspension.


Does not the Accord have Macpherson struts in the rear?


--
TeGGeR®

On 24 Jan 2004 00:05:34 GMT, "Tegger®"
<teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote:

>George Macdonald <fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> spake unto the
>masses in news:kjd110l4e15f4f9pvc2bmgdvbvi5fb9jrn@4ax.com:
>
>> On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 00:48:42 GMT, "Suzanne" <suzanne@brime.com> wrote:
>>
>>>I have a 1993 Honda Accord, are there shocks OR struts on the car?
>>>Thanks
>>
>> Though even some service managers will call them struts, they're not.
>> There are so many cars now which use the execrable MacPherson strut
>
>
>"Execrable" it may be, but have you ever driven a new Toyota Corolla? I HAD
>to check underneath twice to make certain they were actually struts, the
>cars handling being so good I was sure they were not.

I haven't driven a Corolla but as recently mentioned that's what I'd look
at in that segment right now... if I was looking. I'm told by "experts"
who have done competitive testing that Mazda currently has the best
suspension geometry in the business - nearest to perfect wheel travel with
minimal bump/steer/shock effects.

Even if its "OK when new, the trouble I've found with MacPherson strut in
the past is the way it deteriorates to mediocre handling so quickly, it's
tendency to induce tire imbalance and its long-term wear... it doesn't have
any. The damper mechanisms, piston/cylinder just take a beating from the
side forces.

>> that anything with a concentric spring/shock is called a strut.
>> Strictly speaking a "strut" is a combination damper (shock absorber)
>> and structural part of the suspension... which is not the case in the
>> '93 Accord's double wishbone suspension.
>
>
>Does not the Accord have Macpherson struts in the rear?

Not that I know of. AFAIK the '93s had what was claimed to be double
wishbone geometry but with lateral links and a trailing arm - a slightly
more robust version of the Civics/Intgras of the same era:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?X25651C27 The more recent Accords >'98 have a
double wishbone with multi-link in the rear.

Besides I'm a little pedantic here: MacPherson is front only to me - in the
rear it's a Chapman strut... even without RWD.:-)

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

George Macdonald <fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> spake unto the
masses in news:amr4105t0eosebchks07ojhd44gab779qj@4ax.com:

> On 24 Jan 2004 00:05:34 GMT, "Tegger®"
> <teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote:
>
>>
>>Does not the Accord have Macpherson struts in the rear?
>
> Not that I know of. AFAIK the '93s had what was claimed to be double
> wishbone geometry but with lateral links and a trailing arm - a
> slightly more robust version of the Civics/Intgras of the same era:


My '91 (same as the '93) Integra has struts in the rear. Struts, trailing
arms and three links.

--
TeGGeR®

On 25 Jan 2004 14:44:39 GMT, "Tegger®"
<teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote:

>George Macdonald <fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> spake unto the
>masses in news:amr4105t0eosebchks07ojhd44gab779qj@4ax.com:
>
>> On 24 Jan 2004 00:05:34 GMT, "Tegger®"
>> <teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>Does not the Accord have Macpherson struts in the rear?
>>
>> Not that I know of. AFAIK the '93s had what was claimed to be double
>> wishbone geometry but with lateral links and a trailing arm - a
>> slightly more robust version of the Civics/Intgras of the same era:
>
>
>My '91 (same as the '93) Integra has struts in the rear. Struts, trailing
>arms and three links.

I don't know why you call them struts. The knuckle is located by the
trailing arm and the lateral links - the damper/spring's only function is
absorbing road shocks and damping.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

George Macdonald <fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> spake unto the
masses in news:13j910152n9f315c1mga0nsob25svpiuah@4ax.com:

> On 25 Jan 2004 14:44:39 GMT, "Tegger®"
> <teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote:
>
>>My '91 (same as the '93) Integra has struts in the rear. Struts,
>>trailing arms and three links.
>
> I don't know why you call them struts. The knuckle is located by the
> trailing arm and the lateral links - the damper/spring's only function
> is absorbing road shocks and damping.



Yes, you are right. Funny how I've been looking at that suspension at least
twice a year for thirteen years, and it never quite clicked that this is
the case.

In order for the assembly to be a strut, the hub would have to be located
by the strut body, not by the trailing arm. As it is, the damper tube ends
in a clevis and pin, which passes through a bushing in the lower control
arm.

--
TeGGeR®