Officially a MacPherson strut, named after its creator, a strut is a type of shock absorber that has a structural role in a vehicle’s suspension. The strut includes a shock absorber element, but it also serves to position the wheels, a task handled by control arms in a conventional suspension design that employs dedicated shock absorbers. Like shocks, struts can lose their ability to damp bounces and compromise the car’s roadholding and braking. Mechanics might spot oil leaking from the strut, which means the component is on its way out and should be replaced. Uneven tire wear is another potential sign that the shock-absorber component is failing. Because of their size and complexity, struts are more expensive to replace than shock absorbers.
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