[Bullet]

Can one of you technical guys please explain what this inverted strut is. I thought is was the shock absorber with the coil spring on top of the suspension arms but I checked the WRX and the setup is the same so I'm confused.
Help.

 

[alfredob1]

Hey Bullet. I tried looking for info on inverted struts online. All I could find is that for the most part only the STi and EVO's use them and they are something either KYB or Bilstein came up with. I know this isn't what you wanted. But it's all I could find.

Quick question. Does your STi have an Oil Temp Gauge. Thanks.

 

[Bullet]

Thanks for reply.
I'll try to find out what the strut thing is and let you know.
My car does not have an oil temp gauge.

 

[TiTaNiuM sAMuRai]

Is this not the leaf spring?

http://www.new-impreza.com/na/dtw_display.htm

photos #2 and #6 show well enough what I'm thinking of, and it peeps through the wheel in #5. Typically this bows downward, but maybe now it bows upwards...

Or maybe I'm wrong...

 

[alfredob1]

It wouldn't be leaf springs. Passenger cars haven't used leaf springs for a very long time. Even pickup trucks are starting to use other types of suspension set-ups.

Those aren't leaf springs they are trailing arms.

BTW. Thanks for the link I've been looking for something like that. :smile:

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: alfredob1 on 2002-02-16 18:06 ]</font>

 

[Bill]

IIRC an inverted strut has the large tube on top (the one that goes inside is mounted to the wheel end). It is done for strength - prolly because of the abuse that a rally car takes.

 

[Bullet]

Bill :

I think you are right. I have sort of worked out that it is the shock absorber (I don't know what you guys call it) that is mounted upside down. The thing is why would it be stronger or better this way?

 

[WRXhauls]

I believe I read somewhere that the reason for the inverted struts is to reduce weight of the lower portion of the strut that is added to your unsprung mass.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: WRXhauls on 2002-02-17 13:02 ]</font>

 

[Bill]

On 2002-02-17 13:01, WRXhauls wrote:
I believe I read somewhere that the reason for the inverted struts is to reduce weight of the lower portion of the strut that is added to your unsprung mass.

Makes sense.

Bullet, a strut is just a shock absorber with an integral spring. In a car with shocks, it's possible to change the shocks without removing the springs. Not so with a strut.

 

[Mrzoidburg]

Alot of dirt bikes use this same set-up.

 

[zerepjd]

I found this site in someone elses post on this site. I still don't know how the inverted strut is any better than anything else but the is a great picture of the setup at this site.
http://www.fhi.co.jp/subaru/wrxsti/index.htm

under the link saying "Proving the superiority of all wheel drive" goto the second picture in the group of three at the bottom for the picture. If you watch the video at the main page it shows the shift light in use. Pretty cool

Jared


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: zerepjd on 2002-02-28 06:07 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: zerepjd on 2002-02-28 06:08 ]</font>

 

[alfredob1]

Yeah I've seen those before. But the question still remains. What is an inverted strut? Because the image shows what looks to be a regular struts.

 

[jtfrankl]

WRXHauls has got it right.
The name says it all- fat part on the top, skinny part on the bottom to reduce unsprung weight. It makes the suspension more reactive to bumps.

 

[StiScoobySteve]

I agree.