Got Some Clunk In The Trunk? It Might Be Your Shocks!
Modern automotive suspensions are more complex than most people realize, and many people use terms that describe different components interchangeably. For example, it's common for people to refer to "struts" and "shocks" as the same thing. In reality, these two terms describe parts that are quite different in both appearance and function.
Configurations vary between makes and models, but many manufacturers use struts up front and shocks in the back. Both shocks and struts act as dampers to deal with everyday bumps and jolts.