Thinking aloud here so feel free to ignore!

The term "shock absorber" to me suggests a damper and a spring working together.

What thoughts do others have on this?

I've always referred to a damper as a shock absorber. Neverthe combination of spring and shock.

Shocker=damper=shock absorber.
When fitted with a spring: Strut or coilover depending on application.

Tbh thought it was just a lazy incorrect American term, their dampers for damping out spring oscillations, not absorbing bumps that's what springs are for. I've found, many dampers work much better on the return stroke rather than compression so impacts are better absorbed initially by the springs, the returning bounce then turned into heat by the damper, which may be the reason for the miss naming.

I see where you are coming with the term.

Ive always viewed the shock/damper as the shock absorber and the spring as a seperate entity regardless.

As mentioned earlier when combined strut or coilover assembly

[Edited on 11/8/17 by Nathsx]

they don't have to be the hydrolic dampers that we usually have

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friction_disk_shock_absorber

Hi.

I hate the word " shock absorber " I always refer to it as a damper, as all it's doing is damping the spring / car motion.

Cheers Matt

Strictly speaking the spring is absorbing shock and the damper is damping the reaction of the spring to the loads applied to it.
I think shock absorber or the dreaded SHOX is something of a slang term, and I avoid using it where possible. If any component could be considered a shock absorber then I would nominate the bump stop - though technically this is still a spring.

HTH

Just a long winded word for all sorts of springs and dampers.

Plain shocker to me

As has already been said the spring absorbes the shock and the damper damps the spring oscillations.

*Strictly* speaking both the spring and damper are absorbing the shock, but one is storing it and the other is dissipating it, as a union. But I think it's just a lazy term.

On compression, the reaction to the bump load is provided by both the spring and the damper. The damper doesn't control the spring, as such, as is aids the spring in controlling the unsprung mass.

[Edited on 12/8/17 by coyoteboy]

Just back from holidays.

Thanks for the replies and views.

In principle I guess "shock absorber" may not be the correct terminology, but simply a name I've come to use. Ultimately I view the spring and damper as two seperate items, each with their own purpose. Many moons ago I drove a car with no rear dampers fitted. Admittedly it was in a field, but nonetheless it was unpleasant.