Do trucks have struts in the back?
In most pickups, the rear suspension does not rely on the same strut assemblies used in the front. Instead, rear suspensions typically use leaf springs or coil springs paired with separate shock absorbers. Some newer trucks employ independent rear suspensions with coil springs and dampers, which can function similarly to struts but are not the traditional rear strut setup.
Understanding struts and rear dampers
Struts are a combined spring-and-damper unit that also often serves as a structural component in front suspensions. Shocks (shock absorbers) damp motion but are usually separate from the spring and, in many vehicles, sit alongside or behind the spring rather than forming the main load-bearing member. The rear of trucks typically falls into one of a few categories that use springs plus dampers rather than a front-style strut.
What makes the rear different from the front?
Many cars rely on MacPherson struts at the front, where the strut carries both load and damping. The rear suspension, especially on trucks designed for hauling or towing, often prioritizes weight-bearing capability and durability, which led to leaf-spring or coil-spring designs with separate shocks rather than a front-style strut assembly.
Rear suspension options on modern trucks
Here are the main layouts you’ll encounter in today’s trucks. Each configuration influences ride quality, payload, and handling characteristics.
- Leaf-spring suspension with a solid rear axle, paired with dampers. This setup is durable and common on heavy-duty or traditional trucks, especially for payload capacity and towing reliability.
- Coil-spring suspension with a live or independent rear axle and separate shock absorbers. Favored for ride comfort and handling in many light- to mid-duty pickups.
- Independent rear suspension (IRS) with coil springs and dampers, found on many modern light-duty pickups for improved ride quality and road manners. Some IRS designs use coilovers in high-end models.
Conclusion: Across these layouts, the rear relies on springs to carry load and dampers to control motion. A traditional MacPherson-style strut is not the typical rear configuration in most trucks.
Are there rear struts in trucks?
Traditional struts—where a single unit acts as both spring and structural support—are standard in front suspensions of many cars but are not a common feature of the rear suspension on most trucks. If you encounter a rear “strut,” it is more likely a coilover-style damper integrated with a rear coil spring in an IRS layout, rather than a front-style MacPherson strut that carries the vehicle’s weight. Always check the factory specifications for a given model and year.
Practical takeaways for buyers and owners
When evaluating ride, strength, and towing, pay attention to whether the truck uses leaf springs or coil springs in the rear, and whether the dampers are separate shocks or integrated with the springs (coilovers or coil-spring/damper assemblies). This affects load capacity, ride comfort, and off-road capability.
Summary
In short, trucks generally do not use traditional rear struts as the primary support. The rear suspension typically relies on leaf springs with a solid axle or coil springs with dampers in either a live or independent setup. Some advanced or specialty models may use rear coilover-style dampers in an IRS layout, but that is not the standard MacPherson-style rear strut arrangement commonly seen in passenger cars.
