shocks or tire?

help please...just a girl, and don't know much...my car bounces and makes a thumping noise on the left rear side...usually between 80-100k. I did a visual of the tire and it looks good, no bumps and the tread is great...the balancing thingy is in the rim still. I'm getting really sick of this car, and only plan on driving it for another month or so...and crappy tire said they don't make struts for my year and argued with me that no other cavalier years will fit it (right). so i would just like to through some cheap one's on from the junkyard, if it is the struts...any help would be appreciated...HAPPY NEW YEAR

On front wheel drive cars, the fronts are struts, the rear are shocks. Rear wheel drive cars have shocks all the way around but FWD has struts on the front. They are the same thing except the struts have the control arm for the steering.

The thumping is coming fron the locked up shock, it's so tight that when it moves it jumps and usaully the car will rebound a few times. Sound like your tire is fine. Don't get rid of it, Chevy's are the most dependable make in my book.

Just curious, how many miles are on the car?

^^ Technically they are all struts... They are based off of Earle S. MacPherson who died in the 60's and are an automobile suspension consisting of a shock absorber mounted within a coil spring. While it was his disign, other companies have made advancements since then. The " shock" is just an absorber. Commonly found with leaf springs setups and are seperate in those.... now isn't that somthing.. a little history online for free...

that's pretty high quality info for free....can't beat that! so let me see if i understand, the only difference between the two is the type of spring...leaf or coil?

i have 233,ooo kms...i bought it at 91000 2 years ago...ha, yah i know i drive a lot

that's pretty high quality info for free....can't beat that! so let me see if i understand, the only difference between the two is the type of spring...leaf or coil?

A strut has the Coil and shock absorber all in one... Leaf springs are layered ontop of one another and held together by metal bounds.. the shocks then attach to those and the frame of the vechicle... just look at a trucks suspension next time you pull up next one and you'll see what i mean.

but other suspensions can include...

Coil overs.. Adjustable springs basically
Air bags.... coil less

Girl, this is a front wheel drive, car. so the only thing you need, if it is at the back of the car, is new shocks. Put them on both sides, for about $50. will also improve the ride...bet you will keep it for a couple more months then... Later Mark.

^^^ I guess no one listens to me... and i hope you know how to weld the spring perch onto the shock if you just buy that and know at what height you need to do it at... THESE ARE CALLED STRUTS PEOPLE!! AND YES THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!