Struts / Shocks?

[BB]

Just got new tires on my '03 PT GT. Shop says I need new rear shocks.

Am I correct in saying that the rears are actually shock absorbers and the fronts are struts?

How hard is it to change front and rear? I've changed out shocks on other cars but I don't think I've ever changed a strut. Anything I should know about should I decide to tackle either end and do this myself?
Thanks!
Bill

[SR-PT4]

The rears have a coil spring and regular old shock absorbers. The springs are inboard of the shocks, and the shocks are visible through the wheel spokes. Changing either is a piece of cake, if you'd done a shock change before then you won't have a problem here.

The fronts are indeed struts, sort of a coilover like design where the shock sits inside the spring assembly. You need a spring compressor if you want to change the springs only, as in the case of installing lowering springs. However, if you're going to replace the entire strut assembly with a set that has the springs already mounted then you don't need the spring compressor. That is an extremely rare case though.

[BB]

Thanks SR-PT4!
I had a look at the rears and you're right...should be a piece of cake. I'll do those myself because I do see some leakage back there.

The fronts I think I'll leave for someone better equiped. I don't feel any problems on either end but I'll do the rears since they're leaking. The fronts don't seem to be bad so I'll just leave them alone for now.
Bill