No, I wasn't kidding but thanks for the clearup guys!

and sorry for the hijack to verc

 

Struts are structural dampeners. If you remove a strut, the whole shebang falls apart.

Shocks are just dampeners. Take them out and the mustang keeps on trucking.

Dampeners keep the springs from bouncing back too much. Think of a dude on spring loaded shoes. Boing-Boing-Boing. If he had dampeners he wouldn't bounce back much but he would still hit the ground easier than without the springs.

Anyway...