when i say springs and shock absorbers I am talking about the individual components...
I may be wrong, but I view a strut as the spring/shock/whole assy as one. I'm talking about individual components of the strut.
I think (in my mind) it's how the components are grouped together... if they are combined it is a strut assy, if they are seperate (like the rear suspension of say a buick) it is a spring and shock absorber.
Maybe this should be titled strut modification, maybe i'm just too drunk right now, I don't know.