Front struts with rear shocks are used on the 2007 Dodge Caliber; the front suspension relies on MacPherson struts, while the rear uses dampers (shocks) as part of a torsion-beam/semi-independent setup.
The Dodge Caliber's suspension configuration reflects its budget-friendly, compact-hatch design: a MacPherson strut front end paired with a rear suspension that uses coil springs and dampers to control motion. The following breakdown outlines the typical components for the 2007 model year.
Front suspension: Struts
Before listing the components, note that the front of the Caliber employs a MacPherson strut arrangement, where the shock absorber and coil spring are integrated into a single assembly at each wheel.
- MacPherson strut at each front wheel
- Coil spring integrated with the strut
- Lower control arm connecting to the steering knuckle
- Stabilizer bar (anti-roll bar) linking both front sides
In this configuration, the struts serve as the primary dampers for the front axle, with the coil spring supporting load and ride height.
Rear suspension: Shocks (dampers) and torsion beam
Before listing the components, understand that the rear uses a torsion-beam (twist-beam) style or semi-independent setup with coil springs and rear dampers, rather than a rear strut assembly.
- Torsion-beam rear axle with attached coil springs
- Independent rear dampers (one per wheel) providing damping
- Trailing arms or equivalent linkage for wheel location
While the rear suspension includes dampers (shocks), it does not use rear MacPherson struts. The damping is accomplished via rear shocks integrated with the torsion-beam layout.
Summary
Overall, the 2007 Dodge Caliber features front MacPherson struts and rear dampers (shocks) as part of a torsion-beam/similar rear suspension. So you’ll find front struts and rear shocks in the standard setup.