Parts for your 1989 Toyota Hilux surf-Strut mounts

1989 Toyota Hilux Surf strut mounts — are they used?

Strut mounts aren’t relevant to the 1989 Toyota Hilux Surf. That model runs an independent front suspension with upper and lower control arms, torsion bars, and separate shock absorbers — not MacPherson struts. Because there’s no strut assembly, there’s no strut top mount/insulator to service or replace.

Technical sources back this up. Toyota’s New Car Features for the N130 Hilux Surf (launched in 1989) describes a double wishbone, torsion-bar IFS with standalone dampers. The Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for 08/1989 N130 lists front upper and lower arms, torsion bars, and a “shock absorber assy, front,” but no strut or strut insulator. General repair manuals used across AU/NZ — such as the Haynes Toyota Pick-ups & 4Runner 1979–1995 and Gregory’s 4Runner/HiLux Surf manuals — specify the same layout. Late first‑gen carryover vehicles sold in 1989 also used torsion‑bar IFS, again without struts.

Why strut mounts aren’t used here is simple engineering: the Surf’s front end locates the wheel via two control arms and carries vehicle weight through torsion bars. The shock absorber only controls motion and bolts in with bushes, not a strut top mount. A MacPherson strut would combine spring and damper in one unit with a top mount bearing — that design just isn’t on this chassis.

Owners chasing noises that sound like “bad strut mounts” should look to the usual culprits on a torsion‑bar Hilux Surf:

• Upper and lower ball joints, control arm bushes
• Front shock absorber bushes and hardware
• Stabiliser (sway) bar links and D‑bushes
• Steering idler arm and tie‑rod ends
• Body mount bushes (common source of creaks/clunks)

If a Surf has been converted to aftermarket coilovers, it may use a fabricated or kit-supplied top hat that functions like a strut mount. That’s not factory, so parts and service intervals follow the coilover manufacturer’s guidance. In Australia and New Zealand, any such conversion should meet engineering/roadworthy or WOF requirements.

Popular questions

Q: Does a 1989 Hilux Surf have front strut mounts?
A: No. Both the late first‑gen and early second‑gen (N130) 1989 Surfs use a double wishbone, torsion‑bar front suspension with separate shocks. There’s no MacPherson strut, so no strut mount to replace.

Q: What should be checked instead of strut mounts on a 1989 Surf?
A: Look at the front shock absorber bushes, upper and lower ball joints, control arm bushes, sway‑bar links/D‑bushes, and steering idler arm. Also inspect body mount bushes — they often mimic “strut top” noises over bumps.

Q: Can coilover struts be fitted to a 1989 Surf to use strut mounts?
A: Some aftermarket kits convert the front to a coilover setup with a top hat. If fitted, follow the coilover maker’s service advice and ensure the mod is certified for Aussie roadworthy or NZ WOF standards.