Parts for your 1990 Mitsubishi Pajero-Strut mounts

1990 Mitsubishi Pajero strut-mounts — do they apply?

Short answer: strut-mounts aren’t used on the 1990 Mitsubishi Pajero. Technical references including the Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero factory service manual for the L040/V10 series (1982–1991) and major suspension catalogues (KYB, Monroe) list the Pajero with a double-wishbone, torsion-bar independent front suspension and a live rear axle with separate dampers. None of these setups use MacPherson struts, so there’s no strut top mount or bearing to service.

On this model, the front end runs unequal-length control arms with a torsion bar spring and a separate shock absorber bolted between the arm and the chassis. The rear is a solid axle (leaf or coil depending on variant and market year) with standalone shock absorbers. That design is clearly described in workshop literature and is reflected in parts listings that show shocks and bushings, not complete struts or strut mounts.

Why no strut-mounts? MacPherson struts package the spring and damper into a single unit that locates the wheel and bolts up through a strut tower. The 1990 Pajero’s chassis and body don’t have those towers. Mitsubishi chose double-wishbone/torsion-bar IFS for strength, wheel travel, and off-road durability—ideal for corrugations, ruts, and towing—while the live-axle rear keeps articulation and load-carrying up. With that architecture, there’s simply no role for a strut-mount.

If someone’s hunting for “strut-mounts” for a 1990 Pajero, what they really need are these service items:

• Front and rear shock absorbers, plus their upper and lower mounting bushes and sleeves
• Upper and lower control arm bushes and ball joints (front)
• Stabiliser (sway) bar links and bushes
• Torsion-bar anchors/adjusters and bushes (inspect for wear and corrosion)
• Rear leaf spring bushes or coil spring seats/insulators (as fitted), and bump stops

For a tidy ride and proper tyre wear, check shocks for leaks or fade every 20,000–30,000 km, torque the control arm hardware to spec after bush replacement, and set ride height via the torsion bars before booking an alignment. Any clunks over speed bumps, steering shimmy, or uneven braking dive usually point to tired shocks, loose sway-bar links, or worn ball joints—worth sorting before the next big trip across the Nullarbor or up the Desert Road.

Does a 1990 Mitsubishi Pajero have strut-mounts?

No. The 1990 Pajero uses double-wishbone torsion-bar front suspension and a live rear axle with separate dampers, so there are no MacPherson struts and no strut-mounts to replace.

What should be serviced instead of strut-mounts on a 1990 Pajero?

Focus on the shock absorbers and their bushes, front ball joints and control arm bushes, stabiliser bar links/bushes, torsion-bar hardware, and rear spring bushes or insulators. These are the wear points that affect ride, handling, and tyre life.

How can someone tell if theirs has been modified to use struts?

True MacPherson struts need tall strut towers in the engine bay and a single long unit that bolts to the knuckle. The Pajero’s chassis doesn’t provide that architecture, so genuine strut conversions are extremely unlikely. Most “coil-over” upgrades on these trucks are still separate shocks and springs, not MacPherson struts.