Parts for your 1999 Nissan Navara-Strut mounts

1999 Nissan Navara strut mounts — are they a thing?

Short answer: no. On the 1999 Nissan Navara (D22), strut mounts aren’t fitted because the front end doesn’t use MacPherson struts. Instead, this ute runs an independent double‑wishbone front suspension with torsion bars and separate shock absorbers. That setup means there’s no “strut top” or strut bearing supporting vehicle weight or steering loads — so there’s nothing to replace or service that would be called a strut mount.

Why it doesn’t use them: in a MacPherson strut design, the strut assembly carries the vehicle’s weight and locates the wheel, with a strut mount and bearing at the top. The D22 Navara locates the wheel with upper and lower control arms and ball joints. Ride height is set by torsion bars, and a conventional shock absorber handles damping. The top of the shock uses simple rubber bushes and washers, not a load‑bearing strut mount or bearing. Steering pivot loads run through the knuckle and ball joints, not a strut top.

Technical sources that document this layout:

• Nissan Navara D22 Series Workshop Manual (1997–2001), FA/FSU — Front Axle & Front Suspension: details independent double‑wishbone suspension with torsion bars and separate dampers, no MacPherson strut or strut tower.
• Nissan Frontier (D22) Factory Service Manual, Front Suspension section: illustrates shock absorbers with upper and lower bushes, plus upper/lower control arms and torsion bars, no strut mount.
• Haynes/Gregory’s Nissan Navara/Frontier manual (late 1990s–early 2000s), Suspension chapter: describes torsion‑bar IFS and shock replacement procedures without reference to strut assemblies or strut top bearings.

What owners should check instead of strut mounts: front shock absorber upper and lower bushes, upper and lower ball joints, control arm bushes, torsion bar condition and ride height settings, sway bar links and bushes, and the shock absorbers themselves. If there’s a front‑end clunk over bumps, uneven tyre wear, vague steering or a rattle at low speeds, those are the bits to inspect first on a 1999 Navara.

For day‑to‑day servicing, it’s smart to look over the front shock bushes every 20,000–40,000 km, keep an eye on ball joints for play, and make sure torsion bar ride height is set evenly left‑to‑right after any front‑end work. If lifting the ute, use quality components and get a proper wheel alignment to protect tyres and keep it tracking straight.

Popular questions

Does a 1999 Nissan Navara have strut mounts?
No. The D22 uses double‑wishbone suspension with torsion bars and separate shocks, so there’s no MacPherson strut and no strut mount or strut top bearing to service.

What should be serviced instead of strut mounts on a 1999 Navara?
Check the shock absorber bushes, upper and lower ball joints, control arm bushes, sway bar links/bushes, and the torsion bar ride height. These parts handle the loads that a strut mount would handle on a strut‑equipped vehicle.

Can a 1999 Navara be converted to coilovers or struts?
Aftermarket coilover conversions exist, but they’re not factory and may require engineering approval in Australia or New Zealand. They change geometry and load paths, so certification and a quality wheel alignment are essential.