Parts for your 1999 Toyota Crown-Struts

1999 Toyota Crown — Are Struts Used?

Short answer: struts aren’t a thing on the 1999 Toyota Crown. The S170-series Crown (Royal, Athlete and Majesta) runs double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link or double-wishbone rear (some variants with air suspension), so there’s no MacPherson strut assembly to service. Technical references that confirm this include Toyota’s S170 New Car Features manual (1999), the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue for S170 chassis codes (e.g., JZS171/173/175, UZS171), and factory service manuals, all of which list separate upper/lower control arms, coil springs and shock absorbers rather than a strut unit.

Why no struts? The Crown was engineered as a premium, long‑wheelbase sedan prioritising ride comfort, quietness and tyre contact under load. A double‑wishbone layout gives better camber control through suspension travel, sharper steering precision and superior isolation of bumps and noise compared with a typical MacPherson strut. It also helps packaging around long straight‑six and V8 engines without pushing bonnet height up. In short, Toyota chose a more sophisticated arm-and-damper design to deliver the plush, planted feel buyers expect from a Crown.

What should owners look at instead of “struts”? The service items on a 1999 Crown are the shock absorbers (dampers), coil springs, upper and lower control arm bushes, ball joints and stabiliser (sway bar) links and bushes. On air‑suspended models, add air springs, height sensors, lines and the compressor/dryer. Practical checks during regular servicing include:

• Inspect dampers for oil weepage, uneven rebound and excessive bounce, expect replacement commonly around 80,000–120,000 km depending on road conditions.
• Check control arm bushes and ball joints for play, splits and noise, worn parts cause clunks, wandering and inner/outer tyre wear.
• Look for cracked air bags or a slow‑dropping corner overnight on air models, listen for a compressor that runs too often.
• Always get a proper wheel alignment after any suspension work to protect tyres and keep the Crown tracking straight.

If a parts site lists “struts” for a 1999 Crown, it’s usually a generic category catch‑all. The correct components are front and rear shock absorbers (or air struts only on specific air‑suspension variants of Majesta, most S170 Crowns with coils still don’t use MacPherson struts). Cross‑check by chassis code and build spec to be sure you’re ordering the right gear.

FAQs

Does a 1999 Toyota Crown have MacPherson struts?

No. The S170 Crown uses double‑wishbone front suspension and multi‑link/double‑wishbone rear. Factory literature (Toyota S170 New Car Features and EPC) specifies separate shocks, springs and control arms rather than a strut assembly.

What should be replaced instead of “front struts” on a 1999 Crown?

Look at front shocks (dampers), upper and lower control arm bushes and ball joints, and sway bar links/bushes. If the car has air suspension, add air springs and related hardware to the checklist. After parts replacement, book a wheel alignment to keep it driving true and save your tyres.

Are coilovers for the S170 Crown the same as struts?

Aftermarket coilovers for the S170 are typically damper-and-spring units designed for the Crown’s double‑wishbone layout, not MacPherson struts. They change ride height and firmness but don’t convert the suspension type. In AU/NZ, check local certification rules before fitting and always get an alignment afterwards.