Parts for your 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero-Strut mounts

2001 Mitsubishi Pajero strut mounts — are they actually used?

Short answer: no — a 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero (NM/NP, Gen 3) doesn’t use strut mounts because it doesn’t run MacPherson struts. The front end is a double‑wishbone, coil‑spring, shock‑absorber setup, and the rear is multi‑link with coils. That comes straight from the Mitsubishi Factory Service Manual for NM/NP models (Front Suspension section) and is echoed in common workshop references like Gregory’s Pajero 2000–2006 manual and Mitsubishi’s period brochures describing “all‑independent suspension: double wishbone front, multi‑link rear.”

On a MacPherson strut car, a strut mount (often with a bearing) sits at the top of the strut and carries both suspension loads and steering rotation. The Pajero’s double‑wishbone front end keeps those jobs separate: the upper and lower control arms manage geometry and loads, the steering axis runs through the ball joints, and the shock absorber simply damps movement. Because the shock isn’t a structural “strut” and doesn’t rotate with steering, there’s no strut top bearing plate to replace — hence, no traditional strut mounts.

If someone’s chasing “strut-mounts” for a 2001 Pajero, they’ll usually be after one of these instead:

• Front shock absorber upper insulator/bush or top mount pad (a simple isolator, not a strut bearing)
• Upper or lower control arm bushes
• Upper or lower ball joints
• Stabiliser (sway bar) link and D‑bushes

For servicing, it’s worth checking the shock absorber top insulators for perishing, control arm bushes for cracking or movement, and ball joints for play. A clunk over corrugations, vague steering, or uneven tyre wear usually points to bushes or ball joints rather than any “strut mount” issue on this model. When replacing front shocks, always fit new upper/lower bushes and retainers as required, torque everything at ride height, and book in a wheel alignment. That’ll keep the Pajero tracking straight on Kiwi and Aussie roads and off‑road tracks alike.

Popular questions

Does a 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero have strut mounts?
It doesn’t. The NM/NP Pajero uses a double‑wishbone front suspension, so there’s no MacPherson strut or strut top bearing. If there’s a knocking up front, look to shock bushes, control arm bushes, or ball joints.

What should be replaced instead of strut mounts on a 2001 Pajero?
When chasing noise or looseness, inspect and replace worn front shock absorber upper/lower bushes, upper and lower control arm bushes, ball joints, and sway bar links/D‑bushes. These parts handle the jobs a strut mount would do on a strut‑equipped car.

Do the Pajero’s front shocks need special top mounts?
No special strut mount is required. The shocks use simple rubber insulators and hardware. Replace the insulators with the shock absorbers, then have a proper alignment done.