Parts for your 2004 Ford Territory-Strut mounts

2004 Ford Territory strut-mounts — are they used?

Short answer: a 2004 Ford Territory doesn’t use strut-mounts. The front end on the SX Territory is a short–long arm (SLA) double-wishbone setup with a coil-over shock, not a MacPherson strut. That comes straight from Ford’s own workshop material for the Territory SX/SY (Front Suspension — Description and Operation, Section 204-01), which details the wishbone layout and shows the damper doesn’t act as a structural strut. At the back, the Control Blade independent rear suspension (Section 204-02) also separates wheel location from the shock, so again, no strut-mounts.

Why does that matter? In a MacPherson system, the strut itself locates the wheel and turns with steering, so it needs a top “strut-mount” that includes a bearing. The Territory’s double-wishbone design locates the wheel with upper and lower control arms and ball joints, and the shock absorber only manages damping — it doesn’t steer or carry the same structural role. Because of that, there’s no top strut bearing/mount assembly to service on these vehicles.

Some parts catalogues and workshop slang may still say “strut top” for the Territory, but technically what’s there is a shock top insulator/bush, not a strut-mount. If a Territory presents with clunks, looseness or tyre wear that might lead someone to suspect a strut-mount, the likely culprits are elsewhere in the suspension.

• Front: upper and lower control arm bushes, ball joints, stabiliser (sway) bar links and bushes, and the shock absorber upper bush/insulator.
• Rear: shock absorber upper and lower bushes, Control Blade (trailing arm) bushes, and other IRS arm bushes.

For maintenance, a Territory owner is better off scheduling inspections of control arm bushes and ball joints, checking shock absorber bushings for perishing or cracks, and keeping an ear out for knocks over sharp bumps. If replacing front shocks, use the correct shock top insulator/bush kit specified for Territory — universal “strut-mount” kits for MacPherson cars won’t fit or function properly here.

• Does a 2004 Ford Territory have strut-mounts?
  No. The SX Territory uses double-wishbone front suspension and Control Blade IRS, so there’s no MacPherson strut and no strut-mount. Ford’s workshop manual sections for the front and rear suspension confirm this layout.
• What should be checked instead of strut-mounts on a 2004 Territory?
  Inspect front upper and lower control arm bushes, ball joints, sway bar links/bushes, and the shock absorber’s top insulator. At the rear, check shock bushes and the various IRS arm bushes.
• Can universal strut-mount kits be fitted to a Territory?
  No. Those are for MacPherson setups. On a Territory, use the correct shock top insulator/bush components and OE-spec control arm and sway bar hardware.