Parts for your 2004 Toyota Altezza-Struts

Are struts used on the 2004 Toyota Altezza?

Short answer: no. Based on Toyota/Lexus technical literature for the XE10 chassis (Toyota Altezza/Lexus IS200/IS300, 1998–2005), the 2004 Toyota Altezza does not use MacPherson struts. The factory New Car Features (NCF) publication for the XE10 and the official Toyota/Lexus Repair Manual (Chassis) specify double wishbone suspension at both the front and rear, with the coil spring and shock absorber mounted to the body but wheel location handled by upper and lower control arms. There’s no structural “strut” leg locating the hub, which is the defining feature of a MacPherson strut setup.

That means “struts” aren’t relevant to this model in the technical sense, even if some aftermarket catalogues loosely label the front shock/spring units as struts. On the Altezza, they are dampers (shock absorbers) with springs, not load-bearing strut assemblies.

Why did Toyota choose double wishbones instead of struts for the Altezza? The design delivers sportier handling and more consistent tyre contact by controlling camber through suspension travel. It also allows a lower bonnet line and precise geometry tuning—ideal for the RS200 and other performance-focused trims. These points are echoed in the XE10 NCF and the front/rear suspension sections of the Toyota/Lexus Repair Manual, which detail arm layout, bushings, and ball joints rather than a strut tower and strut cartridge arrangement.

For servicing, owners and workshops should focus on components suited to the double wishbone design, such as:

• Shock absorbers (dampers) and coil springs
• Upper and lower control arm bushes and ball joints
• Stabiliser (sway) bar links and bushes
• Top mounts/insulators for the damper assemblies

Tell-tale signs it’s time for attention include floaty ride, knocking over bumps, uneven tyre wear, or longer stopping distances on rough roads. Quality OEM-equivalent dampers or well-matched coilovers are common upgrades. After any suspension work, a proper wheel alignment is essential. As per the Toyota/Lexus Chassis manual guidance, critical fasteners should be torqued at normal ride height to avoid bushing preload.

Technical sources referenced: Toyota/Lexus New Car Features (XE10) and Toyota/Lexus Repair Manual – Chassis (Front Suspension/Rear Suspension) for Altezza/IS200/IS300, which designate “Double Wishbone Type” front and rear and do not specify MacPherson struts.

Popular questions about 2004 Toyota Altezza struts

Does a 2004 Toyota Altezza have struts?
No. The 2004 Altezza runs double wishbone suspension front and rear, using dampers and springs with control arms rather than MacPherson struts. The wheel is located by upper and lower arms, not by a structural strut.

What should be serviced instead of struts on a 2004 Altezza?
Focus on the dampers, coil springs, top mounts, control arm bushes and ball joints, plus sway bar links and bushes. After replacing any of these, get a wheel alignment to protect tyres and handling.

Can MacPherson struts be swapped into an Altezza?
Not practically. The chassis is engineered for double wishbones, so a strut conversion would require major fabrication and re-engineering. If sharper handling or height adjustment is the goal, choose a quality coilover kit designed for the XE10 platform.