Parts for your 2008 Honda Accord-Strut mounts

2008 Honda Accord strut mounts: are they actually a thing on this model?

Short answer: traditional strut mounts aren’t used on the 2008 Honda Accord. That year’s Accord (including local variants) runs a double‑wishbone front suspension and a multi‑link rear. In a MacPherson‑strut car, the “strut mount” is a load‑bearing top mount with a built‑in bearing that also serves as the steering pivot. On the 2008 Accord, the steering pivot happens at the upper and lower ball joints, not through a strut top. The dampers (shock absorbers) bolt in with rubber insulators/top mounts, but there’s no strut‑top bearing plate to steer on.

Technical sources back this up. The Honda Accord (2008–2012) service manual describes a double‑wishbone front assembly with an upper arm, lower arm, and a separate shock/spring unit using rubber upper mounts (no strut bearing). Honda’s new‑model technical briefs for the 8th‑gen Accord likewise specify double‑wishbone front and multi‑link rear layouts. You’ll see the same in common workshop guides (Haynes/Max Ellery style manuals) under the front suspension overview: wishbone architecture with a conventional damper, not a MacPherson strut.

So, while parts catalogues sometimes lump “top mounts” under “strut mounts”, what the 2008 Accord actually has are damper upper insulators/mounts that isolate noise and vibration but don’t rotate for steering. If a knock, creak or clunk turns up over bumps, the usual suspects on this model are:

• Front shock absorber upper insulators/top mounts (rubber perishes and compresses)
• Upper and lower control arm bushes, and ball joints
• Sway bar (stabiliser) links and bushes
• Rear shock absorber upper mounts/insulators

For owners chasing a tidy, quiet ride, it’s worth inspecting the damper top mounts/insulators along with the shocks around 100,000–150,000 km, or sooner if there are thumps on sharp bumps, a hollow rattle on corrugations, or visible cracking in the rubber. Because there’s no strut‑top bearing on this Accord, you won’t get the classic “gritty” steering feel from a failed strut mount, but you can still get noise, crooked ride height or extra vibration as the rubber hardens. Replace in pairs left/right, torque everything at normal ride height, and book an alignment after any suspension work to keep tyre wear even.

Technical references (by source type): Honda Accord 2008–2012 Service Manual (Front Suspension – Double Wishbone, Rear Suspension – Multi‑link), Honda 8th‑gen Accord new‑model technical brief/press information, mainstream workshop manuals for 2008–2012 Accord suspension chapters.

FAQs

Does a 2008 Honda Accord have strut mounts?
No, not in the MacPherson‑strut sense. The 2008 Accord uses a double‑wishbone front end and a multi‑link rear, so there’s no rotating strut‑top bearing. It does have shock absorber upper mounts/insulators that can wear and make noise, and some catalogues list these under “strut mounts”, which causes the confusion.

What usually causes “bad strut mount” noises on a 2008 Accord?
Most knocks and clunks come from tired shock upper insulators, sway bar links/bushes, or worn control arm bushes and ball joints. If the steering feels fine but there’s a thump over bumps, start with the shock mounts and stabiliser links, if tyre wear is uneven or it wanders, look closely at the control arm bushes and get an alignment.

Can coilovers or aftermarket “struts” be fitted, and do they need special mounts?
Yes, many coilover kits supply their own top hats (often pillow‑ball). They replace the factory shock and top insulator as a complete assembly. Even then, the car’s geometry is still wishbone/multi‑link, not MacPherson. Choose quality hardware, confirm legal compliance in AU/NZ, and always re‑align afterwards.