Parts for your 2008 Nissan Pathfinder-Strut mounts

2008 Nissan Pathfinder strut mounts — are they even a thing?

Short answer: no, a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder (R51) doesn’t use strut mounts because it doesn’t use MacPherson struts. The front end is an independent double‑wishbone setup with a coil spring and separate shock absorber, and the rear is a multi‑link, coil‑sprung arrangement. There’s no strut tower or strut top bearing in the design. This isn’t just workshop folklore — it’s set out in the Nissan 2008 Pathfinder Factory Service Manual (see FSU – Front Suspension and RSU – Rear Suspension), and backed by the Nissan Electronic Parts Catalogue for R51, which lists front shock absorber upper insulators and brackets rather than any strut mount/bearing assembly. You’ll see the same architecture described in common service literature for the F‑Alpha platform (Pathfinder/Frontier/Xterra) used in this model year.

Why it doesn’t use strut mounts comes down to how the suspension carries loads and steers. In a MacPherson strut car, the strut is a structural member and rotates with steering, the strut mount (with an integrated bearing) supports body loads and allows the strut to turn. On the R51 Pathfinder, the steering axis runs through the upper and lower ball joints on the double‑wishbone arms, so the shock absorber doesn’t rotate and doesn’t need a strut top bearing. Instead, the shock is simply bolted between the lower control arm and the body, cushioned by rubber insulators/bushes at the top.

If someone’s chasing a knock or creak and thinking “strut mount”, the smarter play on this model is to inspect related parts that actually wear:

• Front shock absorber upper insulators/bushes and top hardware.
• Upper and lower control arm bushes and ball joints.
• Sway bar links and bushes, front and rear.
• Rear shock upper/lower mounts and coil spring seats.

For regular servicing in Australia or New Zealand conditions, a visual check every 10,000–15,000 km for perished rubber, loose hardware, or oil seepage from the shocks is sensible. If the vehicle tows, carries loads, or sees corrugations, shorten those intervals. Any clunks over sharp bumps, vague steering, or feathered tyre wear are your cues to get under the bonnet and under the car and give those mounts, bushes and joints a proper look. Replace in pairs left/right and torque fasteners with the suspension at normal ride height to keep bush twist in check.

Popular questions about 2008 Nissan Pathfinder strut mounts

Does a 2008 Pathfinder have front strut mounts?
No. The R51 runs a double‑wishbone front end with coil‑over shocks, not MacPherson struts, so there are no strut mounts or strut bearings. It uses shock absorber upper insulators/mounts instead (as outlined in the Nissan FSM and EPC for this model).

What should be checked instead of strut mounts on this model?
Look at the front shock upper insulators/bushes, sway bar links/bushes, and the upper/lower control arm bushes and ball joints. At the rear, check the shock mounts and coil spring seats. These are the usual suspects for knocks, squeaks, or vague handling.

I’m hearing a clunk over bumps — could it be a failed “strut mount”?
On this Pathfinder, a clunk is more likely a tired shock upper bush, a worn sway bar link, or play in a control arm bush or ball joint. If the shock shows oil seepage or the upper bush is cracked or compressed, replace the shock and its mounting hardware as a set.