Parts for your 2008 Toyota Hiace-Strut mounts

Are strut mounts used on the 2008 Toyota HiAce?

Short answer: no, a 2008 Toyota HiAce doesn’t use strut mounts. The H200-series HiAce (sold across Australia and New Zealand from 2005–2019) runs a front double‑wishbone suspension with torsion bars and separate shock absorbers, and a rear live axle with leaf springs. That layout doesn’t use MacPherson struts, so there’s no strut top mount to replace. This is confirmed by Toyota’s HiAce H200 Repair Manual and New Car Features documents for the chassis/suspension, as well as Toyota Australia/NZ spec sheets for the era. Aftermarket catalogues from KYB and Monroe also list front shock absorbers and bush kits for the H200, but no strut mounts—another strong indicator that a strut top isn’t part of this van’s design.

Why the HiAce doesn’t use strut mounts comes down to packaging, durability and payload. With the engine set forward/under the seats and a focus on carrying weight all day, Toyota chose a double‑wishbone and torsion bar front end because it’s tough, serviceable, and maintains geometry under load. In that system, the damper is a separate shock absorber mounted between the lower control arm and the body, secured with bushes and brackets rather than a strut tower and strut top bearing.

Owners chasing a “strut mount” for a 2008 HiAce are usually chasing a knocking, creaking, or vague front end. On this model, attention should shift to the parts it actually uses:

• Front shock absorbers (and their upper/lower bushes and washers)
• Upper and lower ball joints
• Control arm bushes
• Stabiliser (sway) bar bushes and links
• Torsion bar anchors/adjusters and crossmember condition
• Rear leaf spring bushes, U‑bolts and shackles (for noises that seem to travel forward)

As part of regular servicing, it’s sensible to road test for clunks over speed humps, inspect for oil‑weeping shocks, lever‑check ball joints and control arm bushes, and retorque suspension fasteners. In Aussie and Kiwi conditions, a check every 20,000–40,000 km keeps things sweet. If the van’s sagging at the nose, torsion bar ride‑height adjustment and a wheel alignment will sort it, if there’s play or noise, fit quality bushes/ball joints and fresh shocks rather than hunting for a non‑existent strut top. Tyre wear patterns (feathering, inside shoulder wear) are a great tell for alignment or bush issues on these vans.

FAQs

Does a 2008 Toyota HiAce have strut mounts?

No. The H200 HiAce uses a double‑wishbone front suspension with torsion bars and separate shock absorbers, so there’s no MacPherson strut and no strut top mount. Toyota’s H200 chassis manuals and AU/NZ spec sheets list shocks, arms, and bushes—not struts or strut tops.

What should be checked or replaced if there’s a front‑end knock on a 2008 HiAce?

Start with front shock absorber bushes and the shocks themselves, then sway bar bushes/links, upper and lower ball joints, and control arm bushes. Also confirm torsion bar mounts/adjusters are tight and ride height is set correctly, followed by a wheel alignment.

Can a 2008 HiAce be converted to struts or coilovers?

It’s not a straightforward or generally recommended mod. The chassis, towers, and geometry weren’t designed for MacPherson struts. Quality shock absorbers, fresh bushes, and correct torsion‑bar height will deliver a tidy ride and handling without structural changes.