Parts for your 2009 Toyota Mark x-Struts

2009 Toyota Mark X: Are struts used on this model?

Short answer: no, the 2009 Toyota Mark X doesn’t use MacPherson struts. Technical references such as Toyota’s New Car Features (NCF) manuals for the GRX120/GRX130 series, the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC), and the factory Repair Manual all describe the Mark X with a double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear. In those setups, the vehicle uses shock absorbers (dampers) with coil springs rather than structural strut assemblies. In the EPC, the parts are listed as Front Shock Absorber Assembly and Rear Shock Absorber Assembly—there’s no strut listing for this model year.

Why didn’t Toyota use struts here? The Mark X sits on a rear-wheel-drive GR platform, shared in concept with models like the Crown and Lexus IS/GS of the era. Double wishbones up front let engineers control camber gain and roll centre more precisely, giving the Mark X sharper turn-in, better tyre contact over bumps, and a planted feel at speed. The multi-link rear helps traction and ride comfort. While MacPherson struts are compact and cost-effective, they’re a compromise on geometry control—so Toyota stuck with wishbones and links to meet the Mark X’s handling brief.

If a workshop quotes “strut replacement” on a 2009 Mark X, they almost certainly mean the shock absorbers or a coilover damper assembly. What owners typically service on this car are:

• Front and rear shock absorbers, coil springs, top mounts, dust boots and bump stops
• Control arm bushes and ball joints (front upper/lower arms), plus rear multi-link bushes
• Sway bar links and bushes

Good practice includes replacing dampers in axle pairs, choosing quality OE-equivalent units (many Mark Xs left the factory with brands like KYB/Tokico), and booking a four-wheel alignment after any suspension work. Torque suspension arms with the vehicle at normal ride height to avoid pre-loading bushes. On Aussie and Kiwi roads, many drivers find damping performance tails off somewhere around 80,000–120,000 km, clear signs for attention are oil misting on the shocks, excess bouncing, nose-dive under braking, clunks over bumps, or patchy tyre wear.

For those with late-2009-onward GRX130 Mark X, the same architecture applies per Toyota NCF—still wishbones and multi-links, not struts.

Does the 2009 Toyota Mark X use struts?

No. Factory documentation (Toyota NCF, EPC and Repair Manual for GRX120/GRX130) specifies a double-wishbone front and multi-link rear with separate shock absorbers and coil springs. There are no MacPherson struts on this model year.

What should be replaced instead of “struts” on a 2009 Mark X?

Ask for shock absorbers (front and rear), plus related hardware like top mounts, dust boots and bump stops. It’s also smart to inspect control arm bushes/ball joints, rear multi-link bushes, and sway bar links, then finish with a proper four-wheel alignment.

Can aftermarket coilovers be fitted, and do they make it a strut setup?

Quality coilover kits can be fitted and replace the shock/spring units, but the car remains double wishbone/multi-link in layout—it doesn’t convert to a MacPherson-strut design. Check local compliance rules, in NZ a LVV certification may be required, and in Australia regulations vary by state.