Parts for your 2009 Toyota Wish-Strut mounts

2009 Toyota Wish strut mounts — what they do and when to replace them

Based on Toyota’s technical literature for the 2009 Wish (ZGE2# series) and the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue, the front suspension is a MacPherson strut design that uses a dedicated strut mount at the top of each front strut. Toyota labels this component the “Front Suspension Support Sub‑Assembly” and integrates a bearing to allow the strut to rotate for steering. The rear of most 2009 Wish models uses a torsion beam with separate shocks and coils, so there’s no rear strut mount in the classic sense — just upper shock mounts. So yes, strut mounts are absolutely relevant on the 2009 Toyota Wish, but at the front only.

On this model, the strut mount’s job is threefold: it anchors the strut to the body, isolates vibration and road harshness from the cabin, and lets the strut rotate smoothly as the wheels steer. The rubber insulator and the built‑in bearing take a hammering over our chipseal and city kerbs, and they quietly wear long before many drivers notice.

Service advisers typically recommend checking front strut mounts every 40,000–60,000 kilometres or whenever front struts, springs, or top bearings are being replaced. It’s smart practice to renew mounts in pairs with fresh struts, because a tired mount can shorten the life of a new shock and keep that dull clunk or steering notchiness around.

• Tell‑tale signs: dull clunks over speed humps, a rubbery creak when turning the wheel at parking speeds, vague steering return, or cupped tyre wear on the front.
• Workshop tips: inspect the mount rubber for cracking or delamination, check the bearing for roughness or play, and verify the top‑nut and strut‑to‑tower fasteners are torqued to spec from the Toyota repair manual.
• When replacing: fit quality OEM‑equivalent mounts with the correct integrated bearing, align the spring end correctly on reassembly, always finish torquing with the car at ride height, book a wheel alignment straight after.

For drivers planning a longer keep, bundling struts, mounts, dust boots, and bump stops into one front‑end refresh pays off in a quieter cabin and crisper steering feel. It also keeps WOF inspectors and tyre shops happy, because it nips uneven wear and wandering before they become a bigger bill.

Popular questions about 2009 Toyota Wish strut mounts

How long do front strut mounts usually last on a 2009 Wish?

In typical Aussie and Kiwi driving, many make it to around 120,000–180,000 kilometres, but city kerbs, rough rural roads, and heavy loads can bring that forward. They’re best inspected at each service once the car’s past 100,000 kilometres, or any time new struts are fitted.

Can strut mounts be replaced without changing the struts?

They can, but if the shocks are tired or leaking, it’s more cost‑effective to replace struts and mounts together. Doing both saves on duplicated labour, resets the front end properly, and avoids refitting a worn part next to a new one.

Do worn strut mounts affect wheel alignment and tyre wear?

Yes. Excess play or a binding top bearing can alter camber and caster dynamically, leading to feathering or cupping on the front tyres and a steering wheel that won’t self‑centre cleanly. Replacing mounts and then aligning the car restores straight‑line stability and tyre life.