Parts for your 2011 Isuzu D-max-Strut mounts

2011 Isuzu D‑MAX strut‑mounts — are they used?

Short answer: no. The 2011 Isuzu D‑MAX doesn’t use strut‑mounts because it isn’t built with MacPherson struts. It runs an independent double‑wishbone front end with torsion bars and separate shock absorbers, and a leaf‑spring rear. That layout doesn’t require a strut top mount/bearing assembly. This is confirmed across technical references including the Isuzu D‑MAX Workshop Manual (2008–2012, Suspension section), the Isuzu UTE Australia model specifications for the 2011 range (front: double wishbone, torsion bar, rear: leaf), and the platform‑sibling Holden Colorado RC service information listing the same front suspension design.

Why no strut‑mounts? In a MacPherson setup, the shock and spring form a structural “strut” that locates the wheel, and the top of that strut bolts to the body via a strut‑mount (often with a bearing to allow the strut to rotate as the wheels steer). The 2011 D‑MAX instead uses upper and lower control arms to locate the wheel, with a torsion bar providing spring rate and a separate damper. The damper’s upper fixing is just a shock mount with a bush — not a strut‑mount — and it doesn’t carry the same structural or steering loads as a strut top.

For owners chasing knocks or vague steering and thinking “strut‑mounts,” it’s worth focusing on the parts this ute actually relies on:

• Upper and lower control arm bushes and ball joints
• Front shock absorber bushes and the lower/upper shock mounts
• Sway bar bushes and links
• Torsion bar anchor bushes and adjusters
• Rear leaf spring eye bushes and shackle bushes

Typical symptoms that mimic “bad strut‑mounts” on other cars — clunks over corrugations, steering nibble, tyre feathering — on a 2011 D‑MAX usually point to tired control arm bushes or ball joints, worn sway bar hardware, or flogged shock bushes. A proper inspection on a hoist, pry‑bar test of bushes, and checking shock absorber leaks and play will save time and coin. After any front‑end work, a wheel alignment is a must to keep tyre wear tidy and steering straight.

Technical references frequently cited by workshops for this model include: Isuzu D‑MAX (2008–2012) Workshop/Service Manual — Suspension, Isuzu UTE Australia 2011 D‑MAX Specifications, Holden Colorado RC (platform equivalent) Service Manual — Front Suspension. All specify a double‑wishbone torsion‑bar front suspension with separate dampers, no MacPherson strut, and therefore no strut‑mounts.

FAQs

Does a 2011 Isuzu D‑MAX have strut‑mounts?
It doesn’t. The 2011 D‑MAX uses a double‑wishbone front end with torsion bars and separate shock absorbers, so there’s no MacPherson strut and no strut‑mounts to replace.

What should be checked instead of strut‑mounts on a 2011 D‑MAX?
Front control arm bushes and ball joints, shock absorber bushes and mounts, sway bar bushes/links, and torsion bar hardware are the usual suspects for clunks or vague steering. Rear leaf spring bushes can also contribute to knocks and shudder.

Can aftermarket “strut” coilovers be fitted to a 2011 D‑MAX?
Most kits for this generation retain the double‑wishbone layout, some use coilover‑style dampers with top plates, but they’re not MacPherson struts. Fitment should be engineered correctly, with alignment and certification as required in AU/NZ.