Parts for your 2012 Toyota Land cruiser-Strut mounts

2012 Toyota Land Cruiser strut-mounts — relevant or not?

Short answer: strut-mounts aren’t used on the 2012 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series. Toyota’s own service literature specifies a front independent double-wishbone setup with coil springs and separate gas dampers (shock absorbers), and a rear solid axle with coil springs and separate shocks. In this layout, there’s no MacPherson strut assembly and therefore no traditional strut top mount. References: Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series Repair Manual (Toyota TIS) — Front Suspension section, Toyota New Car Features (J200) — Suspension, and Lexus LX570 (J200) service/NCF documentation, which mirrors the same chassis and suspension design.

Why no strut-mounts? In a MacPherson strut system, the “strut mount” at the tower carries vehicle weight, locates the steering axis, and typically houses a bearing for steering rotation. The J200 Land Cruiser uses upper and lower control arms to locate the steering knuckle, so the shock absorber only damps spring movement — it doesn’t act as a structural strut. Up top, you’ll find a shock absorber upper insulator/bushing and mounting hardware, not a strut bearing plate.

If someone’s chasing a “strut mount” for a 2012 Land Cruiser, they’re usually after one of these wear items instead:

• Front shock absorber upper insulator/bushing and hardware
• Sway bar (stabiliser) link and D-bushes, especially on KDSS models
• Upper and lower control arm bushes and ball joints
• Rear shock absorber bushes and upper mounts

Typical symptoms that get blamed on “strut mounts” — clunks over corrugations, knocks at low speed, or vibration — are more often due to perished shock upper bushes, tired sway-bar links, or worn control arm bushes. If the front shocks are leaking oil, faded, or the upper bush is mushroomed or cracked, it’s time for replacement. On vehicles with KDSS or AHC, use the correct procedure and precautions when unloading the system, this is a job many owners prefer to leave to a workshop with the right tooling.

Servicing tip for Aussie and Kiwi conditions: inspect front and rear shock mounts, sway-bar hardware, and control arm bushes every 20,000 to 30,000 kilometres, or after heavy off‑road trips. Torque suspension fasteners at ride height, and book a wheel alignment after control arm or ball joint work. You generally won’t need an alignment for a simple shock replacement, but it’s smart insurance if you’ve chased a persistent knock or changed multiple parts.

Does a 2012 Toyota Land Cruiser have strut-mounts?
No. The 200 Series uses a double‑wishbone front end and a separate shock absorber, so there’s no MacPherson strut or strut top mount. The upper support is a shock insulator/bushing rather than a bearing-style strut mount.

What should be replaced instead of strut-mounts on a 2012 Land Cruiser?
Common fixes are front shock absorber upper bushes/insulators, sway‑bar links and D‑bushes, and upper/lower control arm bushes or ball joints. If shocks are leaking or the upper bush is split, replace the shock assembly and hardware.

How can they tell if the front shock upper mount/bush is worn?
Listen for a dull clunk over small bumps or corrugations and look for cracked or mushroomed rubber at the top of the shock. Oil on the shock body points to a failing damper. If in doubt, get a proper inspection and torque check with the vehicle at normal ride height.