Parts for your 2013 Toyota Fortuner-Strut mounts

2013 Toyota Fortuner strut mounts — are they used, and what to look after instead

Based on Toyota’s technical literature — the Fortuner AN60 series New Car Features, Toyota Repair Manual for the Hilux/Fortuner platform, and the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue for the 2012–2015 models — the 2013 Toyota Fortuner does not use MacPherson struts and therefore does not have conventional strut mounts. Up front it runs an independent double-wishbone arrangement with a coil-over shock absorber, stabiliser bar and separate upper control arm. The rear is a solid axle with coil springs and separate dampers. Because the steering pivot is handled by the upper and lower ball joints in the control arms, there’s no strut top bearing like you’d find in a MacPherson strut setup.

That’s why “strut mounts” aren’t relevant on this model. People sometimes use the term loosely and may call the upper shock insulator or “top hat” a strut mount, but it’s a different part and doesn’t contain a steering thrust bearing. On a MacPherson car, the strut top both locates the suspension and allows the whole strut to rotate with the steering, on the Fortuner, the shock absorber only damps movement and is mounted to the body through rubber cushions that don’t steer.

For owners chasing noises or vague handling, the right areas to inspect on a 2013 Fortuner are:

• Upper shock absorber mounts/insulators and rubbers for perishing, crushing or separation
• Upper and lower control arm bushes and ball joints for play
• Sway-bar (stabiliser) link rods and D-bushes for clunks
• Rear shock absorber bushes and upper/lower mounts

As part of routine servicing, it’s smart to check the front shock upper mounts and rubbers every 40,000–60,000 km (or sooner if doing corrugations or towing). Look for cracked rubber, off-centre mountings, or a metallic knock over sharp bumps. Replace crushed or split insulators in pairs, torque the top nut to spec with the vehicle at normal ride height, and avoid spinning the shock shaft with rattle guns. If upgrading to heavier springs or lift kits, match them with quality shocks and new upper mounts/insulators so the assembly isn’t preloaded awkwardly.

Put simply: no strut mounts on this Fortuner — just coil-over shocks with upper insulators — so chasing the right parts and checks will save a heap of time and keep it riding sweet on Aussie and Kiwi roads and tracks.

Popular questions about 2013 Toyota Fortuner “strut mounts”

Does a 2013 Toyota Fortuner have strut mounts?

No. The 2013 Fortuner uses a double-wishbone front end with a coil-over shock, not a MacPherson strut. That means there’s no strut top bearing. It has an upper shock mount/insulator instead.

What part does the job of a strut mount on a Fortuner?

The upper shock absorber mount and rubber insulators handle isolation, while the upper and lower control arm ball joints manage steering pivot and suspension location. Together they do the work a strut mount and bearing would do on a MacPherson setup.

What symptoms point to worn shock mounts or related hardware?

Listen for knocks over potholes, a dull thud at low speed, vague turn-in, or uneven tyre wear. Check the front shock top rubbers for cracks or crushing, sway-bar links for play, and control arm bushes for splits.