Parts for your 2013 Toyota Fortuner-Strut mounts

2013 Toyota Fortuner strut-mounts: are they used, and what to know

For the 2013 Toyota Fortuner, “strut-mounts” aren’t actually a thing. Technical documentation for the AN50/AN60-series Fortuner (the Hilux-based wagon) shows a front suspension that’s double-wishbone with a coil-over shock absorber, not a MacPherson strut. In Toyota’s Repair Manual and Electronic Parts Catalogue for 2011–2015 Fortuner/Hilux, the front end is listed as upper and lower control arms with a shock absorber and coil spring, plus upper and lower rubber cushions/bushes for the shock. There’s no strut, and therefore no strut-top bearing/mount assembly like you’d see in a Corolla or Camry.

Why it doesn’t use a strut-mount comes down to how the suspension steers and carries load. On a MacPherson strut car, the strut is the main structural leg of the suspension and the top mount houses a bearing so the whole assembly can rotate with the steering. On the Fortuner’s double-wishbone setup, steering pivot happens at the upper and lower ball joints, so there’s no need for a rotating strut-top bearing. The shock’s upper mounting hardware is simply a cushioned, fixed mount (rubber insulators, washers, and a nut) into the body tower.

So if there’s a front-end knock, squeak, or vague steering on a 2013 Fortuner, chasing “strut-mounts” won’t help. The more relevant checks are:

• Upper and lower control arm bushes
• Upper and lower ball joints
• Front shock absorber bushings/cushions and top hardware
• Stabiliser (sway) bar links and bushes
• Wheel alignment and tyre wear patterns

For servicing, a mechanic will usually inspect the shock absorber top and bottom bushes for cracking or collapse, torque the shock top nut to spec, and look for oil misting from the shock body. If the front shocks are due, replacing the rubber cushions and washers at the same time is good practice. This aligns with Toyota’s workshop procedures and EPC diagrams for the model years in question, which list “shock absorber cushion/insulator” rather than any “strut mount with bearing”.

Popular questions about 2013 Toyota Fortuner strut-mounts

Does a 2013 Toyota Fortuner have front strut-mounts?
No. The 2013 Fortuner uses a double-wishbone front end with a coil-over shock, so there’s no MacPherson strut or strut-top bearing. Toyota’s service manual and EPC list shock absorber cushions/insulators at the top, not a strut-mount assembly.

What should be replaced instead of strut-mounts if there’s a clunk up front?
Look at the front shock absorber cushions, sway bar links and bushes, and the upper/lower control arm bushes and ball joints. These are common wear points on the Fortuner’s ute-based suspension and are the usual suspects for knocks and squeaks.

Will aftermarket “strut top” kits fit a 2013 Fortuner?
Kits marketed as “strut tops” for the Fortuner are typically shock top bush/washer hardware, not a bearing-type strut mount. If the kit includes a bearing plate like you’d see on a MacPherson setup, it’s not applicable to this model.