Parts for your 2014 Isuzu D-max-Strut mounts

2014 Isuzu D‑MAX strut-mounts: what’s actually fitted and what to service

For the 2014 Isuzu D‑MAX, a traditional MacPherson strut with a bearing-type strut mount isn’t used. Technical sources including the Isuzu D‑MAX Workshop Manual (RT50/RT85, 2012–2016), Isuzu Australia MY14 specification sheets, and suspension fitment guides from major suppliers describe the front end as independent double wishbone with a coil spring over a shock absorber and a stabiliser bar. Because the steering axis is carried by the upper and lower control arms and ball joints—not by a structural strut—there’s no need for a strut mount with an integrated steering bearing. That’s why “strut-mounts” aren’t a service item on this model.

What the D‑MAX does have up front is a coilover-style shock assembly with a top insulator/plate and rubber bushes, plus upper and lower control arms with their own bushes and ball joints. Down the back it runs leaf springs with separate shock absorbers on eye/bush mounts. If someone’s chasing a front-end clunk or vague steering on a 2014 D‑MAX, the usual suspects aren’t strut mounts, but rather the components below.

• Upper and lower control arm bushes and ball joints
• Front shock absorber top and bottom bushes or the coilover top insulator/plate
• Sway bar link rods and D-bushes
• Wheel bearings and alignment settings after any front-end work

Servicing tips for a tidy, quiet front end on a 2014 D‑MAX:

• Inspect shock absorber bushes for cracks, mushrooming, or play, replace shocks if leaking or if bush sleeves are flogged out.
• Check control arm bushes for splits and seeping (on hydraulic types), and ball joints for free play, replace in pairs where practical.
• If the coilover assembly is removed (for shocks or springs), mark orientation of the top plate/insulator and torque mounts at normal ride height to avoid preloading bushes.
• After any suspension work, book a wheel alignment, small changes in camber/caster toe can chew tyres and cause pull.
• Lift kits often use “strut top spacers” on the coilover assembly—these are spacers, not strut mounts with bearings. Fit quality gear and keep CV angles in check.

Bottom line: the 2014 Isuzu D‑MAX doesn’t use strut mounts because its front suspension design doesn’t rely on a structural, steering strut. Keep on top of shocks, control arm bushes, ball joints, and sway bar hardware for a ute that tracks straight and rides well on Aussie and Kiwi roads.

FAQs

Does the 2014 Isuzu D‑MAX have strut mounts?
No. It runs a double wishbone front end with a coilover shock, so there’s no bearing-type strut top. Steering load is handled by the upper and lower control arms and ball joints.

What should be checked instead of strut mounts on a 2014 D‑MAX?
Look at front shock bushes, the coilover top insulator/plate, upper and lower control arm bushes, ball joints, and sway bar links/D-bushes. A quick alignment check afterwards is smart.

Are “strut top spacers” in lift kits the same as strut mounts?
No. Spacers simply sit above the coilover to add height, they aren’t a rotating strut mount with a bearing. Use quality spacers and confirm geometry and alignment post‑fitment.