Parts for your 2014 Nissan Navara-Strut mounts

2014 Nissan Navara strut mounts — are they used on this ute?

Short answer: a traditional “strut mount” isn’t used on the 2014 Nissan Navara (D40). The front end runs an independent double-wishbone suspension with a coil spring and separate shock absorber, not a MacPherson strut. That means there’s no steering-bearing style strut top mount like you’d find in many passenger cars. Instead, the Navara uses an upper shock mounting insulator/bush and hardware that simply locates and isolates the shock — it doesn’t support wheel alignment or steering loads.

Why this matters: on a MacPherson-strut vehicle, the strut mount contains a bearing and rubber insulator that carries the vehicle’s weight and allows the strut to turn with the steering. On a D40 Navara, steering and load paths go through the upper and lower control arms and ball joints. The shock’s top “mount” is just a bush/insulator, there’s no strut bearing to replace.

What owners should service instead of “strut mounts” on a 2014 Navara:

• Upper and lower control arm bushes and ball joints (play here affects tyre wear and steering feel)
• Front shock absorbers and their upper insulators/bushes, washers and nuts
• Stabiliser (sway) bar links and D-bushes
• Wheel alignment after any front-end work

Typical symptoms that point to these front-end parts, not a strut mount: clunks over corrugations, vague steering, pulling under brakes, uneven tyre wear on the shoulders, or oily shocks. If the top shock insulator is flogged out, you’ll often hear a dull thud from the top of the wheel arch over bumps.

Recommended practice for servicing: inspect control arm bushes/ball joints and sway bar gear at every service or 10,000–15,000 km, and replace shocks/upper insulators in pairs if they’re leaking or weak. Torque the shock top nut to spec and don’t over-compress the rubber. After any suspension work, get a proper alignment. If the ute is lifted or carries constant load, choose shocks and bushes rated for that setup.

Technical sources referenced: Nissan Navara D40 Service Manual (FSU Front Suspension section, 2012–2014 editions), Nissan Australia 2014 Navara D40 specifications, and Haynes/Chilton Frontier/Navara 2005–2014 workshop manual — all describe the front suspension as independent double-wishbone with coil spring and shock absorber, not a MacPherson strut assembly.

Popular questions

Does a 2014 Nissan Navara have strut mounts?
No. The D40 Navara uses a double-wishbone front suspension with a separate shock and coil, so there’s no MacPherson strut or strut-top bearing. The top of the shock uses an insulator/bush and hardware, which some catalogues loosely call a “strut mount”, but it doesn’t serve the same function.

What should be replaced instead of strut mounts on a 2014 Navara?
Focus on front shocks and their upper insulators/bushes, upper/lower control arm bushes and ball joints, and sway bar links/bushes. If there are knocks, leaks, or tyre wear, those are the likely culprits. Always align the front end after replacing suspension parts.

Will a lift kit add strut mounts to my Navara?
Even with a lift kit or aftermarket coilovers, the D40’s architecture stays double-wishbone. You’ll still have a shock top plate and bush, not a steering-bearing strut mount. Use quality top hats/insulators suited to the lift and recheck alignment and torque after settling.