Parts for your 2014 Toyota Fortuner-Struts

2014 Toyota Fortuner: Are struts used, or not?

Short answer: struts aren’t used on the 2014 Toyota Fortuner. Technical references that cover the AN50/AN60 series Fortuner (the first generation sold through 2014) list a double wishbone independent front suspension with a coil-over shock absorber and stabiliser bar, and a rear live axle with a 4‑link arrangement and coil springs. Toyota workshop literature and spec sheets describe the front units as “front shock absorbers with coil spring,” not MacPherson struts. Aftermarket fitment catalogues for this model likewise list shock absorbers (front and rear), not strut assemblies. That combination confirms “struts” aren’t a component used on this vehicle.

Why no struts? The Fortuner is a body-on-frame SUV derived from the Hilux/IMV platform. For off-road durability, wheel travel, and load handling, Toyota used a double wishbone front end and a coil-sprung solid rear axle. In a MacPherson strut layout, the strut is a structural member that locates the wheel, in the Fortuner’s double wishbone design, upper and lower control arms locate the hub, while a separate shock absorber provides damping. Different job, different part.

That layout offers a few advantages that suit how a Fortuner is used around Australia and New Zealand:

• Strength and travel for rough roads, towing, and off-road tracks
• Consistent steering geometry under load thanks to upper and lower control arms
• Serviceability: shocks, coils, and control arm bushes can be replaced independently

So if someone mentions “Fortuner struts”, they’re usually talking about the front shock absorber assemblies. For servicing, the sensible approach is to inspect the front and rear shocks for oil seepage, dents, worn bushes, and reduced damping, check upper and lower control arm bushes and ball joints, and get a wheel alignment after any front-end work. On vehicles that see corrugations or heavy towing, shocks can be tired by 80–120,000 km, city-only use can stretch that further. Uneven tyre wear, nose-diving under brakes, floaty handling, or knocking over bumps are good cues it’s time to refresh the dampers.

Technical sources: Toyota Fortuner (AN50/AN60) workshop/service manual front and rear suspension sections, Toyota product specification sheets for the 2011–2015 Fortuner, respected aftermarket fitment guides that list shock absorbers (not strut assemblies) for this model.

• Does a 2014 Toyota Fortuner have front struts?
  No. It runs a double wishbone front suspension with a coil-over shock absorber, not a MacPherson strut. The shock doesn’t locate the wheel, the control arms do, which is the key difference.
• What suspension does a 2014 Fortuner use?
  Front: double wishbone with coil-over shock and stabiliser bar. Rear: solid axle with 4‑link, lateral rod, and coil springs. Both ends use separate shock absorbers for damping.
• People keep saying “replace the Fortuner struts” — what should be replaced?
  They mean the shock absorbers. Replace them if they’re leaking, bent, losing damping, or causing poor ride and handling. Inspect related bushes, ball joints, and mounts at the same time.