Parts for your 2015 Mazda Cx-5-Strut mounts

2015 Mazda CX-5 strut mounts

Yes — the 2015 Mazda CX-5 uses strut mounts in the front suspension. Technical references include the Mazda CX-5 (KE series, 2012–2016) workshop manual, which specifies a front MacPherson strut design, and Mazda’s genuine parts catalogue listing a front “strut mount/insulator” with an integrated bearing. Major aftermarket catalogues (e.g., KYB, Monroe) also list front strut mounts for this model year. The rear of the CX-5 is a multi-link layout with separate shock absorbers, so there are no rear strut mounts in the same sense.

On the 2015 CX-5, the front strut mounts do a quiet but crucial job. They secure the tops of the MacPherson struts to the body, isolate road noise and vibration with a rubber insulator, and provide a bearing for the strut to rotate smoothly as the wheels steer. When they’re healthy, steering feels light and direct, the cabin stays calm over sharp bumps, and wheel alignment holds steady.

As kilometres add up, the rubber can harden or crack and the bearing can bind. That’s when owners might notice clunks over speed humps, a creak on low-speed turns, a tendency for the steering to “stick” off-centre (memory steer), or uneven tyre wear. Australian and New Zealand conditions—coarse-chip seal, corrugations, and coastal corrosion—can accelerate wear.

• Typical inspection window: around 80,000–120,000 km, or any time the front struts/springs are replaced.
• Best practice: replace strut mounts in pairs and follow workshop-manual torque specs.
• Always book a wheel alignment after front strut or mount work.

For servicing the 2015 CX-5, it’s smart to fit new mounts whenever front struts are changed. Re-using a tired mount with a new strut can leave a fresh suspension feeling noisy or vague. Choose quality OEM or trusted aftermarket mounts with the correct integrated bearing, orientation marks matter, so line up any arrows or notches as specified. Avoid hammering the bearing with a rattle gun, support the knuckle to protect CV joints and brake hoses, and final-torque the upper and lower fasteners at ride height to prevent bush pre-load. Labour times vary by workshop, but 1.5–2.5 hours per side is typical, plus alignment.

Quick driveway checks? Look for perished rubber around the top hat under the bonnet, listen for top-end knocks, and pay attention to any steering that doesn’t self-centre smoothly. Keeping mounts in good nick helps the CX-5 steer sweetly and ride quietly—exactly what owners expect from a well-sorted Mazda.

Do CX-5s have rear strut mounts?

No. The 2015 CX-5 uses a rear multi-link suspension with separate shocks and springs. Only the front uses MacPherson struts and therefore strut mounts with bearings.

How often should front strut mounts be replaced?

There’s no fixed interval. Many are replaced between 100,000–150,000 km, or whenever front struts are changed, or sooner if there are noises, steering bind, or uneven tyre wear.

Do I need a wheel alignment after replacing strut mounts?

Yes. Any work involving the strut or knuckle can shift camber and toe. A post-repair alignment protects tyres and restores the CX-5’s steering feel.