Parts for your 2015 Toyota Land cruiser-Strut mounts

2015 Toyota Land Cruiser (200 Series) — Are strut mounts used?

For the 2015 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series, “strut mounts” aren’t actually a thing. Technical sources, including Toyota’s New Car Features (J200 series, Front Suspension) and the Toyota Repair Manual for the 200 Series, describe a front double wishbone independent suspension with a coil-over shock absorber. That setup doesn’t use a MacPherson strut, so there’s no true strut mount. Instead, the shock absorber is secured with an upper support/insulator (often called a cushion or mount insulator) and hardware, plus lower eye bushes. It’s common to hear people casually say “strut tops” for these, but they’re not structural strut mounts in the MacPherson sense.

Why no strut mounts on a 2015 Land Cruiser? A MacPherson strut acts as both the damper and the steering/suspension upright, and it relies on a strut mount at the top tower to locate and isolate it. The 200 Series uses upper and lower control arms to locate the wheel, so the damper isn’t a structural member. The top fixing is simply a shock insulator that controls noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and holds the shock in place — it doesn’t carry the corner’s alignment loads like a strut mount would.

What to service instead of “strut mounts” on a 2015 Land Cruiser:

• Front shock absorber upper support/insulator (cushions), washers and nut
• Lower shock bushes and bolts
• Sway bar (stabiliser) link and D-bushes
• Upper/lower ball joints and control arm bushes
• Coil spring seats/isolators and front wheel alignment after any suspension work
• KDSS and AHC components (if fitted), checking for leaks and correct operation

Good practice for Aussie and Kiwi conditions is to inspect the front shock top insulators and bushes every 20,000–30,000 km, sooner if the vehicle sees corrugations or towing. Tell-tales include clunks over speed humps, vague steering, or a dull thud at the top of the stroke. If the front shocks are being replaced, it’s smart money to renew the upper insulators and hardware at the same time. Always torque fasteners to the spec in the Toyota repair manual, and get a wheel alignment once it’s all back together.

Note: Many aftermarket catalogues list “strut mounts” for the 200 Series out of habit. On a 2015 Land Cruiser, they correspond to the shock’s upper support/insulator rather than a true MacPherson strut mount.

FAQs

Does a 2015 Toyota Land Cruiser have strut mounts?

No. The 200 Series runs a double wishbone front end with a coil-over shock, not a MacPherson strut. That means there’s no traditional strut mount up top.

What you will find is a shock absorber upper support/insulator (sometimes called a cushion), which isolates noise and holds the shock, but it doesn’t function like a structural strut mount.

What should be replaced instead of “strut mounts” on a 2015 Land Cruiser?

When people say “strut mounts” on these, they usually mean the shock top insulators and hardware. It’s wise to replace those with the shocks, and check lower shock bushes too.

While you’re there, inspect sway bar links and D-bushes, control arm bushes, and ball joints. If the vehicle has KDSS or AHC, include a check of those systems.

What are the signs the front shock top insulators need attention?

Listen for a knock or clunk over potholes, a dull top-out thud, or feel for a slight shimmy in the steering on rough roads. Visible perishing or compression of the rubber is another giveaway.

If in doubt, have a tech load the suspension and check play at the top mount area and shock bushes. Replace worn parts and get an alignment after the work.