Parts for your 2018 Toyota Crown-Struts

2018 Toyota Crown struts — what’s actually fitted

Struts aren’t used on the 2018 Toyota Crown. Technical sources including Toyota Global Newsroom’s 2018 Crown launch materials, Toyota’s repair manual/parts catalogue for the S210 and S220 series, and engineering overviews published by MotorFan and similar Japanese technical journals, show the Crown runs control-arm designs rather than MacPherson struts. Late-2018 (15th‑gen S220) models feature newly developed multi-link suspension front and rear, while early-2018 (runout S210) models use a front double‑wishbone and rear multi‑link arrangement. Neither setup uses a load‑bearing MacPherson strut.

In everyday terms, a “strut” is a shock absorber that also serves as a structural member guiding the wheel’s motion (typical of MacPherson strut fronts in many mainstream cars). The 2018 Crown instead separates the roles: arms and links handle wheel location and geometry, while dampers and springs manage ride control. So there isn’t a “front strut” on the Crown, there are front and rear dampers/shocks housed within multi-link or double-wishbone assemblies.

Why Toyota didn’t use struts on this model comes down to precision, comfort and packaging targets for a premium RWD sedan:

• Better camber control for sharp turn-in and even tyre contact under load.
• Reduced noise, vibration and harshness thanks to optimised bushing layouts.
• Room for larger braking hardware and steering geometry without the compromises of a single upright strut.
• Compatibility with Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) on select grades, delivering finer damping control.

Servicing wise, owners and workshops should look past “struts” and focus on the Crown’s actual wear items. That means inspecting dampers for leaks or fade, checking upper/lower control arm bushes and ball joints for play, and replacing stabiliser links if there’s knocking over bumps. A quick bounce test, a road test for float or crashiness, and an eye on uneven tyre wear will reveal most issues. Many Crowns feel best with damper replacement somewhere around 80,000–120,000 km, depending on roads and loads. Always replace dampers in axle pairs and perform a four‑wheel alignment afterwards. If the vehicle has AVS, use a scan tool to run actuator checks and complete any required calibrations, mixing non‑AVS parts on AVS cars can trigger fault codes and ordinary ride quality.

Bottom line: the 2018 Toyota Crown doesn’t use struts, but it absolutely rewards careful maintenance of its multi‑link/double‑wishbone suspension with the quiet, planted ride it’s known for.

Popular questions

Does a 2018 Toyota Crown have struts?
No. Early‑2018 S210 cars run a front double‑wishbone and rear multi‑link, later 2018 S220 cars use multi‑link at both ends. Both designs separate wheel location (arms/links) from damping (shocks), so there’s no MacPherson strut to replace.

What suspension parts should be serviced on a 2018 Crown instead of struts?
Focus on front and rear dampers, control arm bushes and ball joints, top mounts, stabiliser (sway bar) links and bushes, and—if fitted—AVS actuators. After any arm or damper work, a proper alignment prevents odd tyre wear and keeps the steering feel crisp.

How can someone tell if the Crown’s dampers need replacement?
Signs include excessive bounce after bumps, nose‑dive under braking, floaty high‑speed behaviour, oily misting on the damper body, and cupped or uneven tyre wear. Replace in pairs per axle and choose quality parts matched to AVS or non‑AVS specification.