Parts for your 2018 Toyota Land cruiser-Strut mounts

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser strut mounts — are they actually used?

Short answer: no, the 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser (200 Series) doesn’t use traditional strut mounts. Technical references — including Toyota’s New Car Features for the J200 platform, the Toyota Repair Manual for the 200 Series, and Toyota’s Electronic Parts Catalogue — describe a front double‑wishbone independent suspension with a coil‑over shock absorber, and a solid rear axle with separate coil springs and shocks. Those setups don’t use MacPherson struts, so there’s no strut mount/bearing assembly on this model year Land Cruiser.

Here’s why that matters: a strut mount is specific to MacPherson strut suspensions where the strut is a structural part of the steering and carries corner loads and camber. The mount typically includes a bearing so the strut can rotate when you steer. The 2018 Land Cruiser’s front end instead uses upper and lower control arms to locate the wheel, with a shock and coil spring working as a coil‑over unit that doesn’t rotate for steering. Up top, it uses a shock top plate with rubber insulators/cushions — sometimes casually called a “strut top” — but it is not a strut mount with a steering bearing.

Why Toyota didn’t use strut mounts here comes down to the Land Cruiser’s brief: durability, load capacity, and off‑road articulation. Double‑wishbone geometry lets Toyota control camber through the arms and keeps the shock from acting as a structural member. Out back, the live axle with separate shocks also does without strut hardware, relying on rubber‑bushed mounts.

What to service instead? Owners and techs should focus on the front shock absorber upper insulators/cushions, the lower shock bushings, control arm bushes, ball joints, and stabiliser (sway bar) links, plus the rear shock bushings. If there are clunks over corrugations, perished rubber, or oil weeping from a shock, it’s time for attention. Replace rubber mounts if they’re cracked, squashed, or allowing metal‑to‑metal contact. Any time the front coil‑over assembly is removed, a wheel alignment is recommended. Use new self‑locking nuts where specified and follow the torque specs in the Toyota Repair Manual.

• Common symptoms to watch: front‑end knocks, vague steering, uneven tyre wear, shimmy on corrugated roads, or visible shock leaks.
• Typical service touchpoints: front shock top insulators, sway bar link bushes, lower control arm rear bushes, upper/lower ball joints, rear shock bushes.
• Lift kits marketed as “strut top spacers” on this model are actually top‑plate spacers for the front coil‑over, ensure they’re compatible, don’t over‑extend CV angles, and remain compliant with local AU/NZ regulations.

FAQ 1: Does a 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser have strut mounts?

No. The 200 Series uses a double‑wishbone front suspension with a coil‑over shock, not a MacPherson strut, so there’s no strut mount or strut bearing. Toyota’s New Car Features, Repair Manual, and EPC list shock top insulators/cushions instead of a strut mount assembly.

FAQ 2: What should be serviced instead of strut mounts on a 2018 Land Cruiser?

Inspect the front shock upper insulators, lower shock bushes, sway bar links and bushes, control arm bushes, and ball joints, plus rear shock bushes. Replace parts showing cracks, play, oil leakage, or metal‑to‑metal contact and get an alignment after front coil‑over removal.

FAQ 3: Are “strut top spacers” suitable on a 2018 Land Cruiser?

They’re actually coil‑over top‑plate spacers for ride height, not true strut spacers. Use quality components, keep lift within safe CV and ball joint angles, check bump stop and droop travel, and confirm legality and certification requirements in your state or territory across AU/NZ.