Parts for your 2018 Toyota Land cruiser-Strut mounts

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser strut mounts — relevant, or not?

The 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series (J200) doesn’t use strut mounts. Up front it runs an independent double‑wishbone suspension with a coil spring and separate shock absorber, and at the rear it uses a live axle with coil springs. A strut mount is specific to MacPherson strut setups, where the “strut” is a structural member and the top mount includes a bearing plate. On the Land Cruiser’s double‑wishbone layout, the shock isn’t a structural steering member, so there’s no strut top/bearing to mount. Instead, the shock absorber attaches via rubber bushings and hardware to the chassis and lower arm.

This isn’t just workshop folklore. Toyota’s technical literature describes the arrangement clearly: the New Car Features (NCF) for the 200 Series specifies a double‑wishbone front end with a coil spring and shock absorber, the Toyota Repair Manual front suspension section and the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for the 2018 Land Cruiser show component breakdowns with upper/lower shock mounts, coil spring seats/insulators, and control arms — but no MacPherson strut or strut‑mount/bearing assembly. The platform‑mate Lexus LX uses similar architecture, even on models with KDSS or height/active damping systems, without introducing a strut mount.

Why that matters: if someone’s searching for “strut mounts” for this model, they’re looking for a part that isn’t fitted. What they likely need are:

• Front shock absorber upper and lower bushes, washers and nuts
• Front coil spring insulators/seats or complete front shock/coil assemblies
• Control arm bushes and ball joints
• Sway bar (stabiliser) links and bushes

Typical service advice for Aussie and Kiwi conditions: inspect front and rear shock bushings for cracking, perishing or crushed rubber, check shocks for oil seepage and diminished damping, listen for clunks over corrugations (often sway bar links/bushes or control arm bushes), and look for uneven tyre wear that hints at worn front‑end components. Replace suspect bushes and shocks in pairs (left/right), torque suspension fasteners at ride height, and book a wheel alignment after any front‑end work. If the vehicle has KDSS or adaptive damping, follow Toyota procedures and safety steps, as those systems carry additional considerations. Off‑road touring, heavy towing and corrugated roads can shorten service intervals — many owners refresh shocks and key bushes around 100–150,000 km, earlier if usage is severe.

Technical sources referenced: Toyota New Car Features (Land Cruiser 200 Series, Front Suspension), Toyota Repair Manual (Front Suspension and Shock Absorber sections, 200 Series), Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (2018 Land Cruiser J200, Front Suspension and Rear Suspension diagrams).

Popular questions

Does the 2018 Land Cruiser have strut mounts?
No. The 200 Series uses a double‑wishbone front end with a separate coil spring and shock absorber, so there’s no MacPherson strut and no strut top/bearing. Toyota’s NCF, Repair Manual and EPC diagrams list shock mounts and bushings, not strut mounts.

What should be serviced instead of strut mounts on a 2018 Land Cruiser?
Focus on the front shock absorber upper/lower bushes, coil spring insulators, control arm bushes and ball joints, plus sway bar links/bushes. Check for shock leaks, perished rubber and any clunks. Replace worn parts in axle pairs and get an alignment after front‑end work.

Can aftermarket strut‑mount kits be fitted to upgrade the suspension?
They’re not applicable. Aftermarket coilovers for the 200 Series may include a top hat or mount hardware for the shock/coil assembly, but that’s not a strut mount in the MacPherson sense and doesn’t convert the vehicle to a strut‑type suspension.