Parts for your 2018 Toyota Wish-Strut mounts

2018 Toyota Wish strut mounts — what they do, when to replace, and how to care for them

Based on Toyota service literature for the ZGE2# series Wish (New Car Features and Repair Manual), the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue, and mainstream aftermarket catalogues (e.g., KYB top-mount kits and OE-style support bearings), the 2018 Toyota Wish uses a MacPherson strut front suspension with a dedicated strut top mount and integrated support bearing. The rear is a torsion beam with separate spring and shock, so no rear strut mounts are fitted — just upper shock mounts/bushes.

Up front, the strut mount (often called the top mount, suspension support, or insulator sub‑assembly) bolts the strut to the bodyshell and houses a bearing so the strut can rotate smoothly when steering. It does a tough double act: carrying vehicle loads while isolating vibration and road harshness. On a Wish driven on Aussie or Kiwi roads, a healthy top mount helps keep steering feel tidy, cabin noise low, and tyre wear even.

There’s no fixed replacement interval, but best practice is to inspect the mounts whenever front struts or springs are removed, and at roughly 40,000–60,000 km service intervals if the car sees rough chipseal or corrugations. If the rubber is perished or cracked, the centre sleeve has separated, or the bearing feels notchy, replace. Many techs renew mounts and bearings as a set whenever fitting new front struts to avoid double labour and keep steering silky.

• Common symptoms: clunks over bumps, a dull knock on take‑off/braking, notchy or springy steering return, vague on‑centre feel, and feathered tyre edges.
• Replacement tips: do both fronts together, include the bearing, dust boot and bump stop, torque the top nut and tower nuts to spec, and finish with a wheel alignment.
• Workshop notes: orientation marks matter — fit the mount in the correct position, use a quality spring compressor, and don’t preload the bearing when tightening.

Typical labour is about 1.0–1.5 hours per side plus alignment. DIY is doable for a confident home mechanic with the right tools, but a workshop job is the safer bet if spring compressors aren’t your thing. Quality OE or OE‑equivalent parts from reputable brands will keep NVH under control and steering behaviour crisp, which is exactly what a family MPV like the Wish deserves.

Popular questions about 2018 Toyota Wish strut mounts

Do the rear suspension components on a 2018 Toyota Wish have strut mounts?

No. The rear of the Wish uses a torsion beam with separate shocks and springs, so there are no rear strut mounts. You’ll find upper shock mounts/bushes instead, which can also wear and cause knocking if tired.

If you’re tracing a rear noise, check the rear shock upper bushes and lower bolts, then the beam bushes and sway bar links before assuming anything up front.

How long do front strut mounts usually last on a Wish?

It varies with roads and loads, but 80,000–150,000 km is common. City cars on smooth roads go longer, vehicles on coarse chipseal or with lots of speed humps may need them sooner.

Whenever you replace front struts, it’s smart to install fresh mounts and bearings. The extra parts cost is small compared with repeating the labour later.

What noises point to a failing strut mount on a Wish?

Listen for a clunk over sharp bumps, a creak at parking speeds, or a notchy feel when turning the wheel at a standstill. You might also see the top hat jump as someone turns the wheel with the bonnet open.

Any of those signs warrant inspection. If the bearing drags or the rubber is cracked or split, replace the mount and follow up with a wheel alignment.