Parts for your 2020 Toyota Land cruiser-Strut mounts

2020 Toyota Land Cruiser and strut mounts: what’s actually fitted?

Based on Toyota’s technical literature for the J200-series Land Cruiser (2016–2021) — including the Suspension section of the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series Repair Manual and the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue — the 2020 Land Cruiser does not use MacPherson struts or strut mounts. The front end is an independent double-wishbone layout with a coil-over shock absorber, and the rear is a solid axle with separate coils and shocks. Because the front shock isn’t a structural “strut” that carries steering loads, there’s no strut top bearing or conventional strut mount on this model.

On vehicles with MacPherson struts, a strut mount sits at the top of the strut and often includes a bearing to allow the whole assembly to rotate with the steering. The 2020 Land Cruiser’s double-wishbone design separates these jobs: the upper and lower control arms locate the hub and handle steering geometry, while the shock and spring manage damping and ride height. The shock’s upper end is fixed to the chassis via a rubber insulator/bush and seat — sometimes casually called a “top hat” — but it’s not a strut mount in the traditional sense, and it doesn’t have a steering bearing.

Why did Toyota do it this way? The double-wishbone/coil-over arrangement offers excellent strength, wheel control, and durability for heavy towing and off‑road work — perfect for Aussie and Kiwi conditions. It also means fewer steering-related wear points up top, which can be handy over corrugations and long kilometres.

If someone’s searching for “strut mounts” for a 2020 Land Cruiser, they probably need front shock absorber upper insulators/seats or related bushes, or rear shock bushes. These are serviceable wear parts.

• Typical symptoms of tired shock insulators or bushes: knocking over bumps, increased vibration/harshness, vague front-end feel, or uneven tyre wear if other suspension components are also worn.
• Helpful tips: inspect rubber for cracking or compression set, check sway-bar links and control-arm bushes at the same time, torque fasteners at normal ride height, and book a wheel alignment after front-end work or any ride-height change.

Popular questions about 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser “strut mounts”

Does a 2020 Land Cruiser have strut mounts?
No. The J200 uses a double-wishbone front with a coil-over shock, so there’s no MacPherson strut or strut top bearing. Instead, it has a shock absorber upper insulator/seat. The rear is a live axle with separate coils and shocks, again with rubber bushes rather than strut mounts.

What part should be ordered instead of a strut mount?
Look for the front shock absorber upper insulator/seat, spring seat/cushion, dust boot, and related hardware, plus shock bushes front and rear. Names vary in the Toyota EPC by VIN and market (diesel/petrol, KDSS or not), so it’s best to confirm with the vehicle’s VIN.

When should these insulators or bushes be replaced?
There’s no fixed interval, but many owners see wear between 150,000–200,000 km, sooner if the vehicle works hard off-road or tows frequently. Replace if there are knocks, perished rubber, or ride/handling changes. After any front-end suspension work, an alignment is a smart move.