Toyota RAV4 Front Suspension Strut: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

On the RAV4, a documented case resolved a suspension "thump" completely just by lubricating dry control arm bushes.

Illustration of a suspension strut and coil spring

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: 4853142271 (front strut, as quoted in catalogue listings — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket struts Sachs 316 985 / Meyle 30-26

Accuracy note: Covers the Toyota RAV4 (XA40 2013-2018) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Front struts, lower arms and top mounts are sold by side and by suspension spec — standard, sport / lowered (S line, M Sport, R-Line, ST-Line etc.), heavy-duty and adaptive / electronic damping all use different part numbers, and some makers split by engine or front axle load. The references below are UK aftermarket catalogue listings for this generation, labelled by brand; genuine numbers are shown only where a listing quotes one. Confirm the fit against your VIN, and replace struts and top mounts in pairs.

Front strut / shock absorber (aftermarket)	Sachs 316 985 (LH, twin-tube gas, ST32/22156A) and 316 986 (RH); KYB Excel-G 3350001 (LH) and 3350000 (RH), with rebound spring; Meyle 30-26 623 0014 (LH) and 30-26 623 0015 (RH), twin-tube gas; Monroe G8118/G8117 (side not stated).
Front lower arm / wishbone (aftermarket)	LH Blue Print ADT386185 and RH ADT386186; LH febi 43072 and RH febi 43073; LH NTY ZWD-TY-151 and RH ZWD-TY-150 (outer); RH Delphi TC3280 (ball joint, 455 mm) with TC3279; Moog TO-WP-15319/15320 (ball joint, rubber mount).
Top mount / strut bearing (aftermarket)	Original Imperium 72506; febi 182348 (elastomer, no bearing); febi 193993 (repair kit, ball bearing); Magnum A72036MT (ball bearing, LH and RH); Blue Print ADBP800487; Ridex 1180S0404 (rolling bearing); Maxgear 72-4234.
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	Top mount 4861928010 (Original Imperium 72506)
Fitment notes	Standard twin-tube gas struts

A Genuinely Money-Saving Fix Worth Trying First — Toyota RAV4 Front Suspension

If you're hearing a muted "thump" or "pop" from the front suspension, particularly on rebound over speed humps, this is genuinely worth trying: one documented case saw exactly this noise resolved completely simply by lubricating the lower control arm bushes, which had dried out, rather than replacing any actual component — using a silicone-specific spray on the bushes.

A genuinely honest, real account worth knowing: one documented case saw drop links and anti-roll bar bushes replaced with zero improvement to a persistent clunk, only for the actual cause to turn out to be recently fitted brake pads rattling very slightly within the caliper — not a suspension fault at all.

It's also worth knowing that a clunk specifically over wide speed humps, but with no unusual noise on smaller bumps, has been documented on brand-new cars and can sometimes trace back to a subframe bolt not properly torqued at the factory.

Toyota RAV4 Front Suspension Strut: The System That Quietly Does All the Work

On the Toyota RAV4, every pothole, bump and cornering load gets filtered through these parts long before it's felt inside the car, which is precisely why wear rarely shows up as one clean symptom. A methodical, process-of-elimination check tends to find the actual culprit much faster than guessing.

Toyota RAV4 Front Suspension Strut: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: How to Replace the front strut on the Toyota RAV4 2013 to 2018

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XA40 front strut

Toyota RAV4 Front Suspension reference plate

Before you buy: suspension components vary by trim, engine weight and whether your car has the standard or sport-tuned setup. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Toyota RAV4 Front Suspension Strut: What It Does

The Toyota RAV4's front struts fold two components into one: the damper and the coil spring's mount. A worn strut means the car keeps moving after a bump rather than settling promptly, and that lingering movement can accelerate uneven tyre wear over time.

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Toyota RAV4 Front Suspension Strut: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Front Suspension Strut Guide for symptoms of worn bushings and ball joints, confirming fitment against your VIN, and rubber vs polyurethane guidance.

More Toyota Front Suspension Strut

The same part, covered across other Toyota models.