MajorCommonSuspension

Toyota Mark II: Collapsed rear suspension arm bushes and cracked/rusted rear subframe mounts

Collapsed rear suspension arm bushes and cracked/rusted rear subframe mounts is a common suspension fault on the Toyota Mark II on the 2000–2007 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $500 to $2,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 22 documented faults on the Toyota Mark II.

Vehicle: Toyota Mark II
Years: 2000–2007
System: Suspension

This page covers the Toyota Mark II as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Toyota Mark II faults22 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Ball joint yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The X110 rides on a multi-link RWD rear end with soft rubber bushes in the camber, toe/traction and lower arms. After two decades, and especially on cars that were drifted, those bushes perish and the rear subframe mounts can crack, rust or crush at the seams, giving vague handling, uneven tyre wear and clunks. Seized alignment eccentrics are common and add to the repair. Age- and abuse-driven rather than mileage-limited.

What you would notice

Clunks or knocking from the rear over bumps
Vague, wandering or loose rear-end feel under power
Uneven or feathered rear tyre wear
Visible cracked or perished rubber in the rear arm bushes

How to check it

Where to look. Rear multi-link suspension arms and subframe mounting points

On a hoist, lever-test each rear arm bush (camber, toe/traction and lower arms) for play and check for split or perished rubber.
Inspect the rear subframe mounts for cracks, rust scaling and crushed pinch seams, and check whether the alignment eccentric bolts are seized.
Look for aftermarket adjustable arms as a sign of prior drift use.

Parts involved: Ball joint.

What it costs to put right

$500 to $2,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have the rear arm bushes or subframe mounts been replaced or repaired?”
“Has the car been drifted or fitted with aftermarket suspension arms?”
“When was the rear alignment last done, and did they report seized adjusters?”

Now check the Toyota Mark II you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Toyota Mark II buyer questions

Is collapsed rear suspension arm bushes and cracked/rusted rear subframe mounts serious on a Toyota Mark II?

We rate it major and common on the Toyota Mark II. The X110 rides on a multi-link RWD rear end with soft rubber bushes in the camber, toe/traction and lower arms. After two decades, and especially on cars that were drifted, those bushes perish and the rear subframe mounts can crack, rust or crush at the seams, giving vague handling, uneven tyre wear and clunks. Seized alignment eccentrics are common and add to the repair. Age- and abuse-driven rather than mileage-limited.

How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Mark II?

$500 to $2,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Toyota Mark II years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2000–2007 Toyota Mark II. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

On a hoist, lever-test each rear arm bush (camber, toe/traction and lower arms) for play and check for split or perished rubber. Inspect the rear subframe mounts for cracks, rust scaling and crushed pinch seams, and check whether the alignment eccentric bolts are seized. Look for aftermarket adjustable arms as a sign of prior drift use. Look here: Rear multi-link suspension arms and subframe mounting points