Trans support - Whst am I doing wrong

[Quickstep192]

I need to get the trans support bracket off so I can work on fuel lines.

My car is on a parking lift that has a lip that lets me place a 2x4 cross member to support the trans.

However, even when I get my temporary support really tight against the trans, the trans still drops down when I remove the support bracket.

What am I doing wrong?

Here’s a picture of the scene of the crime.

[Johnr352]

I’m having a little trouble with the picture angle. Is the support close enough to the trans? Is the trans dropping at the bracket, meaning the wood is providing uneven support?

[gled49]

It is pretty heavy, I would expect it to sag. I’d be more concerned about getting it back up into place to re-start the 12mm bolts by hand. You need some jacking system to relieve the pressure completely.

[Quickstep192]

Originally Posted by Johnr352

I’m having a little trouble with the picture angle. Is the support close enough to the trans? Is the trans dropping at the bracket, meaning the wood is providing uneven support?

The picture is taken looking toward the back of the car. The support is about a foot back from the rear end of the tunnel. That’s kind of far back, but I need to room to work.


Here’s another picture looking straight up.

[Quickstep192]

Originally Posted by gled49

It is pretty heavy, I would expect it to sag. I’d be more concerned about getting it back up into place to re-start the 12mm bolts by hand. You need some jacking system to relieve the pressure completely.

It’s pretty easy to jack back up to install the bolts; I just can’t figure out why it’s dropping down. I took measurements and there’s no deflection in the support.

It almost seems that the support is acting as a pivot point and the part forward of the support is heavier that the part rearward of the support, but I can’t imagine that the trans weighs more than the engine. Can it?

[ChuckleBeast]

I think it's about 120lbs. Jack up a 2x4 directly under the bracket, remove the bolts and then let it rest on the temp support you've placed.

[Paul Shugert]

Sounds to me that the car/body is moving up
When the support bolts are removed.

[Quickstep192]

Originally Posted by Paul Shugert

Sounds to me that the car/body is moving up
When the support bolts are removed.

That could be since the car is sitting on a lift instead of the lift contacting the chassis

Is there a way to compensate/counteract that?

[David Inc.]

Going to have to jack or shim the trans up as you go, or put it all back on the ground and lift the car from the body and not the wheels.

[pmax]

Did you measure the fender height ?

[Quickstep192]

I did what ChuckleBeast suggested and the trans appears to be staying up.

How’s this look? Is this a good support point?

[ChuckleBeast]

Looks good from what I can see. Be careful when bolting the mount back in to the chassis. You want to make sure you jack up the transmission again so you are not pulling it up as you are screwing the bolts in, easy way to strip the threads. I’ve sometimes found it helpful to have a second set of hand use a 2x4 to push lightly on the side of the transmission to line up the holes. Go slow.