Engine/Trans Mount Question

[Jim Chambers]

Is there a method to confirm if engine (early) or trans mounts are bad. I feel a little drive train movement when shifting/decellerating. Since the least expensive new mounts are $40 each, I kind of hate to spend $160 on trial and error. Also, on an early ('71) car, is it more likely that one pair would be more worn than the other?

[BenI]

You can usually look at the rear (tranny) mounts to see if they are bad. They usually show cracks in the rubber and look like the center metal tube is pulling out of the bottom. As for the front mounts, these often degrade with years of oil rotting them out. You can get under the car and look with a flashlight but it may not tell you anything. I guess you have an early rear-shift tranny and I forget how the front engine mounts look with that bar. In the case of my car, one of these mounts had completly squashed down and was more egg-like then cylindrical. This probably is no help but on my car I just had to look to discover the problem.

[red-beard]

Classic symptom is under accelleration, the gear shift will move all by itself, and then go back when you remove your foot from the gas.

James

[Jim Chambers]

James, which pair should I replace first? Or just bite the $160 bullet?

[JWest]

I would remove each mount and check for the aformentioned tearing of the rubber. It is fairly easy to tell the good from the bad on the trans/early engine mounts by examining, but they need to be unbolted first.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

If you've got a side-shift car, support the car up in the air firmly. Then use a jack (and a wood pad) to jack up on the tranny bellhousing or the rear of the engine case. If the engine moves up much at all, the engine mounts are sheared. You should be able to see them with a flashlight.

The tail-shift engine mounts are just like the tranny mounts, but they are at the outer ends of the mounting bar. Not really sure how you tell if they are dead...

Oh, and the classic symptoms include "WHAM-WHAM-WHAM" in 1st gear at high throttle settings, and/or the gear shift lever moving around a lot when you get on the brakes hard.

--DD

[red-beard]

Best to check them, one by one. No point in just "Throwing parts" at a problem. Unless you have infinite money. And in that case, I'd buy a Boxster....

James

[Zeke]

James, I didn't figure you one to be a "Boxster basher." True, some Boxsters have had some expensinve problems like on the tops and some motor issues. However, PCNA has been very prompt to see that the cars are fixed at the factory's expense, AFAIK. Or ask Craig Laughlin. (boxstr)

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I think he's mostly referring to the up-front cost. The Boxes still cost just a wee bit more than the 914s... At least, at first!

--DD

[gengs]

This appears to be a popular topic at the moment-

Seen on Volkzone.com - (popular UK aircooled site)

http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16627&highlight=914