2GN.ORG

Good guys at rockauto shipped me this wonderful engine mount for my girl's neon. Her's had ripped the rubber.

In my Rockauto order I got both the Upper mount and lower.

ANCHOR Part # 2948 Upper torque mount
ANCHOR Part # 2949 Lower Torque mount

The lower torque mount seemed to have installed just fine torquing down to the recommended 87ftlbs. The upper mount on the other hand, well that's a different story. Look closely at the following picture:



What is that? the bolt crushed the PLASTIC insert. Yep it did. Couldn't make it close to the 87ft lbs. I than called up my buddies at Rockauto.com and they shipped out a replacement mount 100% free of charge. Same thing, Plastic insert as well. Shot a email to Anchor bitching about the plastic insert. I than went down to Lowes got a washer to help distribute the bolt's torque. Well when tightening the new mount to the recommended 87ftlbs the washer flexed and the same thing happened to the new mount as well. Just crumbled when tightening it down.


This is the email I sent them:

to jtlanchor@oh.rr.com
date Wed, Oct 5, 2011 at 2:31 PM
subject defective part - ANCHOR 2948


hi, I received part number 2948 a engine mount for a 2004 Dodge Neon. While installing the part the insert in the bigger rubber section split and mushroomed when I was torquing down the factory bolt. I was using a torque wrench and the factory torque spec. I talked to my supplier, rockauto.com, and they sent me out a replacement for the mount that failed. The replacement mount I did receive has a natural colored plastic insert where the the bolt is supposed to pass thru to the engine block. The service manual for the car calls for the bolt to be torqued to 87 ft. lbs. I don't think this plastic mount will hold up to that spec again.

I have attached a photo of the mount that failed when I tried torquing the factory bolt+washer to the factory specified torque.

Please get back to me.

They replied with:

I received your inquiry this afternoon and checked the manuals I have access to and they do not specify the torque specs for your part. I even tried a different vehicle that uses the same parts and they did not specify it either. I would suggest calling a Chrysler dealer and making sure that 87 lbs. ft is correct. I did find that spec for a different mount on your vehicle (transmission), but it is a much more heavy duty mount.

Regards,


John Leonard
Anchor Industries
30775 Solon Industrial Parkway
Solon, OH 44139
440-473-1414 x439
jtlanchor@oh.rr.com

My counter:

John, check the "Toque Strut Adjustment" section in your manuals for torque specs. Alldata and Mitchells OnDemand say it's supposed to be 87ft.lbs. A boot legged copy of the neon service manual also calls for 87ft.lbs. I'll call my local Chrysler stealership tomorrow.

Never heard back...


IMO Stay away from this brand.

yeah never seen one with a plastic insert, its no wonder it crushed, that piece is metal from the factory as it should be with that much torque applied to it.

out of curiosity was "anchor" the cheapest brand on rock auto for these torque struts?

r/tguy02 wrote:yeah never seen one with a plastic insert, its no wonder it crushed, that piece is metal from the factory as it should be with that much torque applied to it.

out of curiosity was "anchor" the cheapest brand on rock auto for these torque struts?

The only brand.

I bought a matched set last year because they were cheap and mine were worn. I tried to put Prothane Race inserts in them because they were sloppy but they didn't fit right and I had to really press them in. They were wedges in so tight the vibrations were horrible and I removed them after a few days. Not long after, the rubber insert tore and the mount was useless and I had to replace it. I wouldn't recommend them.

Interesting, Anchor is what 90% of parts stores carry. If they have gone to a plastic center, it will be a boom for Mopar, or aftermarket upgrades.

The front one I got for the 1gn stripped the weld nut threads, but I just stuck a nut on the extra threads, so it wasn't a huge deal. If the bolt had been shorter, then it would have went back, and one from a parts store purchased, due to time constraints.

the ones we carry at oreilly are metal, same anchor part number.

hybrid-Srt2001 wrote:the ones we carry at oreilly are metal, same anchor part number.

Scratch the surface a bit. Might be painted inserts. The out side piece that holds the rubber is metal... poorly casted metal

ill have to pull one out of the box tomorrow and take a better look.

here's a picture of the casting job. I looks like they used some sort of grinder to smooth out the seam. Compared to the OEM this looks like hell.

dcorwin822 wrote: Compared to the OEM this looks like hell.

Well, for the cost difference...

occasional demons wrote:

dcorwin822 wrote: Compared to the OEM this looks like hell.

Well, for the cost difference...

I totally agree. You get what you pay for.

Anyone have oem part numbers and prices? Couldn't find them in the part number section.

AGP Dog bones FTW...they are a little buzzy at first but they break in/you get used to it.

adding icing onto the cake:

the Anchor mounts are ripped already. F Theses Pieces of SHIT.

Yep.. I purchased the anchor upper torque strut... tried to fit the modern performance's motor mount insert into it.. total fail. Ended up getting my hands on a mopar/OEM upper torque strut which then allowed my insert to slide right in with just hand's worth of pressure to seat it snug. Never buying aftermarket mounts.

if the original were shot why didnt you just go to a junk yard and get replacements and then add the inserts to those? would have probably been a hell of a lot cheaper.