MM insert troubles...

excon · Post by **excon** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:38 pm

Yes, if you can imagine something going wrong, it did...

I got a set of Prothane Motor Mount inserts and got the top one in fine... well, i took off the upper torque strut and I had problems getting it in (i know, that's what she said). After I took off the upper torque strut I carefully pushed the insert in, and then stomped it in after getting frustrated

For the lower torque strut I took out the bolt and immediately the holes did not line up. I figured I wouldn't be able to reinstall the bolt through the torque strut because I'd be screwing it back in at an angle. The bolt will not go back in since i'm trying to screw it in at an angle. What could cause this? Did I not reinstall the upper mount correctly? I torqued it down to (close to) 87 ft/lbs.

The picture is a picture taken straight on of the lower torque strut. notice how it goes in at an angle. I had to take out the insert because I couldn't move the bolt at all to reinstall it! Good news once I finally get it installed...

thttxboy · Post by **thttxboy** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:59 pm

Well the torque struts hold the motor in place so yes the motor will move if you remove them even just 1. But if u have a fairly strong friend push or pull the motor enough to get the bolt started then your good. there is a measurement that you are suppose to use for the upper mount, but I cant remember it. Ask Danteneon he might be able to help better with the actuall measurement but Im not too sure how important it is. Alot of people seem to change them out with no issues.

Also that mount looks busted, I never used the mm inserts but I would have to believe that the mount rubber has to be good so that the insert can work properly.

excon · Post by **excon** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 12:08 am

mount is fine, trust me. The rubber is binding up on itself on the left side. There was extra rubber that I had to cut away with a knife so I could get the insert in (and later remove before taking this picture.)

If you're talking about the distance from the strut tower to the upper mount I've got that measurement somewhere. Something like 4.7 inches or something... I'll have to look. That might be a good place to start.

Mat00ES · Post by **Mat00ES** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 12:33 am

Im alittle drugged up right(cold meds) so Im alittle slow.
Did you have the motor supported when you removed the bolts? After, I put in my inserts it, took alittle bit of moving the engine up and down to get it line back up.

sneakers O'toole · Post by **sneakers O'toole** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:24 am

if it's just the inserts you don't have to take off the whole motor mount... just do one bolt at a time and and you won't need a jack or anything man.

gilly02le · Post by **gilly02le** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:59 am

Grease the bushings before you even try to slide them in, since they will just stick to the rubber inside the mount. Have someone rock the motor slightly while you are attempting to push the insert in, That's what i did, my buddy just wiggled the motor a bit to make it easier. Try adjusting the jack as well, since its going to make lining up the holes much easier.

excon · Post by **excon** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:35 am

Thanks for all the responses guys. I did have the motor supported while doing this: Notice the good 'ol neon jack in the lower portion of the picture with a wood block on top

For the top one I tried to just push the insert in, but i got angry since after about 5 minutes it would only go halfway in--I took the whole mount off and stomped the mount it... That worked... i think. It still doesn't look like the insert is all the way in on the top one. It's flush, but one side of the mount has a little tiny bit of daylight showing. Not sure how that ones supposed to be. I'll take another picture later today.

I should have tried greasing the bushings, but for the lower one i figured out what i did wrong on the upper mount so I cut the rubber that was halfway through the mount which made putting it in easier.

so much innuendo in this post...

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:50 am

I just used a rubber mallet and banged the inserts in, worked very well. I think I loosened both of the lower strut bolts so there was a little wiggle room to line it up correctly.

excon · Post by **excon** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 1:12 pm

Donkeypuncher wrote:I just used a rubber mallet and banged the inserts in, worked very well. I think I loosened both of the lower strut bolts so there was a little wiggle room to line it up correctly.

ok, i tried yesterday to remove the lower torque strut completely, but couldn't get it off of the body. It seemed like there were two (or three) bolts holding it in. One on either side. The inboard side bolt was too close to the oil pan/filter that I couldn't get to it since i was supporting the engine with a block of wood supported by the oil pan. It's got some wiggle room up and down, but not side to side where I need it.

I could remove the pencil strut that attached to that lower outboard side and then to the body... not sure what that thing does, but it didn't help getting the lower point to move.

I considered getting a big guy to move the engine while i thread the bolt!

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:26 pm

Yeah pull the pencil strut off as well as the outside nut, then loosen the one holding the torque strut.

Maybe the jack is placed too far back and not lifting the front of the engine only like it should.

gilly02le · Post by **gilly02le** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:42 am

Rubber mallet, and a friend to rock the car, and you'll be good to go, and like i said before, grease them, or they WILL NOT go in easily.

excon · Post by **excon** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:55 am

Didn't have to grease them, although that would have helped a lot. I first tried putting a rag over it and taking a hammer to it and tapping it gently. Then i found my rubber mallet which made my life easier!

I had to wiggle it a bit to get the bolt in, but it's finally done.