Puzzled about motor mounts...
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 96
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From: Plainfield IL
Puzzled about motor mounts...
When I shift, regardless of gear, it feels as if my motor mounts are loose. I took a look at them, and decided it was too much work to change them myself. I dropped the car off at a shop and was told the "C-beam" or whatever is holding the trans looks fine and that my motor mounts looked okay too.
What could possibly be causing this feeling like the motor or trans is loose besides the motor mounts and c-beam? It's really puzzling me and I just had to replace 4 u-joints last year, so I'm assuming something is loose and tearing my u-joints apart...
Thank you very much in advance!
-Craig
What could possibly be causing this feeling like the motor or trans is loose besides the motor mounts and c-beam? It's really puzzling me and I just had to replace 4 u-joints last year, so I'm assuming something is loose and tearing my u-joints apart...
Thank you very much in advance!
-Craig
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 7
From: MichAgain
If it's a "clunk" you hear upon accelleration, I'd say it sounds like u-joints. BUT... also check for loose stuff like the spare tire or exhaust system. I've seen both of those "sound" like a loos u-joint or motor mount as they swing around.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 988
Likes: 7
From: Sarasota Fl
Hope its not that. No parts would be required, but if it is a loose bellhousing bolt, the labor would kill you (assuming you take it to a shop). If I had to tighten those without already having planned to remove the tranny it would be a real PITA.
The shop (or you) would have to remove the front exhaust, then maybe have to remove the c-beam and driveshaft so that you can lean the tranny back and down enough to access one of the 6 bellhousing bolts. A little fluid would start to come out of the rear extension housing after removal of the driveshaft. Then you would want to drop the pan and change the filter or do a whole flush while you're at it. All that and it may not even be a bellhousing bolt.
Hope if it is in the tranny its one of the four c-beam bolts either located at the rear of the transmission or the front of the differential. That would be a much easier job that you could easily do on jack stands in the garage.
Sorry for the exaggeration, but just wanted to give you an idea on how much of a PITA a loose bellhousing bolt would be.
My vote is on an old motormount. IIRC a bad motormount can mess with the serpentine belt alignment and such and give you all sorts of trouble with the computer.
EDIT: Oops, I just saw in your profile you have a 4+3. I don't know why I assumed you had an auto. I hardly know anything about the 4+3 transmission, except its a manual with overdrive? And most of what I said probably doesn't apply.
Jonathan
The shop (or you) would have to remove the front exhaust, then maybe have to remove the c-beam and driveshaft so that you can lean the tranny back and down enough to access one of the 6 bellhousing bolts. A little fluid would start to come out of the rear extension housing after removal of the driveshaft. Then you would want to drop the pan and change the filter or do a whole flush while you're at it. All that and it may not even be a bellhousing bolt.
Hope if it is in the tranny its one of the four c-beam bolts either located at the rear of the transmission or the front of the differential. That would be a much easier job that you could easily do on jack stands in the garage.
Sorry for the exaggeration, but just wanted to give you an idea on how much of a PITA a loose bellhousing bolt would be.
My vote is on an old motormount. IIRC a bad motormount can mess with the serpentine belt alignment and such and give you all sorts of trouble with the computer.
EDIT: Oops, I just saw in your profile you have a 4+3. I don't know why I assumed you had an auto. I hardly know anything about the 4+3 transmission, except its a manual with overdrive? And most of what I said probably doesn't apply.
Jonathan
Last edited by janarvae; Jun 26, 2008 at 04:48 PM. Reason: Realized not an auto
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,222
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
I have a ZF6. They started in '89.
(I wonder if they really checked the mounts vs saying they "look" good.)
Last edited by GREGGPENN; Jun 26, 2008 at 04:50 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
If it was the engine mounts , you should be able to see movement of the engine if you rev it under the hood.
The trans bolts ( there are no mounts) being steel wear away the C beam so that even when tightened to spec things can move because the holes are elongated.
I doubt the shop pulled the bolts and checked the beam cause it is a PITA. Best solution is the C beam plates which give better clamping and hold the top nut making R/R a piece of cake.
As noted ,any slop in the rear end components will allow things to wind up and then release when the load come off during a shift.
Do you have any noise when you have the "feel"?
The trans bolts ( there are no mounts) being steel wear away the C beam so that even when tightened to spec things can move because the holes are elongated.
I doubt the shop pulled the bolts and checked the beam cause it is a PITA. Best solution is the C beam plates which give better clamping and hold the top nut making R/R a piece of cake.
As noted ,any slop in the rear end components will allow things to wind up and then release when the load come off during a shift.
Do you have any noise when you have the "feel"?