Engine mounts - right pain.

[CovKid]

Spent much of today attempting to replace mine. Could either get the central ones lined up OR the outer ones, but all four? No chance. Ended the day with outer ones unbolted as I simply couldn't line up the holes. Most frustrating. Back to judder again....

[itchyfeet]

did my WBX recently and had the same, I first made the mistake of bolting them tight to the aluminium part of the engine carrier before trying to add bolts to the main steel part of the engine carrier. I had to loosen the studs to the aluminium part and it was still a struggle, swapped the two outer mounts LH to RH and it was better but still cound not get bolts in.

For the outers I then used a slightly smaller bolt in the rear of the mount and used it to lever the mount in the right direction, then just got the main bolt in half way and hammered it home

I can only assume they are made with a tolerance so try swapping them around. Came from Brickwerks so should be good quality but inners and outers were a different brand.

[CovKid]

Will have another go today. Is there an easy way to tell if the carrier is the right way round? Some mention arrows? Can't see any on mine. I'm beginning to wonder if thats half the problem. After all when the cast bracket is off, how can you tell?

[itchyfeet]

there should be a stud on one side in the middle to hold the tinware it faces the silencer, arrows are punched in where it bolts to the chassis rails.

[California Dreamin]

I know it doesn't help when someone says that they didn't have a problem fittings theirs but... However I found the single hex Snapon flexi 13mm socket very useful and wonder how much that contributed to the trouble free fit.
This sort of thing...

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/38054912 ... si=y&cbt=y

I'm sure it would have been much more difficult without...

Martin

[CovKid]

Yep, flexible small socket essential. No stud on mine - seems identical on either face. Arrows must have long since vanished. Very annoying as its such a faff to get all the bolts in and not be confident that its actually fitted the right way round. The bar is slighty angled so should the bottom be nearer to front of van (ie leaning towards engine) when in place or leaning more to the rear.

P.S. I guess if its not right I'll soon need new mounts again

[itchyfeet]

on mine chassis bolts are not central , first pic has rear of vehicle / silencer on the left

[CovKid]

Hmm, thats useful. Thanks for pics. That suggests mine leans wrong way although I do have it all bolted up ok now. Perhaps when weather isn't sunny one minute and spitting the next, I'll pull the lot off again and double check to see if it fits better in reverse. I couldn't quite get mount and exhaust shield bolt holes to line up either so had to leave shield out of equation until another time.

I must admit its been some years since I had to do this job and the hassles I had last time are starting to come back to me. Certainly you can't actually tighten anything until all the bolts are in their respective holes and nuts on the threads loosely. Fix ally bracket and engine mounts to bar first and you're soon in trouble. Everything virtually needs to be rattling to get it all lined up.

Either way it'll be pleasant to not have to slip the clutch tomorrow to avoid the annoying judder I've had for ages. Also fitted new belt while I was at it too.

[Ian Hulley]

You can't fit them the wrong way round ... note the small stud at the bottom for the heat shield. On the later exhaust type the engine cradle only goes one way because of the mounts for the silencer saddles.

Ian

[itchyfeet]

there should be a stud on one side in the middle to hold the tinware it faces the silencer

No stud on mine - seems identical on either face.

[CovKid]

You can if your setup doesn't have silencer saddles. I'm an 85 model remember - early exhaust layout. Its a mirror image of itself, the only difference being the slight angle to the mount as shown in above photo.

You can't fit them the wrong way round ... note the small stud at the bottom for the heat shield. On the later exhaust type the engine cradle only goes one way because of the mounts for the silencer saddles.

Ian

[Ian Hulley]

What about the small stud ?

[CovKid]

Nope, don't have one of those either.