I was quoted 3 hrs ($300) for labor to replace the front and rear motor mounts. Does that sound correct?

How tough is it a job to DIY and what tools/precautions do I need to take into consideration if I were to take on the job.

 

I can't tell you how to replace the mounts, but the price may be a little high... My local dealership is $80.25/hr for labor...

 

Front is easy but you'll will need to take both to a shop to press the old insert out. You can pull them off yourself, you just need to take your time on the rear thru bolt.

 

What are you replacing them with?

 

The electric/electronic mounts are being replaced with manual mounts. I got OEM manual mounts from DaveB and chose the manual mounts since there are some pretty amazing horror stories with ECM burnout when the electric mounts break.

 

do it yourself, jack up the car, remove the through bolts for the mounts, then remove the 4 bolts holding the crossmember. Remove the old mount housings. Loosely install the new mounts to the crossmember, then install the crossmember loosely. Put the through bolts back in then torque it all down. 2 hours tops. done this 4 times for friends of mine

 

I have AT and my mounts are toasted. So basically I can order the MT and press the ES bushings into them and it would bolt up to my AT engine mount? The MT engine mounts are like 1/2 the price of AT and I'm sorta on a budget here. Thanks
I know the AT are active mounts with wires and all that stuff, and my question is... what do you do with the wire when you change to MT mounts

 

yes you can do that. I've done something similar to 3 autos. You unplug the harness and leave it be. They are up by the o2 sensors and clipped in so they won't go anywhere.

 

That's a lot of money for that job...I'd say get under there yourself and remove the cross member and bring the mounts into a shop to get the old ones pressed out and new ones pressed in...they'd probably charge you $100, and this is the only remotely hard part of this job....

 

So both AT and MT bolt right up? Just want to make sure before I place the order. I dont really want to mess with welding or modding or anything to make them fit.

 

can someone confirm this so i can sleep in peace and stop worrying? lol

 

Uh...yeah, I guess that would work....but you'd be ordering brand new mounts and then pressing them out and throwing them out.

 

buy used MT's from a junk yard and save even more money. you can get MT's from a 95-03 and they will fit your car. As I have said I have done this to 4 cars with no problems.

 

You guys are awesome! Thanks for the info! Placed an order with DaveB for the MT mounts.

 

I have another concern lol... Since there will be not as much give as before, would it hurt my engine or something with the MT mounts? Any inputs or thoughts about them? How will the idle and driving be?

 

Got the mounts replaced. I must tell the forum folks thinking in terms of replacing their mounts, it is a must. The ride is confident and crisp and no wobbles when going over small bumps at low speeds.

The front mount was shot and leaking the gel. The rear one was in great shape and nice and strong. I though the rear should have been shot don't know why the front one was leaking, since the rear one is the mount doing all the stopping when braking.


Paid a mechanic know to my wife's friend, $160.

 

Which mount is doing the stopping when braking?

 

The rear will be stopping the engine transient movement, the front won't be sharing the load since it's toast.

Yes, it's an over-simpliflication.

 

I didnt literally mean the mounts stops the engine. The forward motion of the motor is primarily held by the rear mount when coming to stop.

 

Question if you uplug the wire on the front mount will the check engine light come on?

 

Are you referring to your A34? If so, wrong section.

But no, it won't.

 

By Reading Post am I to assume that since I have an MT that I don't have Electric Mounts and I am one lucky guy.

Also, since there are 100K on the car what's the chances that I need new mounts??

 

If you intend to keep you vehicle for another 100K, might else change now and get a GREAT ride. I changed to MT mounts with 160K on the motor, I may keep this fellow for 50-60K miles before it becomes a maintaince headache when it is time to dump and move on. But if I had changed it at 100K I could have had a good ride for the last few years.

But let me highlight there is a world of difference with the mounts replaced. Predicable breaking, quick acceleration, firmer ride, quick throttle response and many more...

 

If anyone wants ES bushing already pressed in into the mounts, I'll swap them for your MT mounts in good condition.. Need to return car to stock.... I am in Boston area