Luke
10-05-2003, 06:08 PM
Efforts to replace the Lower Transmission Mount.
First of all, these are the steps which I had to go through -- keep in mind that this effort was my first attempt at it, therefore, I probably fund myself having to do part of the effort, while others who have done this more than once, may not have had to go through the steps I found myself taking.
I was working on my 1995 SL2, with automatic transmission.
After lifting and supporting the driver's side of the car with a jack stand, removing the tire and the wheel well's spash shield, one can clearly see the "lower transmission mount". It is a rubber mount, sitting within a metal fram up against the side of the transmission and sits on the frame of the car. Two side bolts (into the transmission) and one bolt sitting through the frame (obviously pointing down) You'll need an extended socket to remove that bold.
Here is where the difficulty arose. The FSM (Factory Service Manual) states that all which is necessary is to lift up the driver's side of the transmission/engine enough to be able to remove the supporting bracket. In my case, there was not enough space for the engine/transmission to clear up -- it kept hitting the side of the engine compartment. After considerable effort & time, I decided that the only way would be to lift both sides of the engine/tranmsision. That meant loosening the nuts of the upper engine mount, that that the engine and transmission would be lifted. This I did gently with my hydraulic lift. Keep in mind, this necessitated multiple efforts so that the engine/transmission would not only lift up from the upper engine mount studs, but also still be able to lift the transmission side, so as to be able to slip out the lower transmission mount's stud. You'll need a couple of stands, as well as a hydraulic jack.
The actual transmission mount just unbolts rather easily, but you do have to get that side of the transmission up high enough to be able to lift the mount out -- keep in mind it has a stud which is about 1.5" in length, which sticks down into the frame of the car. I can't understand why it had to be that long, but it was it's length which hindered its removal.
Keep in mind, prior to this effort, I had very closely examined the support mount with a flashlight and a small mirrow which allowed to me see how the support had failed. After finally removing the failed mount, I noticed that the breakdown of the rubber support was considerably more serious than the initial examination revealed.
It was after that finding, I now strongly suggest that if the upper engine mount needs to be replaced, than there is a considerably high probability that the lower transmission mount has equally failed.
Additionally, I found that the lower engine dog-bone unit needed to be replaced.
When I have time, I'll better compose an article on this effort and supply it to the "How-to" site.
First of all, these are the steps which I had to go through -- keep in mind that this effort was my first attempt at it, therefore, I probably fund myself having to do part of the effort, while others who have done this more than once, may not have had to go through the steps I found myself taking.
I was working on my 1995 SL2, with automatic transmission.
After lifting and supporting the driver's side of the car with a jack stand, removing the tire and the wheel well's spash shield, one can clearly see the "lower transmission mount". It is a rubber mount, sitting within a metal fram up against the side of the transmission and sits on the frame of the car. Two side bolts (into the transmission) and one bolt sitting through the frame (obviously pointing down) You'll need an extended socket to remove that bold.
Here is where the difficulty arose. The FSM (Factory Service Manual) states that all which is necessary is to lift up the driver's side of the transmission/engine enough to be able to remove the supporting bracket. In my case, there was not enough space for the engine/transmission to clear up -- it kept hitting the side of the engine compartment. After considerable effort & time, I decided that the only way would be to lift both sides of the engine/tranmsision. That meant loosening the nuts of the upper engine mount, that that the engine and transmission would be lifted. This I did gently with my hydraulic lift. Keep in mind, this necessitated multiple efforts so that the engine/transmission would not only lift up from the upper engine mount studs, but also still be able to lift the transmission side, so as to be able to slip out the lower transmission mount's stud. You'll need a couple of stands, as well as a hydraulic jack.
The actual transmission mount just unbolts rather easily, but you do have to get that side of the transmission up high enough to be able to lift the mount out -- keep in mind it has a stud which is about 1.5" in length, which sticks down into the frame of the car. I can't understand why it had to be that long, but it was it's length which hindered its removal.
Keep in mind, prior to this effort, I had very closely examined the support mount with a flashlight and a small mirrow which allowed to me see how the support had failed. After finally removing the failed mount, I noticed that the breakdown of the rubber support was considerably more serious than the initial examination revealed.
It was after that finding, I now strongly suggest that if the upper engine mount needs to be replaced, than there is a considerably high probability that the lower transmission mount has equally failed.
Additionally, I found that the lower engine dog-bone unit needed to be replaced.
When I have time, I'll better compose an article on this effort and supply it to the "How-to" site.