SDA dogbone mounts vs mount inserts

[AJT_Leo]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of replacing my current dogbone mounts. They are the original mounts, and at 11 yrs old, I figure they need replacing. SDA sells the dogbone mounts at $99 for 2. Which would be better, buying the dogbones from SDA, or buying the mount inserts and using my existing dogbones. I don't have a vise or press to help install the inserts. I found instructions somewhere that showed using a vise when installing the inserts. Has anyone installed them without using a vise or press? In terms of build quality, are the SDA mounts better made than stock? I could buy new stock mounts; I found them at getsaturnparts.com at about $75 for one mount, so 150 for 2. SDA's mounts are cheaper, but the inserts would be even cheaper than the new mounts. Please advise.

kthxbai

[plastic torpedo]

I just got the SDA dogbones today in the mail to replace my stock mounts. Gonna report back tomorrow when they are installed

[tarsun]

i dont have the SDA's but i do have the inserts from summit racing.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku



i like 'em alot. i think there great. i chose these because of two things.
A) i heard alot about the dog's breaking. (all speculation)
B) and the inserts were cheaper... so that just sealed the deal

[AJT_Leo]

Good deal. I'll be happy to read your thoughts.

[AJT_Leo]

Originally Posted by tarsun

i dont have the SDA's but i do have the inserts from summit racing.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku



i like 'em alot. i think there great. i chose these because of two things.
A) i heard alot about the dog's breaking. (all speculation)
B) and the inserts were cheaper... so that just sealed the deal

How did you install the inserts into the factory mounts? Did you use a press or vise? I have neither, so I don't know how else I could install them.

[fetchitfido]

The after market ones that break, were/are, in a sense, broken from the "factory." They just gave that big "loop" a hook so it was only connected on one end/side unlike the stock ones that have the loop that connects on both sides. Someone posted pics comparing the two a while ago.

[Luke]

Fm > AJT Leo

I'm thinking of replacing my current dogbone mounts

dogbone > >Struts

SDA sells the dogbone mounts at $99 for 2.

dogbone > > struts

are the SDA mounts better made than stock?

SDA struts

SDA's mounts are cheaper, but the inserts would be even cheaper than the new mounts. Please advise.

struts.


The entire Saturn "Powertrain Mounting System" is called "Torque Axis Mount System" [TAMS]

The engine and transmission mounts, support the >weight< of the powertrain,

while the engine strut and transmission strut, control the >torque< motion.

[AJT_Leo]

Yes, yes, understandable. I was going to put struts, but then I figured that I'd be typing out strut mounts or some such, and I would then confuse myself.

[tarsun]

i used a vice...

bit of a pain but i got it..


and what (fetchitfido) are you talking about?

[boatmoter]

ADVANCE AUTO HAS THE STRUT MOUNTS THAT ARE SOLID,TAKEM OUT OF THE BOX & INSTALL.. MAYBE TOO EASY FOR A LOT OF YOU.. GO TO THE ADVANCE ON THE NET,LOOK AT THE CATALOUGE,AND LOOK AT THE TWO DIFFERENT ONES,ONE IS OEM STYLE AND THE OTHER IS SOLID. LOOKED LIKE $38.00 EA. BEFORE GOING TO THE ADVANCE STORE i WOULD TAKE A PRINT OF THE PART FROM THIER SITE,THEY MAY NOT KNOW WAT YOU WANT..

[AJT_Leo]

Originally Posted by tarsun

and what (fetchitfido) are you talking about?

Fetch is describing the way the aftermarket struts are made. The OEM struts appear to be a single, thick loop of steel that is pressed in the middle to create the dogbone. The aftermarket struts (anchor, pioneer) appear to use a thinner piece of steel that is bent to form the dogbone and then welded at one point to finish the loop. The weld point is the weak spot and based on past pictures the aftermarket struts break at that spot.

Hmm, as for you using a vise that is not good for me. I don't have a vise. I will probably use the SDA struts instead. But, I'll wait to see what Plastic reports.

[plastic torpedo]

A word about SDA



Look at the difference between SDA (right) and AdvanceAuto (left)
See the difference in size, thickness and welding technique? That's why I went with SDA.

I got them installed today, it's awesome! Shifting is A LOT easier, and it's hard to describe the vibration. The car isn't "shaking" inconsistently like it used to with stock mounts. Nothing rattles, it's just a smooth vibration from a smooth running engine. I'm super happy.

I have both the upper mount and two lower dogbones with SDA, and the car is rattling less than stock and feels a lot more solid.

Oh, where did the wheel hop go? I can actually launch now! woohoo!

[AJT_Leo]

Good deal, Plastic. I think I will buy the SDA versions. I have a replacement lower mount, and I'll wait until I have the dogbones, and replace all three at once. I already have a new upper mount, albeit a corteco aftermarket version; not the 1st design.

Did you have any trouble installing them? Like the engine moving once the old ones were disconnected? Or was it just jack/lift the engine and swap out?

[tarsun]

these are NOT aftermarket... there stock mounts with aftermarket inserts.


different years had different designs.

there were aluminum ones like this...


there were the ones that came of of my car like this


and then theres these.


ALL stock

BUT I didn’t know that autozone sold mounts like that.
That’s probably where all the neg feedback came from…

[amazinghl]

Get the insert it, you'll need the vise, BIG hammer, socket set, vise grip and grease.

Forget it if you don't have all have above.

[plastic torpedo]

Putting in the SDA mounts was one of the easiest things I've ever done. Timewise, it had to be one of the best mods per minute spent

The tranny mount was replaced in 2 minutes. You have to push the tranny back about 1/8 of an inch to get the bolt in - poof done.

The engine was a bit slower and took around 10 minutes, but all you have to do is jack up the car on passenger side, take off the wheel and splash guard. Take off the metal bracket that holds the lower engine mount. Take off the mount (with the bracket). Slide the SDA mount in the bracket, and put it all back in. There was no adjustment required, everything "just fits" without moving the engine.

Today I tried a couple "harder" launches to see if it really did get rid of wheelhop, and all I could hear was my tire burning out, no wheelhop at all! I know I know - diff pin. I'm not doing it again. But I had to see

I'll never have another saturn without SDA uppder and dogbone mounts. EVER

[tarsun]

hey well the SDA's are looken pretty good so far...

[plastic torpedo]

yeah I love driving the car! It seems like it almost sounds different now, more throaty. One thing I definitely noticed is I had to re-learn driving on the freeway a little. Before with the stock mounts it took about a second from the time you gave it gas till the speedo starts climbing. Now as soon as I touch the gas it immediately begins to accelerate, and immediately decelerates when I let off the gas. So it takes a little time getting used to, I got distracted and accidentally went up to 75 mph tweaking my radio without even noticing it.

[Keeter]

So, to do all the mounts and all the inserts what was the damage to your guys wallet? I've been interested in doing the engine mounts but have heard mixed reviews. Like there is a lot more vibration in the cab. Is that true?

[plastic torpedo]

vibration is increased, rattling is decreased. it's hard to describe. it's not annoying vibration. the damage for all 3 mounts would be around $150-$200 depending whether you get an insert or the whole top engine mount from SDA. i'd pay it again if i had to