Replacing Transmission (Gearbox) Mounts

[lazabby]

I can't find any instructions on replacing the transmission mounts. Anyone have that available? Any Youtube video? Pictures?

[mark w]

I can't find any instructions on replacing the transmission mounts. Anyone have that available? Any Youtube video? Pictures?

Simple really. Raise and support car. Climb under the car. Support Trans, unbolt the mounts from trans and frame. and then remove. Install the new ones using same bolts. Do one side at a time and you wont have to support the trans.
Bit harder to do on Automatic, due to less working space.

[lazabby]

So the part I buy to replace the gearbox mount seems different than what's in the car. What am I missing here?

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[FABombjoy]

So the part I buy to replace the gearbox mount seems different than what's in the car. What am I missing here?

5987559876

Nothing - its a multi-piece assembly and you don't re-buy the mounting frame. Take it apart and you'll see :D

[Jonathan]

Here's a couple pics to help you see. I have the entire assembly ready to go for my own car. Overkill for sure. Likely don't need to replace the brackets on both sides, but I figured, what the hell. I'm still not convinced I can do this on my own with jack stands or ramps in the garage at home though. Likely gonna leave this for one of those drop the car off at a shop days where we can use a lift.

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[Jonathan]

And here's a couple pics of a (pristine) rolling chassis I took at DMC FL that shows how those square-ish brackets bolt into the frame. This frame is a manual trans, but that half of the trans mounts I believe are the same (or close enough to get the idea).

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[lazabby]

Thanks for the pictures. They are helpful. Do you know if you have to remove the brackets to the transmission and to the frame to do the replacement or can one just remove the bracket to the frame?

[lazabby]

There has to be a way of getting this apart in order to replace the mount. There is a bracket that connects to the frame. There is a bracket that connects to the transmission. There is a bolt that connects both brackets together. How in the world does one get that bolt out? The space is too small to get either a socket or a wrench on either the bolt head or the nut behind it. It's too cramped. As best as I can tell it's a 17mm bolt. I can't get a socket head on the bolt because the space is too small and even if I did, there's not enough room to move the rachet. It doesn't look like removing the bolts from either bracket will work because they aren't going anywhere until the bolt connecting the two is removed. How is this thing done?

[DMCMW Dave]

There has to be a way of getting this apart in order to replace the mount. There is a bracket that connects to the frame. There is a bracket that connects to the transmission. There is a bolt that connects both brackets together. How in the world does one get that bolt out? The space is too small to get either a socket or a wrench on either the bolt head or the nut behind it. It's too cramped. As best as I can tell it's a 17mm bolt. I can't get a socket head on the bolt because the space is too small and even if I did, there's not enough room to move the rachet. It doesn't look like removing the bolts from either bracket will work because they aren't going anywhere until the bolt connecting the two is removed. How is this thing done?

It's been a while now, but IIRC - Remove the small nuts/bolts holding the outer brackets to the frame. Then the whole trans will drop down for more access, with the mounts still attached to it. Don't over-extend the shift cable, may need to disconnect it inside the frame but I don't recall for sure.

It's still a pain in the neck (or lower) until you've done it a few times and figure out the combination of oddball wrenches and sockets. The automatic is definitely a lot tighter in this area than the manual. This is one of those things that the techs who do it all the time finally figure out.


Question though - why are you replacing the mounts? Not sure I've ever seen one fail. The transmission side brackets will crack, but the rubber parts seem pretty indestructible.

[FABombjoy]

Question though - why are you replacing the mounts? Not sure I've ever seen one fail.
On the autos? Or both autos/manuals? My manual mounts looks like this in 2016
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[lazabby]

DMC Houston recommended that I replace them.

The car is an automatic. I figured out how to replace the mount. Both brackets need to come out together in one piece. You remove the two bolts from the bracket attached to the frame. You have to access the bolts behind the frame in order to do so. The frame attached to the transmission is triangle shaped with three bolts. two bolts run parallel to the ground and one bolt it toward the top. The one on top needs to be loosened only as the bracket has a slot that slides in and out of the bolt. I recommend loosening that one first then remove the four remaining bolts. Then you have to twist and swivel and turn the two brackets until you can get them out. Perhaps lifting the transmission a bit from the frame will help. I don't know. BTW, be sure you have a jack on the transmission lift it a bit to take pressure off the brackets. Once you get the brackets out, you can easily remove the nut and bolt connecting the two brackets together and replace the rubber mount. I cleaned up the the two brackets before re-assembling. Then put the brackets back in the way they came out. You'll have to swivel the bracket so that the slot fits back in under the upper bolt first.

I ending up only completing the driver's side first. I've yet to do the passenger side and it looks like it has more hoses in the way so It will have it's own challenges.

[Nicholas R]

I too would like to see what qualifies as a "in need of replacement" mount. As Dave pointed out, the original rubber on both these, and the trailing arm bushings is impressively resilient.