Ninja-Matic
04-29-2006, 11:22 PM
Installation
Despite the rain I made it out to the install day and installed my solid motor/trans mounts. Even though I've heard everyone say that the trans mount is difficult and takes about an hour to do, I managed it in about 30 minutes. Easier than the motor mounts by far, IMO. It was raining so everything is a little dirty in the pix :VHOT:
Here's what went in over the weekend:
http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/4531/parts7ub.jpg
Driver's Wheel well (http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2297/11iq5.jpg)
Main Trans Bolt Location (http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8776/23mn1.jpg)
Bolt Out, Trans Lowered (http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4570/36kq.jpg)
Old Mount, New Mount (http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9482/42ck1.jpg)
I took the old mount out through the engine bay. I couldn't see how I was supposed to squeeze it out from the wheel well. You have to "persuade" the mount gently to get it out, but with your airbox removed, or if you have a CAI, it's easy to reach down in there and grab it.
Upper Motor Old, Upper Motor New (http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4387/54re.jpg)
Upper Mount Installed (http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5905/68tg.jpg)
Lower Motor Mount (http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4977/70kd1.jpg)
Old Lower, New Lower (http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3014/89td2.jpg)
Lower Mount Installed (http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/5884/99sm.jpg)
The hardest part about this mount was removing the plastic fender well. The mount was easy out, easy in.
Front Strut Brace Installed (http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3968/strut9op.jpg)
I forgot to take a picture of the rear brace, but it's in there. :D
Review
Although it was raining, I still had a good chance to at least "feel" the difference in the mounts. First off, I will say these are not for your everyday drivers. That is, unless you don't mind a lot of vibration. Cranking the engine over, idling, starting from a standstill feels and sounds like something has gone terribly wrong, lol. You most certainly get a LOT more vibration and engine noise coming through to the body. Not so much of an annoyance as much of a "race car" feel. If you're into that... get these, they will work well for you. If you like a more comfortable ride... forget it... go with inserts. You don't get the slight "jerk" as you would going from gear to gear or acceleration when you first hit the go pedal. Accel and decel are a LOT smoother as well as disengaging and engaging the clutch shifting through gears. It definately feels as if the car pulls stronger because more torque is transferred to where its supposed to go and not lost through the mounts. Do I think it will shorten your 1/4 times? Absolutely. Less twisting and more pounding the pavement is always better. But, like I said, not for those seeking a comfortable ride. If you like the race car feel, these are great.
- Ninja
Despite the rain I made it out to the install day and installed my solid motor/trans mounts. Even though I've heard everyone say that the trans mount is difficult and takes about an hour to do, I managed it in about 30 minutes. Easier than the motor mounts by far, IMO. It was raining so everything is a little dirty in the pix :VHOT:
Here's what went in over the weekend:
http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/4531/parts7ub.jpg
Driver's Wheel well (http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2297/11iq5.jpg)
Main Trans Bolt Location (http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8776/23mn1.jpg)
Bolt Out, Trans Lowered (http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4570/36kq.jpg)
Old Mount, New Mount (http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9482/42ck1.jpg)
I took the old mount out through the engine bay. I couldn't see how I was supposed to squeeze it out from the wheel well. You have to "persuade" the mount gently to get it out, but with your airbox removed, or if you have a CAI, it's easy to reach down in there and grab it.
Upper Motor Old, Upper Motor New (http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4387/54re.jpg)
Upper Mount Installed (http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5905/68tg.jpg)
Lower Motor Mount (http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4977/70kd1.jpg)
Old Lower, New Lower (http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3014/89td2.jpg)
Lower Mount Installed (http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/5884/99sm.jpg)
The hardest part about this mount was removing the plastic fender well. The mount was easy out, easy in.
Front Strut Brace Installed (http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3968/strut9op.jpg)
I forgot to take a picture of the rear brace, but it's in there. :D
Review
Although it was raining, I still had a good chance to at least "feel" the difference in the mounts. First off, I will say these are not for your everyday drivers. That is, unless you don't mind a lot of vibration. Cranking the engine over, idling, starting from a standstill feels and sounds like something has gone terribly wrong, lol. You most certainly get a LOT more vibration and engine noise coming through to the body. Not so much of an annoyance as much of a "race car" feel. If you're into that... get these, they will work well for you. If you like a more comfortable ride... forget it... go with inserts. You don't get the slight "jerk" as you would going from gear to gear or acceleration when you first hit the go pedal. Accel and decel are a LOT smoother as well as disengaging and engaging the clutch shifting through gears. It definately feels as if the car pulls stronger because more torque is transferred to where its supposed to go and not lost through the mounts. Do I think it will shorten your 1/4 times? Absolutely. Less twisting and more pounding the pavement is always better. But, like I said, not for those seeking a comfortable ride. If you like the race car feel, these are great.
- Ninja