Motor mount help

[IsaacCarlson]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I fixed a deteriorated motor mount with a hockey puck. Nice sturdy rubber that won't fall apart.

That was my first thought, but I have heard mixed results on that. Some say they break apart, and I have seen pucks break chunks off when playing hockey, so I wrote them off.

I also looked into solid steel mounts, but this frame flexes a lot when going through ditches and the woods and I don't need anything ripping apart.

I figured some harder poly bushings would hold it tight and let it flex a bit when the frame twists and the front left wheel comes up. My wife thinks the wheel lifting thing is cool.

[Joggernot]

I'm on the fourth set of motor mounts on the Honda (V6). These along with the transmission seem to be failure points. The first two replacements were OEM vacuum assist. This last set is after market with no vacuum assist. I'm hoping these will last the next 20k miles to reach 300k.

[IsaacCarlson]

Vacuum assist on a motor mount?? wow.

[Joggernot]

Originally Posted by IsaacCarlson

Vacuum assist on a motor mount?? wow.

Yeah, they had a vacuum hose to two of them. When you floor it, the vacuum helps hold down the engine. I'm only up to 284k miles on the Accord, so about every 80k miles I was replacing at least two of the mounts. This last time I bought non-vacuum replacement mounts and plugged off the vacuum hoses. I'm hoping these will last a little longer.

[IsaacCarlson]

There is no vacuum at wot. I don't think vacuum would do much to hold a motor running wide open anyway.

[Joggernot]

Originally Posted by IsaacCarlson

There is no vacuum at wot. I don't think vacuum would do much to hold a motor running wide open anyway.

You're right; I'm wrong. Was still a vacuum line to the mounts. Guess I don't know how or if they worked.

[LittleBlackDuck]

Referring to Lord Google tells me that the vacuum is used to move a small valve that changes the vibration damping characteristics of the engine mount. As far as I can tell, under low throttle openings the mount is softer and under large throttle openings it stiffens up to restrict movement.

Simon

[IsaacCarlson]

That's better, but still over-engineered in my book.

[IsaacCarlson]

Update:

I have made some new mounts and will pick up hardware tomorrow, if it is available. At the worst, it will have to wait until Monday when Fastenal opens.

They are 2" in diameter and 3" long and will sit horizontally. The bushing material is about as hard as wood, so I am going to feel everything. I will be able to tell what is going on better. I already know that the factory motor mounts hide all kinds of mechanical noise that can indicate problems.