How to replace engine mount on rear passenger side

[plato80]

Hi all. First post on this great forum. Searched the forum but could not find an answer.
My gf has a 2002 Intrigue 3.5 engine. I replaced all the motor mounts except for the rear passenger side one and the vibration she had is almost all the way gone. I am now replacing the last mount and I can't get to the inner upper bolt holding the mount to the engine. I tried several combinations of extension and still can't get to it. How did you get to that bolt? Also, will the outer upper bolt clear the half shaft without taking the half shaft off? it seems really tight in there. Thank for the help.

 

[swagled]

I know I've seen people describe all three mounts. I'm sure it is somewhere in these many years of posts.

I solved it by spending $670 at a local shop to get all 3 done at once. Hey, I'm paid well enough to do what I'm trained to do. I just accept paying others to do, what they have the tools and training for....

 

[Cutlass350]

First, welcome to the forum!

A few things,
1) For the passenger side engine mount, my guess is that you'll have to drop the sub-frame a little.

2) Vibration? Unless the driver's-side and passenger-side engine mounts are torn/broken, then they are fine. Neither of those engine mounts are used for vibration control. The pneumatic front and the top-center mounts/supports help reduce vibration.

Engine mounts are there to allow the engine to move because of the torque when the RPMs change. Also, it helps, a little, to reduce the vibration to the frame and driver.

Imho, change the half-shafts first. They likely need it, or it would be good preventive maintenance.

The half-shafts, out of balance tires, bent rims, poor/worn wheel bearings, worn ball joints, worn steering rack/tie-rods, etc are more likely causes of vibration.

If the side engine mounts are torn or broken, then they must be replaced asap. Otherwise, leave them alone, and spend your money and time on other things.

Easy and cheap: Move the wheels <-> back, and see if there is a difference. Then, move the wheel left <-> right, and and see if there is a difference.


FWIW, as swagled did, if a shop is doing the R&R, it could be a good idea to get them all done at once. It's the labor and time getting to them that the big cost. Many shops will just lower the sub-frame a little (a few bolts), to make it quick and easy to get to the engine mounts.
FWIW, if the rack/steering is sticking/rough, it's a good time to get that done also. A rack R&R is expensive to begin with. If you can save ~$50-$150 in common labor time (dropping the subframe), that helps "a little" verses the $$$ cost of a rack R&R.

Good Luck!

 

[Cutlass350]

FWIW, a picture of the engine mount that the OP is talking about:
(The mount is to the bottom left of the super high-tech paper towel protector. )

 

[plato80]

FWIW, a picture of the engine mount that the OP is talking about:
(The mount is to the bottom left of the super high-tech paper towel protector. )

yep, that's the one…

Mount not broken. I guess I'll leave it alone then. The front hydraulic one was completely separated and all the fluid had leaked out.

I took the car to a few shops in the past about this vibration. It happens while accelerating and steering mildly to the left, a little worse when coming off a hump in the road and there is more load on the suspension. It stops when taking the foot off the accelerator, even if you are still mildly steering to the left. I thought it was CV axle myself, but every mechanic that looked at the car said engine mounts. Now that the mounts are replaced (well except for that one) vibration is better but still there. BTW, car has 137000 miles.

Also, I prefer to work on cars myself. I enjoy it, I know it's done right, and I have had not so good experiences in the past. Thanks you all.

 

[plato80]

yes that's the one!

No, it does not appear to be broken or cracked so I guess I'll leave it alone and return the part.

My vibration is while accelerating and turning the wheel slightly to the left. If while the vibration is occurring, you let go of the accelerator, vibration goes away. Does not happen if going straight or turning right. A little worse when coming off a slight hump in the road (i.e., when more stress is placed on the drivetrain/suspension)
I thought half shaft myself, the right one. I took the car to a couple of mechanics and they all said motor mounts. The front one was completely cracked in half and fluid was gone so I replaced it along with trans mount. The top mount seems fine. Vibration is slightly improved but still there. Car has 137000 miles.

I initially thought tie rods but wheels have no play when moved 3-9 and 6-12 direction.

thanks y'all

 

[Cutlass350]

When the car/front-end has a vibration when the car is turning in only one direction (e.g. left), then it's very likely the half-shaft/cv-joint.

When the car/front-end has a vibration when the car is turning in both one directions (e.g. left and right), then it's likely the half-shaft(s)/cv-joint(s).

In both of the cases above, it could be one or both front hubs. It could also be the rear hubs, but those go less often.

Most of the time, when a hub goes, with the tire on, you can feel some "wiggle up/down and side-to-side and diagonal-to-diagonal". Also, if you remove the tire, when you turn the disk, you very often hear and feel noise/roughness while turning the disk. And, with the wheel removed, to can often feel/see the play in the hub by moving the disk is the ways that I described for the wheel.

FWIW, if you're doing the work yourself, then replace both half-shafts at the same time. Even when done at a shop. they should both be replaced at the same time. You'll need an alignment afterwards. The cost of an alignment where I am is ~$100.
So, it doesn't make sense to replace one half-shaft now, get an alignment. Then, in about a year or so, replace the other half-shaft and pay for another alignment.

Good Luck!

 

[plato80]

Thanks Cutlass. Yes, I do the work myself. Half shafts seem fairly straightforward on this car. Now I just gotta decide if it's worth putting in ACDelco half shaft or cheaper ones. My gf likes the car but does not want to put too much money into it… funny thing is I told both mechanics I thought it was the half shaft and both said no.