[Mk2] [Turbo] Gearbox mounts

[dervbas]

I've been told by a non-MR2 specialist garage that "There is nothing holding my gearbox in the engine bay!" and that all the gearbox mounts need doing.

Obviously, this alarmed me! Where can I get them from (don't want TRD stuff, OEM will do fine)?

How many mounts does the SW20 have?

Has anyone got a diagram/photo of the underside of the engine, pointing out the mounts?

Thanks in advance.

[djpkins]

There are 4 on the engine/gearbox altogether...

1 underneath the turbo, 1 on both the left and right sides...the rear left (passenger side) being the gearbox mount and 1 at the rear that is attached to the sub frame...I have polybushed mine and it does send much more engine vibration through the car so if you like comfort you are wise to stick with OEM

[Quigonjay]

I've been told by a non-MR2 specialist garage that "There is nothing holding my gearbox in the engine bay!" and that all the gearbox mounts need doing.

Obviously, this alarmed me! Where can I get them from (don't want TRD stuff, OEM will do fine)?

How many mounts does the SW20 have?

Has anyone got a diagram/photo of the underside of the engine, pointing out the mounts?

Thanks in advance.

lol, considering 3 of the 4 mounts are attached to the gearbox, that sounds a little suspicious to me

[Ian Geary]

Evening

you would have noticed if all 4 mounts were missing! as the engine would be resting on the rear subframe, the exhaust flexi would probably snapped, the intercooler pipe would have pulled off, and the drive shafts would be at the wrong angle, and generally you'd have all sorts of problems.

Based on my experience, what he's referring to is not the left and right mounts that take the weight of the engine, but instead is the front and rear torque mounts.

there is a rubber bush that insulates the bracke from the bolt connecting the mount together.

these hold the engine upright, and stop it rocking back and forth when accelerating and decelerating.

over time, these rubber bushes break down, and allow too much movement between the part of the bracket bolted to the bulkhead (or rear subframe) and the part bolted to the gearbox.

simple check is to grab hold of the inlet manifold, and push the engine back and forth. you shouldn't be able to move it. Or, with the engine on, rev the engine using the throttle cable. Again, it shouldn't noticably shift.


It could be the engine mounts are literally missing! Ie someone has either forgot to put them on, or they've worked loose (which would be nigh on impossible)

But if you had no front and rear mounts, you'd get massive kick back in your gear lever when lifting off and changing up, and your flexi exhaust would have probably snapped by now. you'd also feel a wobble when turning the engine off.


replacements - well, you can get some knackered ones from a scrap yard.
TRD ones are about £80 from Fensport.

you can also pack OE mounts with polyurethane - I bought mine from RS components.

but it's messy, and leads to a lot more vibration in the cabin at ticke over.


hopefully you'll find the above musings useful, if not interesting

Ian

[dervbas]

Thank you for all of your useful replies.

Following them, I got under the car and can confirm the middle mount closest to the cabin is NOT connected to the engine (at the turbo area).

When I turn off the engine, YES the whole car shakes.

All 3 other mounts/brackets ARE attached - I s'pose that is good news?

When changing gears more quickly than normal (setting off down a motorway sliproad etc.) it is quite more notchy than usual; I'm guessing due to the tourque of the engine rocking the block as a result of lack of support at the front end.

I am sourcing a single replacement and hope to fit this.

I've got some photos of the offending component to stick on here for future use of fellow owners, but will put these on a little later.

Ciao for now.

[toxo]

Fingers crossed the threads in your gearbox are still OK. If not you will be doing this!

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/kb.php?mode=article&k=177

When this happened on mine I left it for a few months before getting it sorted, this cost me the rear torque mount as well (as it was taking full rotational stress of the engine) and the extra engine movement broke the flexi in my exhaust. Best get it sorted!

[dervbas]

Is the mount that attaches to the gearbox (as described in the article referenced by toxo above) the same for the n/a and turbo SW20s?

[dervbas]

UPDATE

No. The mounts for the 3S-GE are NOT compatible with the 3S-GTE. However, the mounts for the turbo model ARE the same for all revisions (Rev1, 2 and 3+).

Hope this info is of use for fellow sufferers. Now I just gotta source a damn replacement mount!

[cantfindausername]

What mounts do you need? I have front/left/right available, all in good condition

[dervbas]

Thanks to cantfindausername for his prompt help and delivery of a replacement part.

Many thanks.