Engine & transmission Mount Replacement

[q45infiniti]

Hey guys, I did a couple searches and I couldn't really find what I was looking for. I just wanted to know if changing the transmission mount and the 2 motor mounts is a DIY job. (i'm fairly decent under the car) From what I saw, the transmission mount seems like it is but not so sure on the motor mounts.

If it is a DIY job, how exactly should I go about doing them ( a step-by-step would be GREAT, but a general description works 2!) And if it isn't, how long would it take for a mechanic to do it ( how many hrs would I have to pay for )

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help.

[goody90q45]

I haven't had the pleasure of changing my motor mounts yet so I can't speak from personal experience. I recall that the AC compressor may have to be loosened or removed and the engine supported or jacked up an inch or two from the bottom. Do a search in the archived content or look at Q45.org tech help section. One of the experts here will give you more details.

I have done my transmission mount and it was quite easy- Righty tighty, lefty loosey. Look for the rectangular shaped black plate and start unbolting. Support the transmission with a jack and block before you start. You'll also want to replace the exhaust hangers (2 ea.) which are bolted to the transmission mount. This is a simple DIY which should take you less than an hour.

Do the transmission mount/exhaust hangers before tackling the motor mounts. You'll see a huge improvement.

[maxnix]

Check Tangalora's excellent but incomplete posts on replacing the oil pan.

[Q45tech]

Do It Yourself motor Mounts is relative to whether you have a 4 post lift and engine hoist, screw jacks, air compressor, and tools.

[q45infiniti]

Alright cool, thanks for the replys. Sounds like the motor mounts are out of the question for me. But I'll probably end up doing the transmission mount myself. So if anyone wants to throw out any other tips or anything like that about the transmission mount and exhaust hangers replacement, that would be awesome. If not, Ill get under the car the next weekend or 2 and see what I can do...

[q45infiniti]

Oh, and before I forget... All I would need is the mount and exhaust hangers right? Can i reuse the nuts or should I just get new ones? Are there any other extra things I need? Thanks again

[goody90q45]

You'll only need to buy the transmission mount and two exhaust hangers. The same parts for all 90-96. All the nuts and washers will be reusable.

Get these from Joe, the 25% discount more than makes up for the cost of shipping.

[Haitian_King]

Sorry to be a pain Mike, but where are the transmission mounts located? Can I ahve a picture/write up of the replacement process?

[elwesso]

Sorry to be a pain Mike, but where are the transmission mounts located? Can I ahve a picture/write up of the replacement process?

SEARCH. I say this with all due respect but if you cant replace a trans mount because you do not have the mechanical ability, you ought not work on the car. Its one thing if you dont have a jack or stands, but a trans mount cant take more than 30 mins in a Q.

Eventually you are going to have to graduate to the next level, spoonfeeding shall not ensue indefinitely.

The mount is on the rear of the trans, youll see it near the tailshaft.. remove the metal damping plate, remove 2 screws holding the mount to the trans, then drop the 4 bolts that hold the X member to the car.

Motor mounts arent really that big deal just you need a way to support the motor, and for most DIY grease monkeys tahts hard to come by. Generally speaking replacing trans and exhaust mounts will cure most of any vibrations.

[Haitian_King]

I meant to edit this. I found what I needed.

All that's left to do is find a way to raise the car. Or flatten myself to about the thickness of a sheaf of paper/

[maxnix]

SEARCH. I say this with all due respect

spoonfeeding shall not ensue indefinitely.

Nor shall it continue indefinitely.

[elwesso]

I meant to edit this. I found what I needed.

All that's left to do is find a way to raise the car. Or flatten myself to about the thickness of a sheaf of paper/

Go to sears and get their jack and stand kit. I found mine on sale (should be able to pick up something NICE on black friday).

I sometimes will cheap out on tools, but not on jacks or stands.

[Haitian_King]

Really? Wow.

Question Wes.

My driveway has a slight incline. It wouldn't be recommended to do this job there would it? I'd do it in the street, but my town has laws against street mechanics and actually has a fleet of badged Jeep Liberty's patrolling against residential offenders.

You can actually be issue a summons if your car is partially obscuring the sidewalk. Sometimes if the MDX isn't parked all the way up, the trunk of my Q is on the sidewalk and I've received warnings about it.

*Edit*

Wes, which jack/stand kit should I get? I see a lot of them, some much cheaper than others. Some are rated at 2 tons, which is the approximate weight of the Q. Are they strong enough? Or just barely? I'd rather not have a 2 ton luxury boat fall on me. I can see the headlines now, "Handsome Man Crushed By Stylish Vehicle".

*Edit Again*

Found these 3 ton jacks. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_1...pment Are they enough? Or do I need something else as well? I think for Christmas, I'm going to buy myself tools. I'm looking at the impact wrenches and things on the Sears website. Are they necessary? Don't know if there's a thread about this, but what's necessary to complete a Q Maintenance Toolkit? I'm guessing I should get a creeper as well.

I can't wait to get started. I'm going to kick *** mechanically. I'm going to be so mechanically adept (At least try to be on my own cars), that I'm positively giddy.

Modified by Haitian_King at 11:34 AM 11/12/2007
Modified by Haitian_King at 11:35 AM 11/12/2007

[goody90q45]

.......Don't know if there's a thread about this, but what's necessary to complete a Q Maintenance Toolkit? I'm guessing I should get a creeper as well.

You'll need a 1/4" drive ratchet wrench with a 10mm and 12mm socket, a 10mm and 12mm box wrench and a couple of phillips screwdrivers. You can disassemble 95% of your Q with these few tools.

Seriously, a good 200+ piece Craftsman tool set should have everything you need.

[Haitian_King]

So the 200+ piece Craftsman set + jack stands will suffice? I did some reading on impact wrenches. I've decided not to get them.

I may have to move myself to another thread lest Wes gets angry.

[elwesso]

I woudlnt be too concerned about an incline since you're lifting the front wheels not the rear wheels... You'll have the trans and the parking brake. your call but if its not that big of an incline you should be OK, but at the end of the day its YOU who ends up under the car.

My jack I think is a 2 ton. Remember you dont ever lift more than 4000lbs when lifting the Q (since you cant lift the entire car off the ground at once) so a 2 ton jack should be more than sufficient. Same way with the stands.

Personally i use 3/8 drive for anything like this, but thats just me.

The 200 piece is nice because it comes with some of the 1/2 drive metric stuff. I have the next size down which includes the 1/4in and 3/8 stuff, and then im going to buy the 1/2in stuff that I need, which would be like 18,19,21mm and the few other special metric sockets I had to buy for various Q stuff...

I think itd be nice if one could just buy a socket set of like 6mm to 30mm all in metric.

[Haitian_King]

I need a jack AND a stand? I thought they were one and the same. Dammit.