replacing engine mounts

[reyna]

I have an 02 monte LS 3.4 and need to replace my motor mount. How hard is it to replace this part. Ive read on the net that it takes a about half an hour or but some shops llike pepboys are quoting me 3hr labor, about $300 to $350.

Are they giving to high of an estimate or is this just what it cost.

[bszopi]

Which motor mount needs replaced? Either way, there is no way its a 3hr job.

[reyna]

Its the mount that sits on the bottom of the front of the engine. Its by the passenger side.

[bszopi]

That one is alittle more involved, but really shouldn't take more than an hour. The hardest part about that one is getting inside the wheel well and either breaking the bolts loose or torquing them back down. It also can be a pain sometimes to get the mount out and get the new back in.

[reyna]

Thats kind of what I thought. 3 hours is just seems too much. Should I ask at smaller shops how much or should I just go to pepboys and get it professionally done and have warrany on their work. Or is this something a small shop can do pretty easy.

[bszopi]

Anyone with a jack (and jackstands preferably) and a torque wrench can do it. It really isn't that hard of a job. If PepBoys has already quoted you 3hrs, then I'd take it somewhere else and ask for price quotes. If you are close to any of the members here, you might find someone willing to just you out one evening for free.

[zerocool]

the quote doesnt suprise me. ive had a shop try and quote me 1.5hrs tyo replace the serpentine belt, just b/c you have to remove a motor mount bolt... i feel bad for ppl that dont know any better...

[reyna]

Here are a few pics of what is left of the mount. I have a friend who says he will help me install it if its possible. Ill try to get a haynes manual to see how hard it is to put on.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/4/web/388000-388999/388809_62_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/4/web/388000-388999/388809_62_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/4/web/388000-388999/388809_63_full.jpg

Heres what the mount looks like

http://www.motormountz.com/images/products/large/em-2796.jpg

The process I see is removing the two bottom bolts and the two top nuts. Lifting the engine. Removing the mount then inserting the engine back. Easier said than done but I have to check more into it.

[bszopi]

Wow, that's totally different than what I was thinking. But it still doesn't appear to be that bad.

[CNCguy]

It shouldn't be too hard but your pic of the replacement part is a little wrong. It does have the 2 studs sticking down through the frame but has 3 bolts into the oil pan, 2 from bottom & 1 from end by crank. In your first pic you can clearly see the end one just under the crank and you can barely see the one to the rear of car pointing upwards. IIRC the front one into the pan should be the hardest to reach but not impossible.

[gpse3400]

Undo the botom nuts, get block of wood and jack up the engine. the mount is bolted to a bracket plate that is bolted to the oil pan, twodown ward facing bolt and one side ways facing out towards the wheel.. You'll need a wrench of one of the downward facing bolts. The factory mounts are liquid filled aka hydraulic. If you want something that'll last the life of the vehicle and give a bunch of rigidity back to the drivetrain with too much more vibration I recommend this

http://www.napaonline.com/masterpages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=470&LineCode=BK&PartNumber=6121730&Description=Motor+Mount+-+Front

You can get its counterpart for the Trans side, stock is also hydraulic.

http://www.napaonline.com/masterpages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=470&LineCode=BK&PartNumber=6221242&Description=Transmission+Mount

That side even eaiser to replace, acess via the wheel housing.

These mounts are the solid rubber counter parts of the original hydraulic. They will transmit a tick more noise into the car but it'll stiffen up the powertrain by holding back some wheel hop and making the drivline respond better. Not to mention the prices are pretty good.