Motor mount discussion

[v8volvo]

I have a busted passenger-side motor mount on my '81 Rabbit and have been reading up on the options for replacing it, trying to find one that will last and not break in a few thousand miles. Seems like the original diesel mount is hard to find anymore, and what most places now sell as a "Heavy Duty" diesel mount is actually too weak to stand up to diesel duty.

See these discussions:
http://www.vwdieselparts.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=47394&sid=098ca1c6dd4b073176371e176a88be9d

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2765227

Quantum TD, you said that as long as I stick with an OEM-style Meyle mount, it should be fine. Based on what's shown in the above threads, do you recall the Meyle mounts you used being 2-window or 5-window style? If they were 5-window mounts, how have they lasted? The one in my car now (OEM probably, and very very broken after 240k) is a 2-window, and the one on the low-mile '84 engine I picked up as a core a year ago that still has its mount on it is a 2-window as well. That mount is still good but it is very old, obviously, so I'd rather get a new one than use that and have it break soon. But it seems to indicate to me that VW originally used 2-window mounts on the diesels from the factory, and from what I've seen gassers have 5-windows. So even though a lot of the "heavy-duty diesel mounts" now available are 5-windows I think it's not supposed to be that way.

Pretty much every mount I've been able to find in looking on the Web has been the 5-window kind. I usually like NAPA's parts, but the picture of the mount they sell on their website, even though it's listed as an HD diesel unit, shows it to be a 5-window mount. I found this auction on eBay, which looks good and OEM:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-Rabbit-Cabriolet-Scirocco-Motor-Mount-Kit-GERMAN_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50454QQihZ019QQitemZ290205981050
But that mount is also 5-window, and after reading what people say about those I'm wary of it. I haven't checked to see what the VW dealer sells yet, or WorldPac or 1stvwparts. I don't really want to go poly because this is no race car here, and I'm looking to kill vibration rather than exacerbate it. The only non-poly 2-window mount I have really found is the Techtonics one discussed in the threads above:
http://www.techtonicstuning.com/showpart.asp?partnum=199.120

What has been the experience of those on this forum with A1 motor mounts, anyone used a 5-window and had trouble with it, or not? Anyone know of a good place to get an OEM-style 2-window mount? This is kind of a PITA job and I imagine all of us would rather do it once with the right part the first time around... so hopefully we can figure this one out!

Thanks

George

[Quantum TD]

The Meyle ones I've used are 5 window (the 'G' mount). Occasionally, the lower piece will separate from the outer ring, but it's not the business end of the mount: the upper mounting parts are.

I put a 5-window on my Rabbit D. I drove it for about a year and the mount was fine, but I also replaced all the other mounts at the same time, so the other mounts may have prevented premature failure of the pass side mount. I haven't heard from the guy I sold it to, but that doesn't mean that it's still good: who knows.

I have also used the Meyle 5-window mounts on customers cars, and have had no complaints or returns in the past 3 years.

If you're really concerned, just get the TT HD mount. It's about what you'd pay for the OEM one, and the dealer doesn't even carry the 3 window anymore anyway. It's probably your best bet, and 1/2 the price of the Scirocco 16v one.

[v8volvo]

Yep, talked to the dealer, and they couldn't find me a passenger side motor mount of any kind. Dealers are so worthless...

I think you've got the right idea, I guess I'll spring for the TT mount just for peace of mind. You're also right that I should go through and do all the other mounts too, to make sure there's not undue stress on the one good one.

Jeez... considering I need to replace my injection pump, all my motor mounts, and my transmission (have a nice low-mile FF in the garage to replace the grindy old FF in there now), do you think I'm better off just pulling the whole engine and trans as a unit and doing this work outside the car? Starting to think that might be the way to go...

Thanks for all the help.

George

[Quantum TD]

Jeez... considering I need to replace my injection pump, all my motor mounts, and my transmission (have a nice low-mile FF in the garage to replace the grindy old FF in there now), do you think I'm better off just pulling the whole engine and trans as a unit and doing this work outside the car? Starting to think that might be the way to go...

Hmm. Well, you may have to remove the front and rear mounts to replace the passenger side one (in order to wiggle the mount out). As far as replacing the other mounts, you could probably just do the rear (it's always sloppy from oil dribbling on it), and the front. The trans moutn rarely goes bad since there's not much weight on it.

As far as pulling the whole motor, I guess it all depends on what kind of shop you have. If you have a lift, I'd say just swap the trans from underneath, and do the mounts separately. If you just have ramps or jack stands, then pulling the whole motor might be easier than trying to lift a trans into the engine bay from below. I think your big concern on the matter will be the trans. Pulling the other mounts is easy, and trying to swing the motor and trans into place can be a PITA.