Transmission Mount Broken?

[Cincinnati Scott]

A few days ago, I had my NSX up in the air to remove my exhaust. While it was up there, I was looking at the rear most motor mount ( which I gather is probably the rear transmission mount) and to my dismay, you can see light through it.

The more I looked at it though, it looks as if it might be that way on purpose. I realize now would be a good time for a picture, but I didn't have a camera. If you're looking at it from the side of the car, the entire bottom half of the mount can be seen through. Is that normal?

I checked the FAQ's and didn't see anything. I have noticed that there does seem to be some slop in the drivetrain, but I had attributed it to not being used to driving the car.

TIA,
Scott

 

[john@johnhudakracing]

A few days ago, I had my NSX up in the air to remove my exhaust. While it was up there, I was looking at the rear most motor mount ( which I gather is probably the rear transmission mount) and to my dismay, you can see light through it.

The more I looked at it though, it looks as if it might be that way on purpose. I realize now would be a good time for a picture, but I didn't have a camera. If you're looking at it from the side of the car, the entire bottom half of the mount can be seen through. Is that normal?

I checked the FAQ's and didn't see anything. I have noticed that there does seem to be some slop in the drivetrain, but I had attributed it to not being used to driving the car.

TIA,
Scott

That is normal, the factory mounts design is not supposed to be entirely surrounded with rubber, their are some gaps in between spans in the OE design which you can see through. However, what you need to look for are signs of fatigue and actual tears in the spanning rubber which is very common with OE mounts as they age, particularly the front and rear ones which tend to get the most stresses applied to them.

 

[Cincinnati Scott]

That is normal, the factory mounts design is not supposed to be entirely surrounded with rubber, their are some gaps in between spans in the OE design which you can see through. However, what you need to look for are signs of fatigue and actual tears in the spanning rubber which is very common with OE mounts as they age, particularly the front and rear ones which tend to get the most stresses applied to them.

John, can you replace just the rubber part (by pressing one in)? Or do you replace the entire assembly?

I figure before I start doing many modifications, new mounts couldn't hurt on a 15 year old car.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[john@johnhudakracing]

John, can you replace just the rubber part (by pressing one in)? Or do you replace the entire assembly?

I figure before I start doing many modifications, new mounts couldn't hurt on a 15 year old car.

Thanks,
Scott

Hi Scott,

It all depends on what your up to.

Honda does not offer just the replacement engine mount bushing as a part # that can be ordered so far as I am aware. Thus, pushing yours out on a press and just swapping it is not viable. You would have to get a new mount if you want to go that route and stay OE. If you are an OE kinda guy, you can:

- Just buy a new engine mount from Acura (OE Rubber)
- Import an NSX-R engine mount (little stiffer but $$$ and time)


For aftermarket / custom solutions you could:

- Call Wilson and have him send you one of his in exchange for your core. I believe he uses a stiffer rubber or Delrin in his offering but you would have to ask him what materials he used and how his mounts feel relative to OE.

- Call Mark at Dali, last I checked he was out of mounts but he did have some extra two part polyurethane mix in a can sitting around he can sell you. The 'hack way' as some may think of it is to trim the rubber back slightly, then just tape up one side of your existing mount and fill it with a two part Polyurethane mix. It costs about $100 in materials or so and lasts indefinitely.

- Do solid AL mounts and cut a circle with a hole in the middle and weld it onto each side of the existing mount (stiff). This also works fine if you don't mind noise and vibration and going through a lot of loctite.. but it makes the coin tray look neat at the drive-thru starbucks so it is worth it. :wink:

 

[Jin1976]

The mounting just infront of the transmission is also called engine front mount. Am I right? I will have to replace this as the technician told me.