Transmission and Engine Mounts, Solid vs Hydraulic

[grasscutter]

What is your opinion between solid vs hydraulic? I imagine most cars won't offer you both. In my case it's a GM 3800 application and apparently the aftermarket companies give you a choice. The factory mounts were all hydraulic except for the rear mount which has always been a solid block of rubber. My left transmission mount has leaked out all of its hydraulic fluid which is why I hear a clunk when pulling into the driveway in reverse. The hydraulic fluid is the same exact color as PAG refrigerant oil which was throwing me for a loop for about a week.

 

[Elroy the Brave]

Go hydraulic for sure.

Solid causes too much vibration.

 

[clinebarger]

PAG oil is clear unless it has dye.

Use OE mounts, You can thank me later when you don't have to do it again because of trash aftermarket mounts!

 

[grasscutter]

Elroy the Brave: The vibration from solid mounts would be at idle speeds I assume, correct?

Clinebarger: Where do you get OE mounts for a 26 year old car?

 

[clinebarger]

Acdelco has a online parts catalog, While it's a little clunky...It does work to get OE part numbers.

 

[edyvw]

Always use what the factory recommends. Going solid can create a trickle effect. For example, on my BMW, I have polyurethane bushings in the rear subframe, but that requires a polyurethane bushing or an M3 bushing on the differential. That is not a problem when you want to upgrade components for various purposes, but I am not sure you are doing that.

 

[zzyzzx]

I would also go hydraulic, but with the expectation that it's a normal wear item that needs to be changed out periodically. Also, if the only thing available is new old stock (is this for an older vehicle?) then I would get the solid ones.

 

[Lubener]

What is your opinion between solid vs hydraulic? I imagine most cars won't offer you both. In my case it's a GM 3800 application and apparently the aftermarket companies give you a choice. The factory mounts were all hydraulic except for the rear mount which has always been a solid block of rubber. My left transmission mount has leaked out all of its hydraulic fluid which is why I hear a clunk when pulling into the driveway in reverse. The hydraulic fluid is the same exact color as PAG refrigerant oil which was throwing me for a loop for about a week.

Buy OEM if you can get it.. From my experience the aftermarkets cause vibrations and do not last long.

 

[zzyzzx]

Buy OEM if you can get it.. From my experience the aftermarkets cause vibrations and do not last long.

On a 3800 OEM might all be new old stock...

 

[Lubener]

On a 3800 OEM might all be new old stock...

That's fine.

 

[zzyzzx]

That's fine.

I would trust a new old stock solid mount way before I would trust a new old stock hydraulic mount.

 

[AdmiralYoda]

Get OEM or a quality equivalent. You'll rattle your teeth out with solid mounts.

I put a used engine in a 1993 Jeep Cherokee once. The engine mounts were trashed and the transmission mount was old so I put polyurethane mounts in there. I was into off-roading and these types of mounts hold up to the abuse better. Similar story for high performance engines so the engine mounts don't flex much.

The vibrations at idle were crazy. You could barely see out the rear view mirror it was vibrating so bad. At speed it was fine though. Unless you are building a race car and don't care about comfort...go OEM style.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

If you can't get OEM mounts anymore, the aftermarket ones are so cheap you can experiment

 

[Lubener]

If you can't get OEM mounts anymore, the aftermarket ones are so cheap you can experiment

Just stay clear of Anchor.

 

[grasscutter]

Just stay clear of Anchor.

What about that Marmon brand? I see NAPA uses them as a supplier and they have them at RockAuto.

 

[14Accent]

What about that Marmon brand? I see NAPA uses them as a supplier and they have them at RockAuto.

Marmon/DEA/Anchor/Westar are all the same aftermarket junk

 

[IndyIan]

What is your opinion between solid vs hydraulic? I imagine most cars won't offer you both. In my case it's a GM 3800 application and apparently the aftermarket companies give you a choice. The factory mounts were all hydraulic except for the rear mount which has always been a solid block of rubber. My left transmission mount has leaked out all of its hydraulic fluid which is why I hear a clunk when pulling into the driveway in reverse. The hydraulic fluid is the same exact color as PAG refrigerant oil which was throwing me for a loop for about a week.

How was the vibration with the broken mount? If it wasn't really noticeable, and its an easy job, I might be tempted put a well reviewed solid one in.
At least with my 2007 Focus, the only hydraulic mount that would last at all, was the Ford one, and it was needed as it would resonate the interior noticeably, at hwy rpms.

 

[JavierH19]

Can you get something softer than poly mounts? Those are stiff and can make it shake a bit but it's not like those solid metal brackets for race applications I've seen which must be awful. Only on something like an inline 6 could you have poly mounts and have minimal vibrations though it still has some just less.

 

[Elroy the Brave]

What about that Marmon brand? I see NAPA uses them as a supplier and they have them at RockAuto.

Had terrible experience with DEA / Marmon ride control mounts that were solid. It caused a low frequency in the vehicle that was very uncomfortable for passengers.

Replaced that Marmon mount with an Anchor hydraulic filled mount, and it was been a lot better so far.

 

[grasscutter]

Marmon/DEA/Anchor/Westar are all the same aftermarket junk

Well that pretty much answers that question doesn't it?