Darkstar & PTP Tranny Mounts

[bioevolve]

Both came in today lol.
First off what a PITA on both mounts! Both are slightly off from top mounting to bottom.
Make sure you support your tranny so it doesn't move. Mine didn't move that much probably cause of the other 3 mounts I already have installed lol.
PTP on left, Medieval on right. PTP has thicker plates, Medieval has better welds.


PTP on bottom, Medieval on top. Medieval comes with a short main bolt, PTP comes with a longer main bolt w/ washers and a shorter bolt & washer for the tranny bolt.

PTP on right, Medieval on left. PTP comes with a Passenger side mount insert.

After you get the battery, ecu, battery tray out of the way. Move one shifter cable (closest to the driver's fender) by using needle nose, squeeze and pull up.



Stock stuff removed, you will reuse the intake/harness/battery platform plate. (The bottom left thingy).

On the Medieval you will need to use washers or spacer, used 5 washer to take up space of the stock cast piece. The remaining space will be filled by the bracket plate.


On both the Medieval and PTP you will need to pry the tranny back and forth and jack up and down the tranny to line everything up. The easiest way is to have everything loose and bolted before you tighten down, but that makes it harder to tighten the bottom bolt and nuts. So it's up to you.


Here is the PTP bolt supplied by PTP vs stock bolt, it is shorter to take up space.

PTP almost installed.

Medieval almost installed.

I also had to elongate the battery tray mounting holes to keep it off my intlet tube.

[killa cam]

question: the stock mount has a bend in the top plate, and the battery tray mount thinger has a step down in it as well. it looks as tho these 2 manufacturers did not do a step down. does that mean your battery tray is now not level?

good write up, thank you.

[steven88]

holy crap! great pictures...which mount did you end up using? ptp or dsms?

do you have driving impressions of both?

which is easier to install and better quality overall?

[skeeter149]

hmmm looks good... so what is the final verdict on the dark star? lookin at em side by side the dsm looks damn better then i thought. like 100 times better. i might have to sway for it. and hell those welds on the dsm are top notch. but having them which seems like it will get the job done? that is all i care about at the end of the day not putting this thing on the floor.

[SSinstaller]

I like the bushing orientation on the PTP better, it seems like the mount could pivot on the bolt passing through the bushing in the DSMS..

[bioevolve]

Originally Posted by killa cam question: the stock mount has a bend in the top plate, and the battery tray mount thinger has a step down in it as well. it looks as tho these 2 manufacturers did not do a step down. does that mean your battery tray is now not level? good write up, thank you.

The top mount plates on both does lift it like 1/4th to 1/2th of an inch, but leveling is not effected that much. Nothing to worry about. IF you have a smaller battery it won't affect you at all. (odyssey/braile). Also the Medieval has that bend in the top plate to help compensate for it.

Originally Posted by steven88 holy crap! great pictures...which mount did you end up using? ptp or dsms? do you have driving impressions of both? which is easier to install and better quality overall?

Medieval. Just drove the Medieval. Vibrations are up alittle more than before but I have all four mounts in, so it might not be good comparision to all that have/will have three mounts. Dash shakes more and steering wheels is alittle numbing. But it feel like a different vibration thou.

Originally Posted by skeeter149 hmmm looks good... so what is the final verdict on the dark star? lookin at em side by side the dsm looks damn better then i thought. like 100 times better. i might have to sway for it. and hell those welds on the dsm are top notch. but having them which seems like it will get the job done? that is all i care about at the end of the day not putting this thing on the floor.

PTP is thicker metal, Medieval has better welds. Both are about the same if you score it out.
PTP is $99 and DSMS is $75. Medieval is about 30% easier to install. I will let you decide.

Originally Posted by SSinstaller I like the bushing orientation on the PTP better, it seems like the mount could pivot on the bolt passing through the bushing in the DSMS..

The motor will twist/rotate, not swing. Well maybe alittle with the three mount setups lol.
The PTP positioning of the bushing with engine movement front to back, stress is less on the bushing. Movement with the bolt.
The Medieval postioning of the bushing with engine movement front to back, stress is on the bushing more. Movement against the bolt.
I have to say that PTP's top plate is stronger than the DSMS's. PTP is a solid plate and DSMS is thinner and has the hole in it which would make it weaker.
I would say: (just a guess)
PTP = Stress of 500-up whp
Medieval = Stress of 350-450whp
Don't know the warranties on these, hope each one will chime in on that.

[802MS3]

nice write up

[phillyb]

how does one tighten the bolt for the ptp mount?

[bioevolve]

3/8" Rachet with 6" extension & short 19mm socket on the bolt head (to hold in place) and 1/2" Rachet with 6" extension with swivel/universal joint & regular/deep well 19mm socket on the nut. Would be easier with two people lol.

[bioevolve]

Oh forgot, used blue Loc-tite on the nuts and bolts.

50 more miles on it:

The tranny noise is now amplified. Clutch friction and whine are heard more. I can hear in the cabin with windows up, louder than before.

BUT...when you go, you go. No hesitation from pedal to ground. No delay. The car feels more solid now, meaning power to the ground. Have not tried to make it wheels hop yet.
With four mounts I should have very little wheel hop, but still want traction bars.

[aaronc7]

great write up, will definitely use this later when I get mine

[Ferdball]

Originally Posted by bioevolve BUT...when you go, you go. No hesitation from pedal to ground. No delay. The car feels more solid now, meaning power to the ground. Have not tried to make it wheels hop yet.

Yeah, I feel that too. I think it might even be a little easier to shift, now that the tranny isn't flopping around.

[tagkat]

So how bad are the vibes?
Very noticeable?

[MTuning]

an upgraded rear mount improved shifting characteristic, i'm sure these would be an awesome combination. +1 on traction bars. they are great for fwd.

[Ferdball]

Originally Posted by tagkat So how bad are the vibes? Very noticeable?

For me, its more noise than motion. It is very noticeable.

[skeeter149]

thanks bioevolve i am going darkstarmotorsports on this one. i am gonna be realistic and tell you my car will never see north of 310whp if even that. that mount looks plenty beefy to me, the welds are sex, and i like the price for sure. well thank you for the awesome pics and info dsm is what i choose so as soon as i get 75 buck i know what i am ordering lol.

[steven88]

so you say the DSMS is 30% easier to install because of the motor mount being accessible from top...whereas the PTP, it's below the plate and you have to go by "feel" not "sight"?

there are a few members on mazda247 that has problems with the DSMS mount...saying it doesn't line up right...here is the link

Mazda Forums - View Single Post - GB; Mazdaspeed 3 Transmission Mount-$80 SHIPPED

[ptperformance]

Originally Posted by bioevolve The top mount plates on both does lift it like 1/4th to 1/2th of an inch, but leveling is not effected that much. Nothing to worry about. IF you have a smaller battery it won't affect you at all. (odyssey/braile). Also the DSMS has that bend in the top plate to help compensate for it. DSMS. Just drove the DSMS. Vibrations are up alittle more than before but I have all four mounts in, so it might not be good comparision to all that have/will have three mounts. Dash shakes more and steering wheels is alittle numbing. But it feel like a different vibration thou. PTP is thicker metal, DSMS has better welds. Both are about the same if you score it out. PTP is $99 and DSMS is $75. DSMS is about 30% easier to install. I will let you decide. The motor will twist/rotate, not swing. Well maybe alittle with the three mount setups lol. The PTP positioning of the bushing with engine movement front to back, stress is less on the bushing. Movement with the bolt. The DSMS postioning of the bushing with engine movement front to back, stress is on the bushing more. Movement against the bolt. I have to say that PTP's top plate is stronger than the DSMS's. PTP is a solid plate and DSMS is thinner and has the hole in it which would make it weaker. I would say: (just a guess) PTP = Stress of 500-up whp DSMS = Stress of 350-450whp Don't know the warranties on these, hope each one will chime in on that.

Lifttime on the mount, 2 years on the bushings. That would be for the warranty. Thanks for the great write up, let me know what you think about our mount after you get it installed, keep me informed on the vibe changes as well. Thanks again.

[ptperformance]

Originally Posted by bioevolve Oh forgot, used blue Loc-tite on the nuts and bolts. 50 more miles on it: The tranny noise is now amplified. Clutch friction and whine are heard more. I can hear in the cabin with windows up, louder than before. BUT...when you go, you go. No hesitation from pedal to ground. No delay. The car feels more solid now, meaning power to the ground. Have not tried to make it wheels hop yet. With four mounts I should have very little wheel hop, but still want traction bars.

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/foru...tml#post133949, Ask and I will deliver.

[ptperformance]

One thing that I wanted to add is we have the threw welds also. If you see the little pucks on both the back sides of the mount base plates. Those welds are there to keep things in check and make the base plate as we whole work with the mount. I will work on making the welds look a little better but I am always shooting for function over looks when it comes to things like this. Prettier welds should not be a problem with future mounts.

[redrocketz]

Mental Addiction makes awesome parts when they actually deliver them to people...

[bioevolve]

Originally Posted by steven88 so you say the DSMS is 30% easier to install because of the motor mount being accessible from top...whereas the PTP, it's below the plate and you have to go by "feel" not "sight"? there are a few members on mazda247 that has problems with the DSMS mount...saying it doesn't line up right...here is the link Mazda Forums - View Single Post - GB; Mazdaspeed 3 Transmission Mount-$80 SHIPPED

On that link to m247, what is wrong with that guy's vertical plates going to the bushing? They look bent, the left picture, wouldn't that be the problem? IDK.

Update:
Just checked mine and it looks the same as the one on M247. Bottom of the bushing is sticking out cause of either the top plate and/or bottom bracket is not lined up correctly. Just got an email from DSMS: Medieval is sending me another top plate and/or whole mount kit to fix the problem. Seems like only the first batch (they are sending those people new top plates and/or whole kits) is not lining up and they already have the fix for the second batch.
It didn't look wrong when the tranny was jacked up for lining up, but did after driving and settling in.

[Fobio]

thanks for the great info and writeup...

[Betelgeuse]

I got the passenger side mount insert with my PT-P mount but don't know much about it. I have the darkstar passenger mount so probably won't need it? Can someone elaborate on this?

[Ferdball]

Originally Posted by bioevolve On that link to m247, what is wrong with that guy's vertical plates going to the bushing? They look bent, the left picture, wouldn't that be the problem? IDK. Update: Just checked mine and it looks the same as the one on M247. Bottom of the bushing is sticking out cause of either the top plate and/or bottom bracket is not lined up correctly. Just got an email from DSMS: Medieval is sending me another top plate and/or whole mount kit to fix the problem. Seems like only the first batch (they are sending those people new top plates and/or whole kits) is not lining up and they already have the fix for the second batch. It didn't look wrong when the tranny was jacked up for lining up, but did after driving and settling in.

So, do I need a new part too?

[SSinstaller]

It's interesting the you liked the pretty mount, which happens to be defective....better than the PTP mount, which isn't.

[ptperformance]

Originally Posted by Betelgeuse I got the passenger side mount insert with my PT-P mount but don't know much about it. I have the darkstar passenger mount so probably won't need it? Can someone elaborate on this?

You should be able to use it. See if it fits between the forward leading edge of the new mount, thin part up top and thcker part between the mount and the mount bracket. Hope this helps.

[skeeter149]

where was it defective in that whole post?

[phillyb]

do shed light on what you mean by defective. i have the top speed (from darkstar) pass mount.

[SSinstaller]

Originally Posted by bioevolve Update: Just checked mine and it looks the same as the one on M247. Bottom of the bushing is sticking out cause of either the top plate and/or bottom bracket is not lined up correctly. Just got an email from DSMS: Medieval is sending me another top plate and/or whole mount kit to fix the problem. Seems like only the first batch (they are sending those people new top plates and/or whole kits) is not lining up and they already have the fix for the second batch. It didn't look wrong when the tranny was jacked up for lining up, but did after driving and settling in.

= defective

[phillyb]

oh, we're talking tranny side

[bioevolve]

Ok, today I felt a DIFFERENT VIBRATION! Deceleration vibs. It a very noticable feeling than the normal vibration. So I decide to take Medieval mount out, see for yourself:

See how the angle being off causes the the bushing to cock.





Out of the vehicle untouched.




Another reason for the cocking beside mis-alignment is it is a 2-piece bushing setup, it nees to be a solid one piece. Well a 2-piece needs both plate ends to fully flush on the outsides of the bushing, so mainly alignment problem.


PTP Tranny mount is back in now. +1 for PTP.

[Ferdball]

That's just unreal man. Sorry about your troubles, but that shit needs to come off. I think mine lines up okay. The vibes are actually starting to go away slightly. Did you buy both mounts for the same car or do you have them installed on different cars?


Mine

Yours

[phillyb]

damn...i can't wait to get my ptp mount in there

[bioevolve]

Reason why I picked Medieval over PTP was I had other parts from both companies and at the time before this, it was DSMS +1 (pass mm) and PTP 0 (test pipe).
Now it is even again. PTP +1 and DSMS +1.

Anyways, I will give a driving result on the PTP tomorrow.

[bioevolve]

Originally Posted by Ferdball That's just unreal man. Sorry about your troubles, but that shit needs to come off. I think mine lines up okay. The vibes are actually starting to go away slightly. Did you buy both mounts for the same car or do you have them installed on different cars? Mine Yours

I see yours is starting to stick out of the bottom closest to the fender side. IF I'm looking at yours correctly. Could be a shadow lol.
Bought both mounts on one car lol.

[mlassek]

great thread. keep us updated on how the ptp hold up

[darkstarmotorsports]

Okay, a I'm starting to see everyone worries about the tranny mount.

first of all, it includes a LIFE TIME WARRANTY on every part of the mount.

As for the busing not lining up and squeezing out the side like that. The kits are missing the hardware portion of them, which medieval did not send me.

a smaller bolt so you won't have to use washers on that one tranny bolt
And spacers for the base plate to even out the angle on the bushing.

AGAIN, I"M SO SORRY ABOUT THIS FELLAS!

This has been brought up the Medieval when the first case was presented to us. They wil be sending the hardware kits directly to everyone who has order the monts from the GB.

This is a great product, I just hope you guys don't mind letting us fix our error to no cost to you.

[Ferdball]

Originally Posted by darkstarmotorsports ... a smaller bolt so you won't have to use washers on that one tranny bolt And spacers for the base plate to even out the angle on the bushing. ...

Am I supposed to have spacers under the bottom piece?

[darkstarmotorsports]

Originally Posted by Ferdball Am I supposed to have spacers under the bottom piece?

no, under the the base plate under the battery to correct the bad angle on the bushing. You can use washers if you rather not wait. It's what a local guy did out here in San deigo. they, eveything will be fine.

And he LOVES the mount!