Impression of new SU Solid motor mount (Soft Bushing)

[Qtip]

I am going to check the mount today, I looked at the shop manual and no where did I see 70 ft/lbs for the torque spec. I think it was something like 56 to 64 ft/lbs if I remember correctly.

I did put some loctite on the bolts so I doubt it's coming loose but will double check anyway.

I don't think the vibrations at idle are caused by detonation, it's normal for the engine to run rougher at low RPMs. Most people raise their idle speed a bit because these aftermarket mounts like to vibrate at 650 - 700rpm.

Originally Posted by donightwolfdo I have the same mount with street bushing and so far I put around 150 miles on it. Vibrations are almost none, but if you look for them, you can hear them. Only thing I can hear is half to one second long metal to metal clatter when I start and shutoff engine. I torqued bolts to 70 ft/lbs of torque and I also used locktite to make sure it won't loosen up. Overall I love this mount, cause shifts are easier and I can feel more power to wheels.

With the upgraded mount it sounds like I've got bolts loose in the engine on shut-down, sounds embarrassing.

[Blackspeed]

Originally Posted by Qtip With the upgraded mount it sounds like I've got bolts loose in the engine on shut-down, sounds embarrassing.

i thought this racket on shut down was normal. Ive heard quite a few people complain about it. including me.

[letzleta]

I have the SU (Street) version. Only about 75 miles on it, but I barely notice any vibes. I had the "thump" sound when starting and shutting off the motor, so I got under the car and torqued the bolts again. I have not noticed the "thump" since then, but I just tightened it yesterday.

[Qtip]

Originally Posted by Blackspeed i thought this racket on shut down was normal. Ive heard quite a few people complain about it. including me.

Yup, it's normal except that an aftermarket engine mount amplifies it.

Originally Posted by letzleta I have the SU (Street) version. Only about 75 miles on it, but I barely notice any vibes. I had the "thump" sound when starting and shutting off the motor, so I got under the car and torqued the bolts again. I have not noticed the "thump" since then, but I just tightened it yesterday.

Good to know, I'm hoping that the bolt just needs to be tightened but I somehow doubt it. I have a feeling that the bushing in the mount is moving, we'll find out after work.

[BolvangaR]

I just picked up a CP-E 60 duro mount..... Installing it next week!

[Qtip]

I feel like a real doorknob... Turns out that the bolt that holds the rear engine mount to the transmission mount was not tight enough. It needs to be really tight so that the mount actually bends and locks down on the transmission mount. Mine was tight but not tight enough so this joint was able to move a good 1/8" before the rear mount even engaged. Took everything apart and re-torqued to 70 ft/lbs.

Took it for a test drive and what a difference. No more vibrations and it runs just awesome. Street Unit, I love you!

The thumping at start up is gone, my shutdown no longer sounds like I've got bolts loose in my engine, and no more vibrations at idle. The vibrations are maybe 5 - 10% more than stock, and most of this is when you are engaging the clutch at initial start up around 800 - 1000 rpm.

Very happy.

[Night Wolf]

Originally Posted by Qtip I feel like a real doorknob... Turns out that the bolt that holds the rear engine mount to the transmission mount was not tight enough. It needs to be really tight so that the mount actually bends and locks down on the transmission mount. Mine was tight but not tight enough so this joint was able to move a good 1/8" before the rear mount even engaged. Took everything apart and re-torqued to 70 ft/lbs. Took it for a test drive and what a difference. No more vibrations and it runs just awesome. Street Unit, I love you! The thumping at start up is gone, my shutdown no longer sounds like I've got bolts loose in my engine, and no more vibrations at idle. The vibrations are maybe 5 - 10% more than stock, and most of this is when you are engaging the clutch at initial start up around 800 - 1000 rpm. Very happy.

Hm, When I installed it first time I torqued it down to 70ft/lb and still have that loose nuts sound and shut off. I guess I'll have to recheck it.

[Qtip]

Originally Posted by donightwolfdo Hm, When I installed it first time I torqued it down to 70ft/lb and still have that loose nuts sound and shut off. I guess I'll have to recheck it.

Some of that noise is normal, mine was excessively loud. You should expect around the same level of noise on shutdown as with the stock engine mount.

[nynhex]

Originally Posted by Qtip I don't think the vibrations at idle are caused by detonation, it's normal for the engine to run rougher at low RPMs. Most people raise their idle speed a bit because these aftermarket mounts like to vibrate at 650 - 700rpm.

Agreed, that's why I said idle/rough will do that, however if you are having knock/detonation you would definitely hear it reverberate because of the mount.

Originally Posted by donightwolfdo Yea, you should do it. Just in case. You have the same looking mount as CP-e mount, right? Do you hear some metal to metal clutter (louder than normal vibrations) while starting/shutting off car?

No metal to metal clutter. But there is a shaking/clunking sound on shutoff. That's normal even with the stock mount but it's more pronounced with the solid mount.

[dachtler]

Originally Posted by Qtip No they were not torque, the shop tighened down fully by an impact wrench.

FYI, torque specs are VERY important to the NVH performance of a motor mount like these. I have yet to install a RMM on my '10 MS3, but will likely be doing that shortly based on this thread (I couldn't figure out what the issue was with the RMM, but the firewall impact comment cleared that right up!).

On my previous car (1993 Saab 900T), I had replaced the stock hydraulic front motor mount (which might be considered the RMM, as the engine is in backwards in that car) with a billet aluminum unit that had a thick rubber insulator between the engine and the mount. I torqued down the mounting bolt too tight, and thus compressed the rubber which defeated its ability to reduce vibration. I lived with this for a while, but eventually swapped back to the stock mount as the vibration was too much for me to live with. I could see there being a similar issue with the various designs of the replacement RMMs, where if you torque them down too much, then any dampening ability is defeated.

[dr_banano]

Originally Posted by Qtip I feel like a real doorknob... Turns out that the bolt that holds the rear engine mount to the transmission mount was not tight enough. It needs to be really tight so that the mount actually bends and locks down on the transmission mount. Mine was tight but not tight enough so this joint was able to move a good 1/8" before the rear mount even engaged. Took everything apart and re-torqued to 70 ft/lbs. Took it for a test drive and what a difference. No more vibrations and it runs just awesome. Street Unit, I love you! The thumping at start up is gone, my shutdown no longer sounds like I've got bolts loose in my engine, and no more vibrations at idle. The vibrations are maybe 5 - 10% more than stock, and most of this is when you are engaging the clutch at initial start up around 800 - 1000 rpm. Very happy.

why is it soo rustyy down there in the pics ??

[Blackspeed]

Originally Posted by Qtip The vibrations are maybe 5 - 10% more than stock, and most of this is when you are engaging the clutch at initial start up around 800 - 1000 rpm. Very happy.

what about with the a/c on? I use it a lot here in florida which is why im running the CS inserts right now.

[Qtip]

Originally Posted by Blackspeed what about with the a/c on? I use it a lot here in florida which is why im running the CS inserts right now.

I don't recall any increase in vibrations but I'll keep an eye out for it the next time I'm in the car.

Originally Posted by dr_banano why is it soo rustyy down there in the pics ??

No idea, I was surprised to see that much rust on a car that is only two years old but I guess it's all the crap on the roads. Oh well.

[mituc]

Originally Posted by Blackspeed what about with the a/c on? I use it a lot here in florida which is why im running the CS inserts right now.

If you remember the vibration levels when your car was new... well, that's the level of vibrations with the soft SU mount after about 1000 miles. The car actually became significantly more quiet and the vibration level decreased after a 400 miles trip that included about 80 miles of bended road, the perfect road for hill climb competitions with good asphalt, sharp turns and long enough straights to accelerate from 40 to 90mph.

The only still noticeable difference is that it vibrates more when you launch gently around 800-1200rpm and, of course, when you back park your car (it's basically the same situation).

[Blackspeed]

i bought my car with 3000 miles and a few hunded miles later I had the cs inserts in, so I dont know what the initial vibes are when the car was new. I know I have no vibes right now with a/c on.

[Qtip]

Originally Posted by mituc If you remember the vibration levels when your car was new... well, that's the level of vibrations with the soft SU mount after about 1000 miles. The car actually became significantly more quiet and the vibration level decreased after a 400 miles trip that included about 80 miles of bended road, the perfect road for hill climb competitions with good asphalt, sharp turns and long enough straights to accelerate from 40 to 90mph. The only still noticeable difference is that it vibrates more when you launch gently around 800-1200rpm and, of course, when you back park your car (it's basically the same situation).

Exactly what Mituc said... No increase in vibration with the A/C on and only a slight increase in vibration when starting off around the 1000rpm range. Although this vibration has greatly decreased as the mount is being broken in. Doesn't bother me at all.

[letzleta]

The vibes are not bad at all. Anyone who says they are, given it is installed correctly, is either overly sensitive or bought the wrong car. Seriously, there is no difference from stock once you are going over 5 MPH or so. The only times I ever notice more vibration are very slight at idle (barely enough to mention) and when starting from a complete stop (which lasts all of a second or two). If either of these situations create too much vibration, I have no idea how you handle driving this car on pavement that is not perfect.

Also, my mount isn't even broken in yet.

[Qtip]

UPDATE #3:

Put a good 1000 miles on the mount so far and vibrations are nearly completely gone. Still have a bit of vibrations when starting from a standstill around the 800 - 1000 rpm but the vibrations have decreased substantially.

I also noticed that the engine is rocking back and forth a bit more now. I'm still happy in comparison to the stock mount but this would definitely be too soft for you performance nuts.