Well, I got my car back from the transmission shop yesterday. Thanks to Grant for helping me step through some troubleshooting and preliminary steps to determine whether a rebuild was necessary.

I'm a little concerned about the spring at the back of the transmission, though; it seems to be fully compressed and that doesn't seem right. Am I just being paranoid? (see pics) If this spring has just been worn out, what would I call it to get it replaced?

Thanks again for all your help. Sorry about the pic quality, I only had my blackberry to use. The spring is outside on the rear of the transmission, looks like it's right before where the drive shaft mates up with the transmission:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/...b832f7eb_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/...c2eeb90e_b.jpg

 

My memory isn't clear enough to say for certain but, I agree, it doesn't seem right. The trans shoud rest in a neutral position, so to speak, so that it can move up and down freely on spring.

However, the trans looks to be parallel to the metal 'tongue' that runs underneath. That's good, except with the spring fully compressed, I would've expected to see it at an angle relative to the tongue.

The mounting design is a little odd. I wonder if a part is missing or perhaps it was assembled incorrectly....hard to tell. I'll try to find some illustrations and report back.

Before then some might (hopefully) chime in with a definite answer

Cheers
DD

 

Your second pic shows the spring is not fully compressed and looks about right to me. You should be able to move the gearbox up and down against the spring if you can get underneath the car. There is a rod about 3/4" in diameter riding in a bush to stop lateral movement.

 

Fraser and Doug you guys are the experts around here. Is that a standard gearbox mount, or something else?

The reason for the question is this. OK 6 cyl 4.0 and could very well be different on a V12.

XJS Gearbox mount replacement. part 4 also briefly shows the old mount.

Thanks for the education, as always.

 

As said, looks sort of OK.

I would clamber under the beast, and push UP on the trans, it should move about 1" with a resistance, and likewise DOWN about the same with resistance. This resistance is greated by the "special" washer, located above the lower spacer, being a "firm" fit on the inner bore of the bushing, which stops the "bounce" of the spring, much like a shock absorber.

If the trans moves without resistance, sort of bounces up and down, the washer has been left out, or the bushing is real buggered, both VERY common.

Also if that washer is missing, the nut can be wound further up the threads, which will also compress the spring, albiet slightly, more than designed, mmmm.

I have seen some real horrors in here over the years.

 

After watching that video, I don't have any rubber thing inside the spring. I guess I'll have to find a what? Rear transmission mount?

Thanks for the video and advice, guys.

 

They are commonly know as the transmission spool. (Does any remember what a spool of thread looks like?)

http://www.motorcarsltd.com/CAC3227A.html

 

Thanks, Ken, I actually do remember those; my mom used to do a fair amount of sewing when I was younger.

Does anyone have an assembly diagram that shows how it all fits together? I've been going off the video that Translator posted.

Also, is this something I can do myself? I had planned to put the car on ramps and crawl under there and look before I break out my tools and jack. What's the recommendation?

 

You can do it yourself but you need a jack to support the rear of the transmission, so as to take the weight off the transmission mount.

Cheers
DD

 

Doug,
Thanks. I have ramps I was planning on putting the car on, a floor jack and some 2x4 lengths for the trans support. I expect, from what I can see and what I remember, that it'll take a couple of hours to do the deed.

If someone knows of a link with an assembly diagram (or can email me one), I'd appreciate it. A quick search of my library's online catalog shows that they don't have a Chiltons or Haynes that I could copy. I haven't found anything online either, actually.

I'm usually okay at turning a wrench if I've seen how it's fitted together first, but this is new territory for me and I want to make sure I don't screw it up!