Yesterday while at a muffler shop I noticed that my trans mount is toast, and the motor mounts both have fluid stains which I imagine means they leaked at some point. Can motor and transmission mounts be changed with jack and jack-stands, or are dedicated engine and transmission hoists necessary?

 

The gearbox mount is a 'piece-of-cake' but not much access to the engine mounts.

I ended up lifting the engine and 'floating' it side-to-side when I worked at the dealer.

You could disconnect the engine from the mounts and use a crane or floor jack to lift and swing the engine for clearance.

 

Floating it side to side? Swing the engine? I can’t imagine how this is done. Where on the bottom of the engine and transmission is it safe to use a floor jack?


Is this something better left to the professionals if I don’t have an engine hoist?

 

You leave all, well most, of the hoses and electrical wires connected, unbolt the engine mounts and lift it a few inches for clearance with a hoist or crane. Then because its only hanging from a single point you can shove it around as far as the remaining hoses and wires will let it go. The trick then is lining it up again to drop it back on the new engine mounts. If you do it with a jack from underneath, its harder to shove it around out of your way and line it back up again because you're fighting friction. Cut a piece of 3/4" plywood or other suitable lumber just slightly larger than the exposed oil pan, that way it won't dent or puncture. Back before I had a lift, I made one with a recessed bolt in the center. It replaces the little cup on my floor jack and it becomes like a little 12x12 inch lifting table. Position your little makeshift lifting table so the wheels will at least let you roll it from side to side. I haven't done it on an X100, but the method works on many other cars.

 

I changed the engine mounts on my Xkr two years ago without moving the engine in any direction. Was a tough job on the drivers side where space is limited. See the thread for how I did it, I created a simple special tool for the job

engine-mount-getting-compressed-over-time

 

I have a pair of grips. Should I have a go at removing a molar tooth?

Hope the exams went well. They must be over now you're back on vehicle maintenance.

Graham

 

Yes, I’m finally done with that test! It was 2 days of torture, the 26th and 28th of September. I think I did well. I should have the results in two or three weeks.

I know you are joking, but in case someone ever thinks it’s a good idea: You should never attempt removing your own tooth. You run the risk of causing a fracture in the upper jaw that results in the flow of saliva and bacteria to your sinuses, which leads to an infection, or you could cause nerve damage and fracture of your lower jaw and crown/root fracture. Using unsterilized tools will very likely lead to life threatening infections.



Great info on the special tool. Did you do as suggested above and use a 12 x 12 piece of wood to jack up via the oil pan or did you lift the engine from a different area?

 

Congrats, hope it went well.

Note to self, dunk tools in Stroh rum. Before pulling, drink rum, and keep drinking rum after pulling. Will help with bacteria, nerve damage, and fractures.

 

yes something similar under the oil pan

 

I'm afraid to ask where/why you guys are pulling your own teeth or even thinking about it.

I don't know about the OP, but I'm rapidly approaching the age where certain tasks I once would have jumped into with both feet, I'm now leaving to the guys with the four post lift and happily paying them for their time and labor. I think a motor mount on one of these cars would qualify.

 

I’m only 27. Young enough to not have body aches, stupid enough to try it, and smart enough to probably finish the job successfully. For context on the tooth pulling, I’m a 4th year dental student.