Date:         Sun, 12 Apr 1998 13:26:36 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <dhaynes57@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <dhaynes57@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Subject:      Re: Mickey Mouse Repair: Motor Mounts
Comments: To: Gary Stearns <gstearns@SPRINTMAIL.COM>, Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

These mounts are available both after market  and through the dealer.  They are not very expensive either way.  The dealer ones are much better than the ones made in India.  They are a bit of work to change though, engine will have too be supported and jacked.
Dennis 
-----Original Message-----
    From: Gary Stearns <gstearns@SPRINTMAIL.COM>
    To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
    Date: Sunday, April 12, 1998 10:13 AM
    Subject: Mickey Mouse Repair: Motor Mounts
    
    
    While underneath our '88 GL yesterday cleaning and re-lubing the shift linkage (seems I have to do it annually ), I took a look at motor mounts which I have suspected to be in trouble for some time.   We have had alot of "driveline lash" which is best described as rubber banding of the van on sudden accel or decel.  Also have had intemittent clutch shudder.  I expected to see the forward (tranny) mount tearing itself apart.  Nope.  That one is fine. Must be the others at the rear of the engine.  Look, wiggle, shake, yup, the rears have small separations in them.  Can these be replaced?  Uh, looks like these mounts are a unit with the entire cast aluminum engine plate.  Ka- Ching $$$$.  Must be another way.
     
    Decided that beyond the separation of rubber from metal the rubber itself didn't look so bad.  Here's the Mickey Mouse part.  I found 4 places where engine motion was being permited by these separations.  Into these gaps I drove 4 handmade polyurethane wedges.  The polyurethane originated with pink skateboard wheels and was previously used to make racecar suspension bushings.  Cuts easily with a hot knife.
     
    Without getting into riduculous detail, the gaps should be obvious to you if you shake the engine.  The way to "lock" the wedges in should be obvious too. Sounds stupid I know, but...  Boy the van feels much different.  The rubber banding is gone.  No clutch shudder -yet.  It just feels much tighter.
     
    If Mickey Mouse fails me in the future, I'll let you know.
     
    Gary
    Redding, CT
     

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