bws678
Trainee ZX2ner
Posts: 66
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Post by bws678 on May 19, 2021 11:31:59 GMT -5
This is my first time trying to change the lower transmission mounts while they are still in the car. I have been having a hard time getting the bolt out of the rear mount. At first it was hitting the frame rail. After looking at the Ford service manual, I let the engine sag down and I am ALMOST able to get the bolt out. I just can't quite get it. I have a couple questions: has anyone come up with some cool ways of getting that pesky rear mount bolt outta there? Secondly, is there any disadvantage to reversing the bolt/nut direction so I can get it off next time without lowering the engine? I might give a day for everyone to answer as I should probably find some parts for my new (old) lathe, but I am rather pressed for time, so I might just go cut the bolt off if I get my motor mount inserts delivered. Thanks in advance.
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defunctsrowner
Trainee ZX2ner
2001 ZX2 Black MTX I purchased the bone stock 2001 with moonroof used because it was MTX after I re
Posts: 139
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Post by defunctsrowner on May 19, 2021 15:13:46 GMT -5
Jack the front of your car as high as you safely can. I believe I used a 36" pry bar in between the mount and the frame; pulled down real hard and jammed a 2x4 to keep it all in place. Then I removed the mount.
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bws678
Trainee ZX2ner
Posts: 66
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Post by bws678 on May 19, 2021 16:18:52 GMT -5
I have tried the pry bar method and almost got it. Maybe having a helping hand would result in success. I will try smashing a 2x4 in underneath as well, so at least if I do get it, I can get the new one back in fairly easily. If all else fails, I got some fancy cutoff blades for my makita grinder I would like to try out. Thanks for the reply.
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Post by krux303 on May 19, 2021 16:57:54 GMT -5
I remember I had a pain in the ass time as well. I want to say a pry bar helped me.
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defunctsrowner
Trainee ZX2ner
2001 ZX2 Black MTX I purchased the bone stock 2001 with moonroof used because it was MTX after I re
Posts: 139
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Post by defunctsrowner on May 20, 2021 6:36:23 GMT -5
As a home owner I also have misc pipe; you can slip a pipe over the pry bar handle and get a little more leverage...
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Post by TheEvilZX2 on May 21, 2021 17:38:36 GMT -5
prybar for sure, ive got an old craftsman articulating prybar i use for everything. works perfect for this
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bws678
Trainee ZX2ner
Posts: 66
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Post by bws678 on May 22, 2021 1:55:16 GMT -5
I tried like crazy with the pry bar for about an hour and got nothing from it. The threads from the bolt were hanging up and it was too slick to get with pliers. I imagine if I had a helping hand it might have worked, but I'm all alone on this one. I also tried getting a board in there to hold it up, but I couldn't get anything to fit without cutting it. I got out the Makita and had the bolt out in ten minutes. I think I am gonna flip the new bolt around so it is more easily accessed from the inside side if I can. I am praying for no more problems. I need my ZX2!
Thanks for the answers everyone. I am trying to post on here with questions of I can't find stuff so the forum has a more effective search function. I suppose I could have checked ZX2MS first, but I didn't think of it till just now.
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Post by TheEvilZX2 on May 22, 2021 6:40:07 GMT -5
i dont think the bolt can be flipped, i feel like i tried doing that a long time ago. didnt work for some reason, cant remember exactly why at the moment
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defunctsrowner
Trainee ZX2ner
2001 ZX2 Black MTX I purchased the bone stock 2001 with moonroof used because it was MTX after I re
Posts: 139
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Post by defunctsrowner on May 22, 2021 6:44:31 GMT -5
Did you loosen the 3 upper mount nuts on top of the transmission so it could drop down a little lower?
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bws678
Trainee ZX2ner
Posts: 66
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Post by bws678 on May 22, 2021 12:40:35 GMT -5
If it can't be flipped, it can't. Just thought I'd try it. I did drop the entire upper mount and it is just hanging from one mount. I think it is bottoming out on the axle and prying wasn't cutting it.
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bws678
Trainee ZX2ner
Posts: 66
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Post by bws678 on May 22, 2021 14:05:19 GMT -5
Got it in with the bolt direction reversed, and the only thing I can see so far is that the nut can't be torqued to spec without an attachment, but an end wrench with all I can muster while trapped under the car sounds pretty good. I'll see if there are clearance issues with the shifter or the crossmember when I go to attach those.
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bws678
Trainee ZX2ner
Posts: 66
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Post by bws678 on May 22, 2021 21:36:13 GMT -5
I finally got it back together and I am happy to say that it helped a lot! The shifting is sooo much smoother now. I don't have to feather the clutch and gas while changing gears anymore. It does vibrate a lot, but I'm happy with how it drives. Hopefully I will get used to the noise.
I ended up getting the bolt in the wrong way, then I pulled it back out and shaved off the taper with a grinder in hopes that it wouldn't contact the frame rail. It still does (just the very corner of the bolt sticking out). It might not now that everything is tight, but it is much closer than the original configuration was. That is the reason that you can't put it in backwards. That said, I left it how it is because it is so much easier to get the bolt out this way. If I ever have to get in there again I will probably see if I can find (or make) a thinner nut and slightly shorter bolt that will let me get it in backwards without hitting the frame.
Thank you everyone for your help and I'm sorry I didn't listen. You were entirely right about the procedure in this case, I am just a stubborn fool and I always gotta find out for myself. Now at least the info is searchable on the forum.
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defunctsrowner
Trainee ZX2ner
2001 ZX2 Black MTX I purchased the bone stock 2001 with moonroof used because it was MTX after I re
Posts: 139
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Post by defunctsrowner on May 23, 2021 7:46:53 GMT -5
You don't have to make thinner nuts as they already exist; they're called jam nuts and the hardware stores normally carry them.
Mistakes are how you learn.
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Post by dareall on Sept 7, 2021 0:39:16 GMT -5
here a few things about doing this:
1 - you cant flip the bolt the other direction. The mount has a dimple on it intended to hold the bolt in place as it is tightened. It is only designed to work in this orientation.
2 - when you have the car up it is ideal to have both sides supported so that the engine is not tilted two directions. It will still tilt but if lifted on both sides of the car then it will be evenly held by the upper mounts
3 - the engine will tilt back and make it incredibly hard to replace the mount. Instead of using pry bars and all the other funky tools, simply place the floor jack under the front trans mount and lift it up a little. This will tilt the engine enough back into its orientation that the bolt will easily easily be removed and easily fit back into place.
this is how i do it all the time and have the mounts changed in about an hour
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Post by granias on Apr 25, 2023 11:03:01 GMT -5
Well the subframe bolt broke lol. What's next?
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Post by TheEvilZX2 on Apr 25, 2023 13:02:33 GMT -5
Well the subframe bolt broke lol. What's next? Subframe to chassis stud or bolt broke? Which one, and front or rear? You'll basically have to drill and tap to fix the rear studs, and the front I've had good luck cutting a hole in the top of the lower frame there and just running a bolt and a nut through the front. The turbo car got special treatment in the front and got drilled and tapped for M14 studs
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Post by granias on Jul 12, 2023 3:02:33 GMT -5
Well it was the stud that broke. What I did was cut off drill and then welded a new stud onto it. I had a hard time finding new rubber bushings but I got some away bar bushings performance ones off a rack and made them work. Sorry sits been a bit a lot has happened in a short period of time.
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Post by TheEvilZX2 on Jul 12, 2023 15:41:10 GMT -5
good fix
one of the rear studs broke on my wifes car going back together and i didnt have onhand to do what you did at the time. so i drilled and tapped the broken stud and i think it was an M8 stud that i had readily available so i threaded it in and tightened some washers down with a nut and so far so good. but eventually id like to do the same as you did
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