Tranny cross-member bushing
 

After I installed my new Exidy clutch, my tranny started making thud-like noises when driving over little bumps. It seems like there is some sort of rubber bushing that goes between the cross member and the tranny in the middle, and it is gone from my car. I checked with a local Mazda parts department, and the bushing is not available on its own- only with the cross-member.

How have people dealt with this problem? For now, I tightened the nut down on the cross-member to keep it from colliding from the tranny (worried about damaging it) but the tranny and engine are now slightly tipped.

Any advice? Searches yield no specific help.

PJ

Preaty sure you need to get the whole cross member. But it is only like $50, which is a wise investment IMO.

I'm confused - my transmission has two rubber mounts - one on each side - with a large stud through a motion limiter in the middle. Are your side mounts in place?

I used a rubber expansion plug for a piston engine, removed the metal ends, drilled out the center, to the correct size, put it in and quick steeled it in solid.

It worked great.


Now when I drop the clutch, the tires make a noise very similar to a nun crackin a ruler on a desk top!

Mines gone too, there isn't too much movement so I wouldn't worry about it being damaged. Still, I'm going to be replacing the whole cross member soon, I'll let you know if I find it cheap anywhere.

noise very similar to a nun crackin a ruler on a desk top!
 

Is that good or bad?

Its awesome, this one modification increased my 1/8 mile ET by 1 tenth of a second to 9.7 and also got me 1 more MPH to 73 MPH

The side mounts are OK-- it's the motion limiter that seems to be gone-- there is only a bolt/stud (haven't looked closely). I'm looking for solutions to this without buying a new cross-member.

PJ

Go to the auto parts store buy a old style rubber with metal ends freeze plug /expansion plug.

Remove the metal ends, They are held on by a bolt through the center of the rubber.


Drill out the center to the size of your metal pipe that is left in the current mount. Slide the new rubber part in, bolt it up the the trans and Quick Steel the mount to the center pipe, do not put the quick steel on the bolt, as you won't be able to get it back off again.


With this mod, you will never have to replace it again.


Total price of maybe $8 complete.

How tall should the freeze plug be?

Maybe check to see that the mounts are not damaged, then fabricate the rubber collar like "GLHS" described. I remember it being about 1.5" tall.
Bill

Do you have a vibration when you rev the engine? And one that gets worse with speed? (not wheel balance)

Pull the mount out and measure by eye, it doesn't have to be exact, just make sure you leave enough threads so you can put the plate and nut back on.


I had to cut the rubber in half, I tried to duplicate the size of the original one, and at the same time have some of the metal to quick steel it all together!

Also, I didn't use JB weld, that shit takes too long, get the putty stuff that you mix by hand, it gets hard in like 5 minutes, so make sure you get it right and do a little at a time, and work your way around. Make you you fill the space all the way around, so it won't move any more.

Re: Tranny cross-member bushing
 

I know this WILL sound stupid, but it happen to me. Check the rubber O-rings that hangs the mufflers, cat back to the chassis. If one of this rubber o rings is missing, the exhaust hanger will rub\hit the chassis on bumps, hard shifts, etc.