made my own solid differential mounts
#1
made my own solid differential mounts
my stock rubber differential mounts were in BAD shape, everytime there was a throttle change i would hear clunk from the rear.
I pulled the stock ones without too much trouble. The stock rubber compound had a circular break in it all the way around the mount.
Once the diff bracket was out of the car i used a blow torch to heat the area where the stock mounts where pressed in. Then i used a wd 40, large vise, large socket, and small sledge hammer to drive the old mounts out.
I wanted to reuse the stock center bolt support and, outer casing that holds the rubber, for my new mounts. The problem was there was still alot of factory rubber holding it together. So first i drove the remaining rubber out of the outer casing with the hammer, since it was barely holding on as it was this was easy.
then i used the blow torchon the rubber on both the center support and the remaining rubber on the casing nice and hot, after a couple minutes the rubber kept burning on its own like a little marshmellow. I just let it burn until it went out. what was left was a crispy charcoal stuff that crumbled right off. Now i had the metal pieces for the new mounts. I cleaned them up with lacquer thinner and a wire brush wheel.
There was a chuck of metal on the center bolt support that i had to drive off with the hammer this was easy, and there was a strange metal piece in the casing that i removed also. then i took a small grinder and ground down the lip on one side of the casing so that i could drive my neoprene in.
I had some heavy duty neoprene rod that i cut to length and turned down on the lathe, drove it into the stock casing, drilled a hole, and drove the center bolt support in.
Did the same for the other mount, and this is what i had (see pics). They are a perfect fit, nice and solid, the clunk is gone, and i didnt notice extra noise from them. Between this and my transmission brace the driveline is nice and solid. Shifter feel is so much better. It was a fair amount of work, but i enjoy doing things like this, plus it was basically free aside from the labor.
I pulled the stock ones without too much trouble. The stock rubber compound had a circular break in it all the way around the mount.
Once the diff bracket was out of the car i used a blow torch to heat the area where the stock mounts where pressed in. Then i used a wd 40, large vise, large socket, and small sledge hammer to drive the old mounts out.
I wanted to reuse the stock center bolt support and, outer casing that holds the rubber, for my new mounts. The problem was there was still alot of factory rubber holding it together. So first i drove the remaining rubber out of the outer casing with the hammer, since it was barely holding on as it was this was easy.
then i used the blow torchon the rubber on both the center support and the remaining rubber on the casing nice and hot, after a couple minutes the rubber kept burning on its own like a little marshmellow. I just let it burn until it went out. what was left was a crispy charcoal stuff that crumbled right off. Now i had the metal pieces for the new mounts. I cleaned them up with lacquer thinner and a wire brush wheel.
There was a chuck of metal on the center bolt support that i had to drive off with the hammer this was easy, and there was a strange metal piece in the casing that i removed also. then i took a small grinder and ground down the lip on one side of the casing so that i could drive my neoprene in.
I had some heavy duty neoprene rod that i cut to length and turned down on the lathe, drove it into the stock casing, drilled a hole, and drove the center bolt support in.
Did the same for the other mount, and this is what i had (see pics). They are a perfect fit, nice and solid, the clunk is gone, and i didnt notice extra noise from them. Between this and my transmission brace the driveline is nice and solid. Shifter feel is so much better. It was a fair amount of work, but i enjoy doing things like this, plus it was basically free aside from the labor.
#2
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
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I plan to do mine the same way when needed .I have the plastic to make several of the bushings I will replace .The plastic is in the form of round stock bars and is so easy to turn in the lathe .
#6
I don't notice any increased vibration, i also have a transmission brace and i didnt notice any added vibration with that either.
I have a touring model which supposedly has more insulation/ sound deadening material so maybe that could be part of it.
I really like the improved shifter feel, everything just stays in place. Its so nice, and even if there was an increase in vibration anything is better then that stupid clunk everytime i have on/off throttle movements.
I'm thinking about doing my suspension bushings too, im going to check everything out and see what is worn.
I have a touring model which supposedly has more insulation/ sound deadening material so maybe that could be part of it.
I really like the improved shifter feel, everything just stays in place. Its so nice, and even if there was an increase in vibration anything is better then that stupid clunk everytime i have on/off throttle movements.
I'm thinking about doing my suspension bushings too, im going to check everything out and see what is worn.
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