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Hello,

Today, I foolishly decided to "have a go" at replacing the bottom engine mount bush. I've replaced the other 2 earlier in the day and have had no real problems. But this one - impossible.

I still haven't got the old one out yet and have no idea how to go about it. I got rid of all the rubber by cutting it out with an electric hacksaw but then the problems began. I just cannot shift the metal ring that the bush sits in from the bracket. I spent two hours bashing the cr*p out of it with a hammer and a variety of chisels, screwdrivers and random bits of metal and all I have managed to achieve was to cut through the "ring" about half way widthwise. And then it just does not shift.

People have suggested cutting the groves in it but how? Electric justsaw is too big and so is the manual hacksaw. Would a blowtorch help? Just to heat it up and then "prise" it out while it's mouldable?

Any ideas? I NEED to have the car running Monday morning

Never again...

Do you have the mounting off the car? I guess so if you're contemplating heat. Thing is, I'm not sure what the housing is made of , alloy? The usual thing is to force something between the ring and the housing so it collapses, but if the housing is alloy then it'll probably break. If it's off the car then maybe heat, but I can't remember what expands more, steel or alloy.

Nope the mounting is on the car. To get it off, I need to remove the driveshaft, so I decided to try it in situ. I guess blowtorch is out of the question.

Went B&Q and bought a mighty chisel which can probably be used to knock down buildings. Also bought a bunch of saw blades so I can try the "gentle" approach first. Not yet sure how to get the hacksaw in there... maybe reverse the blade.. hm..

Oh, and then I have to put the new mount in. But I'll try using some clamps to press it in.

Cut the metal insert in 2 places with a hacksaw blade or reverse the blade in the hacksaw frame, then knock the old metal ring out.

I've removed dozens of metal inserts of this type by using a hacksaw blade only.It isn't easy, but in my opinion the best way to do this job is to remove the driveshaft and remove the mounting from the car.

jasper5 wrote:Cut the metal insert in 2 places with a hacksaw blade or reverse the blade in the hacksaw frame, then knock the old metal ring out.

I've removed dozens of metal inserts of this type by using a hacksaw blade only.It isn't easy, but in my opinion the best way to do this job is to remove the driveshaft and remove the mounting from the car.

Captain Jack, I can relate to your situation. I have attempted many things like this and got stuck halfway. As the misses would say, just keep calm as getting angry wont help lol!

Anyway, both bottom mounts on our 90HDi's need changing but with past experience with engine mounts on other cars I have usually ended up cutting myself or getting stuck so unfortunately Id have to take mine to a garage to get this done. The actuall bush is not too expensive is it?

Jasper, how much would you charge aprox for this job?

I'll try the calm approach tomorrow by cutting the ring in two places. I have no strength left in my arms to keep hitting the thing, so hopefully it'll come out easy once cut.

What a stupid design... I knew I should have had a go at replacing the master clutch cylinder instead - that one actually looks doable - and I would have to drive my mum's clattery Clio diesel.

What a fukcing nightmare. After a lot of hammering and cutting, I finally managed to get the old bush out. Little did I know my nightmares were just starting.

The new one does not go in at all. I bench ground it around the bush to make it smaller thinking it may make it easier, but no. Started hammering it in gently and it was going in-ish. Then it stopped. And does. Not. Move. After creaking and groaning, I noticed that it was going into the mount at a slight angle so it's probably eating into the mount itself. Lovely. So what do I do? Force it or try and get it out and try again? I tried forcing it... Made a puller type jobbie with a threaded piece of steel and some metal disks. Initially it worked but then it got stuck again and no amount of hammering, pushing, pulling and swearing made it budge.

So, I called it a day and going to get the AA truck to tow it to my garage tonight or tomorrow and get them to do it.

For the love of God, do not attempt to do the bottom mount without the driveshaft removal. Better yet, take it to the garage..

Your post reads almost word for word on my experience with the bottom mount too. I gave up when I couldn't get it out and took it to the dealer. £120 well spent.

Too right! Had the car towed to the garage now - hopefully Alan the mechanic is open on Christmas week...

djheath wrote:Your post reads almost word for word on my experience with the bottom mount too. I gave up when I couldn't get it out and took it to the dealer. £120 well spent.

That's not a bad price really

djheath wrote:Your post reads almost word for word on my experience with the bottom mount too. I gave up when I couldn't get it out and took it to the dealer. £120 well spent.

What did the dealer do? Just press it in using some handheld gizmo or do the whole job preperly?

Very interesting as mine needs doing too. Been looking at Haynes and frightened myself into getting it done at the garage.

What do we think, is this a DIY job or not?

Richard.

BruceT wrote:

jasper5 wrote:Cut the metal insert in 2 places with a hacksaw blade or reverse the blade in the hacksaw frame, then knock the old metal ring out.

I've removed dozens of metal inserts of this type by using a hacksaw blade only.It isn't easy, but in my opinion the best way to do this job is to remove the driveshaft and remove the mounting from the car.

Captain Jack, I can relate to your situation. I have attempted many things like this and got stuck halfway. As the misses would say, just keep calm as getting angry wont help lol!

Anyway, both bottom mounts on our 90HDi's need changing but with past experience with engine mounts on other cars I have usually ended up cutting myself or getting stuck so unfortunately Id have to take mine to a garage to get this done. The actuall bush is not too expensive is it?

Jasper, how much would you charge aprox for this job?

I reckon I would charge around 2 hours labour, £60 plus the bush, I'm not vat registered and don't charge vat.

Phew, Alan the mechanic is open! Said they will take a look at it later on today.

Will keep you posted on the saga.

Captain Jack wrote:

djheath wrote:Your post reads almost word for word on my experience with the bottom mount too. I gave up when I couldn't get it out and took it to the dealer. £120 well spent.

What did the dealer do? Just press it in using some handheld gizmo or do the whole job preperly?

I did my clutch a few months later and found the drivers side hub nut a lot looser than the passenger, so assume the dealer removed the drive shaft and the bracket and forced it out properly.