Dogbone Engine Mount Play

[02NavyBlue]

So far I've driven two cars with the GM 3800, mine and the family's Impala. It seems like from a dead stop and lightly tapping the gas, the impala has more of an instant feeling of torque. I always thought it was because it has tough winter tires on the front, where mine has Michelin Symmetry's. I read somewhere on these forums that the Dogbone mounts can have a good effect on something like that, so I decided to check the amount of play my Dogbone mounts have. This is what I found:

I compared it to the 2003 Impala as well. My mounts have much more play than the Impala's has, at both the place it mounts to the engine, and where it connects to the frame. Both cars have the same mileage, 109k. Could this be why I feel a difference in immediate power?

 

[MoarkatsINmuhtrailer]

Flip the bushings in the core support mounts...(the square ones) or get poly mounts.

 

[02NavyBlue]

I've heard that can increase vibration. I really would like to restore like-new operation, and maybe flip the mounts. But threre is play where it meets the engine bracket too, flipping alone won't fix that. Do they sell just the rubber bushings?

 

[MoarkatsINmuhtrailer]

Yeah you can get just the stock replacement bushings.

 

[02NavyBlue]

That must be a dealer item because the auto parts stores I'm looking at online just have the mounts(with bushings) and they're fairly expensive.

 

[SlowNA06]

I think you're looking at two different generations of bushing. New ones are fuller and stiffer. Might be able to get a set of clamshells locally or from one of the guys that occasionally parts out an 04+ car here.
Also, even if you went full poly on both upper mounts, you won't feel a difference in vibration.

 

[BillBoost37]

Also, even if you went full poly on both upper mounts, you won't feel a difference in vibration.

I sure as hell did. Made the doggies stock again and it cut it by about half.

 

[blueguy]

Flipped stock bones are still a decent change.

Poly (squares and bushings) will vibrate quite a bit.

 

[SlowNA06]

I sure as hell did. Made the doggies stock again and it cut it by about half.

I can't feel feelings apparently.

 

[BillBoost37]

My car has vibrational issues.

 

[blueguy]

You should go see a vibrachologist

 

[SlowNA06]

I've heard good things about their massages.

 

[BillBoost37]

I could honestly take the car to one.

Did new mounts all the around 53K ago. Aluminum sub, poly fronts and doggies. Changed the doggies back to stockers after having trouble with stop lights.

 

[blueguy]

I've heard good things about their massages.

You should ask about the backroom one, you know...option 3.

 

[02NavyBlue]

Ok well I took your advice and flipped the Dogbone mounts. That got rid of the movement at that spot. Since I had movement at the engine side of the mount as well, I stuck a small nail in the slot before putting the bolt back in. No harm done, and there's no movement there either. I also made a video of my own because before I learned on my own how to flip them, I looked and could not find a detailed write-up or video on the forums or all of Youtube.

 

[Shiftingshaddow]

that was a pretty cool trick on the flip there. i was messing with those today and decided to just say screw it. i didn't want to mangle them up. i will try that maybe tomorrow.

 

[jake91]

If you get polys get intense ones hardly any vibration in my car and that's what I have but yes the flipped do work well also but I felt a much larger difference with the poly

 

[02NavyBlue]

that was a pretty cool trick on the flip there. i was messing with those today and decided to just say screw it. i didn't want to mangle them up. i will try that maybe tomorrow.

I actually did the same thing. I gave up the first time and thought of it randomly while doing something else.

If you get polys get intense ones hardly any vibration in my car and that's what I have but yes the flipped do work well also but I felt a much larger difference with the poly

Well even with the serious amount of play that I got rid of, I didn't notice that big of a difference, really. But then again I'm not the type that's always doing fun stuff with my car, just the average driver who gets on it once in a while.

 

[jake91]

You sound like me then only reason I got polys is because I broke my engine mount and figured why not upgrade

 

[OH4CompG]

I have poly everything right now. I'm contemplating just going to new stock everything again. I think I'm getting old. Either that or it's the xp cam and no balance shaft that's getting on my nerves.