how to tell if bobble strut is shot?

[Beachbum3478]

when i start to go in reverse i hear alot of banging and clacking in the engine bay on my 89 lebaron gtc TII/5spd convt. so i found that the front engine mount bolt was somewhat loose, so i tighted it and it help a little. but then i took off the bobble strut/shock thing on the engine mount near the map sensor side, and im wondering if its supposed to act like a shockabosorber and return to the higest postion. when i press it down, its hard to go down, but it doesnt go back up.

p.s. what can i do to stop the banging and such from reverse and going forward, or downshifting?

[bluneon]

it is exactly like a shock absorber. it's not meant to return to it's previous state. it's only stiff when it's forced into motion. strut/shock assemblies return to initial state because they are reinforced by springs. the shock/strut itself doesn't return to initial state.

i'm not sure about the banging. possible that one of some of your motor mounts are torn.

[puppet]

I think after 16 years or so it's safe to assume it's shot. If it's an '89 a simple fix would be to measure the length of the exposed rod while the strut is on the vehicle. Add a 1/4" to that measurement and cut a piece of 3/4" thinwall conduit to that length. Remove the strut and slip the conduit over the rod. Reinstall the strut jacking up the tranny a little to line it back up.

[Beachbum3478]

when i replace the motor mounts does the engine have to be re centered or something?

[bluneon]

yes

[Beachbum3478]

how do i do that, or that something that a professional needs to do

[87DANCEonYOU]

no need for a professional...... http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/centerengine.html

[GLHNSLHT2]

just replace it with Johnnys strut.

[BB3]

If ya want to do it right and be done with it, use Johnny's bobble strut AND Johnny's engine mounts. Those mounts are awesome products! You will not regret the investment.

[Beachbum3478]

you think i should just replace the front mount and passenger mount. i always hear of people just replacing those. it would save me some money too if i didnt have to do the driver mount.

[DartGTS340]

It sounds like you are talking about the passenger side motor mount that came on some cars with a shock/dampener mounted there like the one on the back side of the engine. The upper and lower mounts are the same on this particular damper, so you will not be able to slip any sleeve on it because of the bell being non-removable.

If this is the mount you are talking about, I would swap out the entire thing for a standard non-dampened unit. Then look into a solid bobble strut for the one on the back side of the motor.

So far I've only seen a few of those type passenger mounts, and they have all been on LeBarons. I have one of the complete assemblies still lying here from a motor I bought out of an '88 LeBaron.

[genghis05]

got pix?

[BB3]

`+1 on the pics. I have not heard of that type of pass. side mount.

What you could do is to get someone to start the car, hold the brakes, and slip the clutch to load up the drivetrain. You can stand TO THE SIDE with the hood up and watch to see which mount is allowing the movement. I would bet on the front mount being shot. It could be that odd type pass. side mount clanking around, though.

[bluneon]

this came from a masi TC.

[BB3]

Thanks for the pics.

That thing is nuts. I don't see how a bobble strut over there is going to reduce or control any engine movement. The geometry just seems wrong. Interesting, though.

I bet one of Johnny's mounts would work with that set up. You wouldn't even need the strut part, because his engine mounts actually control engine movement. But you could keep the strut part on there just because it does look kinda cool.

I would check with him to verify, though. His email addy is - glhs289@hotmail.com

- Bill