Broken Motor Mount

So...I ended up buying a steering column for the XJ from a junkyard
(the bearings in the old one probably just need to be replaced, but I
was fed up with it). After driving about 5 hours to pick it up, I got
it in and drove to the gas station to fill up the tank.
I had noticed the engine had been running roughly, and it only got
worse on the way home from the gas station. It turned into what felt
like the engine was swinging free, and either I had forgotten to
reattach the nuts to the crossmember and the tranny had broken loose,
so to speak, or I had a broken motor mount. So when I got home, I
climbed under, the nuts were there. I checked under the hood, and
voila - passenger side motor mount is split in half. </rambling>

My question is this: Should I replace both mounts at the same time?
and also, should I upgrade to heavier duty mounts?

Replace both. The stock ones should be fine.

Carl


"The Merg" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> So...I ended up buying a steering column for the XJ from a junkyard
> (the bearings in the old one probably just need to be replaced, but I
> was fed up with it). After driving about 5 hours to pick it up, I got
> it in and drove to the gas station to fill up the tank.
> I had noticed the engine had been running roughly, and it only got
> worse on the way home from the gas station. It turned into what felt
> like the engine was swinging free, and either I had forgotten to
> reattach the nuts to the crossmember and the tranny had broken loose,
> so to speak, or I had a broken motor mount. So when I got home, I
> climbed under, the nuts were there. I checked under the hood, and
> voila - passenger side motor mount is split in half. </rambling>
>
> My question is this: Should I replace both mounts at the same time?
> and also, should I upgrade to heavier duty mounts?
>

Thanks, Carl - prompt and informative as always!

Where's the best place to get them? a Pep Zone or a catalog? Dealer?

Carl wrote:
> Replace both. The stock ones should be fine.
>
> Carl
>
>
> "The Merg" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > So...I ended up buying a steering column for the XJ from a junkyard
> > (the bearings in the old one probably just need to be replaced, but I
> > was fed up with it). After driving about 5 hours to pick it up, I got
> > it in and drove to the gas station to fill up the tank.
> > I had noticed the engine had been running roughly, and it only got
> > worse on the way home from the gas station. It turned into what felt
> > like the engine was swinging free, and either I had forgotten to
> > reattach the nuts to the crossmember and the tranny had broken loose,
> > so to speak, or I had a broken motor mount. So when I got home, I
> > climbed under, the nuts were there. I checked under the hood, and
> > voila - passenger side motor mount is split in half. </rambling>
> >
> > My question is this: Should I replace both mounts at the same time?
> > and also, should I upgrade to heavier duty mounts?
> >

www.partsamerica.com works with your local CSK (checker, schucks, kragen) to
save you 10-50%

Carl

"The Merg" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Thanks, Carl - prompt and informative as always!
>
> Where's the best place to get them? a Pep Zone or a catalog? Dealer?
>
> Carl wrote:
>> Replace both. The stock ones should be fine.
>>
>> Carl
>>
>>
>> "The Merg" > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>> > So...I ended up buying a steering column for the XJ from a junkyard
>> > (the bearings in the old one probably just need to be replaced, but I
>> > was fed up with it). After driving about 5 hours to pick it up, I got
>> > it in and drove to the gas station to fill up the tank.
>> > I had noticed the engine had been running roughly, and it only got
>> > worse on the way home from the gas station. It turned into what felt
>> > like the engine was swinging free, and either I had forgotten to
>> > reattach the nuts to the crossmember and the tranny had broken loose,
>> > so to speak, or I had a broken motor mount. So when I got home, I
>> > climbed under, the nuts were there. I checked under the hood, and
>> > voila - passenger side motor mount is split in half. </rambling>
>> >
>> > My question is this: Should I replace both mounts at the same time?
>> > and also, should I upgrade to heavier duty mounts?
>> >
>

Thanks again, Carl - oh by the way, I've contracted to buy some (used)
YJ springs, the first part in getting together my SOA. I'm definitely
going to bother you later when I get closer to actually doing it.
thanks

Carl wrote:
> www.partsamerica.com works with your local CSK (checker, schucks, kragen) to
> save you 10-50%
>
> Carl
>
> "The Merg" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Thanks, Carl - prompt and informative as always!
> >
> > Where's the best place to get them? a Pep Zone or a catalog? Dealer?
> >
> > Carl wrote:
> >> Replace both. The stock ones should be fine.
> >>
> >> Carl
> >>
> >>
> >> "The Merg" > wrote in message
> >> oups.com...
> >> > So...I ended up buying a steering column for the XJ from a junkyard
> >> > (the bearings in the old one probably just need to be replaced, but I
> >> > was fed up with it). After driving about 5 hours to pick it up, I got
> >> > it in and drove to the gas station to fill up the tank.
> >> > I had noticed the engine had been running roughly, and it only got
> >> > worse on the way home from the gas station. It turned into what felt
> >> > like the engine was swinging free, and either I had forgotten to
> >> > reattach the nuts to the crossmember and the tranny had broken loose,
> >> > so to speak, or I had a broken motor mount. So when I got home, I
> >> > climbed under, the nuts were there. I checked under the hood, and
> >> > voila - passenger side motor mount is split in half. </rambling>
> >> >
> >> > My question is this: Should I replace both mounts at the same time?
> >> > and also, should I upgrade to heavier duty mounts?
> >> >
> >

Anytime.

Carl

"The Merg" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Thanks again, Carl - oh by the way, I've contracted to buy some (used)
> YJ springs, the first part in getting together my SOA. I'm definitely
> going to bother you later when I get closer to actually doing it.
> thanks
>
> Carl wrote:
>> www.partsamerica.com works with your local CSK (checker, schucks, kragen)
>> to
>> save you 10-50%
>>
>> Carl
>>
>> "The Merg" > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>> > Thanks, Carl - prompt and informative as always!
>> >
>> > Where's the best place to get them? a Pep Zone or a catalog? Dealer?
>> >
>> > Carl wrote:
>> >> Replace both. The stock ones should be fine.
>> >>
>> >> Carl
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "The Merg" > wrote in message
>> >> oups.com...
>> >> > So...I ended up buying a steering column for the XJ from a junkyard
>> >> > (the bearings in the old one probably just need to be replaced, but
>> >> > I
>> >> > was fed up with it). After driving about 5 hours to pick it up, I
>> >> > got
>> >> > it in and drove to the gas station to fill up the tank.
>> >> > I had noticed the engine had been running roughly, and it only got
>> >> > worse on the way home from the gas station. It turned into what
>> >> > felt
>> >> > like the engine was swinging free, and either I had forgotten to
>> >> > reattach the nuts to the crossmember and the tranny had broken
>> >> > loose,
>> >> > so to speak, or I had a broken motor mount. So when I got home, I
>> >> > climbed under, the nuts were there. I checked under the hood, and
>> >> > voila - passenger side motor mount is split in half. </rambling>
>> >> >
>> >> > My question is this: Should I replace both mounts at the same time?
>> >> > and also, should I upgrade to heavier duty mounts?
>> >> >
>> >
>

Make sure the mains aren't bent before you agree to buy 'em.

Carl


"The Merg" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Thanks again, Carl - oh by the way, I've contracted to buy some (used)
> YJ springs, the first part in getting together my SOA. I'm definitely
> going to bother you later when I get closer to actually doing it.
> thanks
>
> Carl wrote:
>> www.partsamerica.com works with your local CSK (checker, schucks, kragen)
>> to
>> save you 10-50%
>>
>> Carl
>>
>> "The Merg" > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>> > Thanks, Carl - prompt and informative as always!
>> >
>> > Where's the best place to get them? a Pep Zone or a catalog? Dealer?
>> >
>> > Carl wrote:
>> >> Replace both. The stock ones should be fine.
>> >>
>> >> Carl
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "The Merg" > wrote in message
>> >> oups.com...
>> >> > So...I ended up buying a steering column for the XJ from a junkyard
>> >> > (the bearings in the old one probably just need to be replaced, but
>> >> > I
>> >> > was fed up with it). After driving about 5 hours to pick it up, I
>> >> > got
>> >> > it in and drove to the gas station to fill up the tank.
>> >> > I had noticed the engine had been running roughly, and it only got
>> >> > worse on the way home from the gas station. It turned into what
>> >> > felt
>> >> > like the engine was swinging free, and either I had forgotten to
>> >> > reattach the nuts to the crossmember and the tranny had broken
>> >> > loose,
>> >> > so to speak, or I had a broken motor mount. So when I got home, I
>> >> > climbed under, the nuts were there. I checked under the hood, and
>> >> > voila - passenger side motor mount is split in half. </rambling>
>> >> >
>> >> > My question is this: Should I replace both mounts at the same time?
>> >> > and also, should I upgrade to heavier duty mounts?
>> >> >
>> >
>

I recommend replacing both with 'stock' mounts, 'not' aftermarket ones.

I have found that the original mounts last a long time whereas I tear
aftermarket mounts apart every second off road trip it seems. I
literally 'shattered' the last one. The metal plates were shattered
into pieces still held together by the rubber vulcanized to them. This
is on a CJ7, but still....

Curious, how much did the used steering column set you back?

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


The Merg wrote:
> So...I ended up buying a steering column for the XJ from a junkyard
> (the bearings in the old one probably just need to be replaced, but I
> was fed up with it). After driving about 5 hours to pick it up, I got
> it in and drove to the gas station to fill up the tank.
> I had noticed the engine had been running roughly, and it only got
> worse on the way home from the gas station. It turned into what felt
> like the engine was swinging free, and either I had forgotten to
> reattach the nuts to the crossmember and the tranny had broken loose,
> so to speak, or I had a broken motor mount. So when I got home, I
> climbed under, the nuts were there. I checked under the hood, and
> voila - passenger side motor mount is split in half. </rambling>
>
> My question is this: Should I replace both mounts at the same time?
> and also, should I upgrade to heavier duty mounts?
>

the steering column was $125, plus tax = $131.25
Thank god, the tilt wheel on this one doesn't rattle one bit.
The other one was just such a PITA - the bearings didn't realign right
or something, which caused the spring behind the lock plate to not
compress correctly, so when I tried to put the snap ring back in, I
bent the lock plate, which caught on the turn signal switch and bent it
up. I had to pull the lock plate back off and straighten it, and I
fixed the turn signal switch, but since the bearings were still messed
up, the steering wheel 'still' moved around, only this time from the
tilt wheel up. This caused the horn to go off every time I turned the
wheel.
I think the $130 was an acceptable expense after all that.

At the link Carl posted, I found stock mounts for $20 each that I can
pick up across the street from work. Awesome.


Mike Romain wrote:
> I recommend replacing both with 'stock' mounts, 'not' aftermarket ones.
>
> I have found that the original mounts last a long time whereas I tear
> aftermarket mounts apart every second off road trip it seems. I
> literally 'shattered' the last one. The metal plates were shattered
> into pieces still held together by the rubber vulcanized to them. This
> is on a CJ7, but still....
>
> Curious, how much did the used steering column set you back?
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
>
> The Merg wrote:
> > So...I ended up buying a steering column for the XJ from a junkyard
> > (the bearings in the old one probably just need to be replaced, but I
> > was fed up with it). After driving about 5 hours to pick it up, I got
> > it in and drove to the gas station to fill up the tank.
> > I had noticed the engine had been running roughly, and it only got
> > worse on the way home from the gas station. It turned into what felt
> > like the engine was swinging free, and either I had forgotten to
> > reattach the nuts to the crossmember and the tranny had broken loose,
> > so to speak, or I had a broken motor mount. So when I got home, I
> > climbed under, the nuts were there. I checked under the hood, and
> > voila - passenger side motor mount is split in half. </rambling>
> >
> > My question is this: Should I replace both mounts at the same time?
> > and also, should I upgrade to heavier duty mounts?
> >

Right. Look for a reverse curve near the shackle eyes, pass on them if
you find it.

Carl wrote:
> Make sure the mains aren't bent before you agree to buy 'em.
>
> Carl
>
>
> "The Merg" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>
>>Thanks again, Carl - oh by the way, I've contracted to buy some (used)
>>YJ springs, the first part in getting together my SOA. I'm definitely
>>going to bother you later when I get closer to actually doing it.
>>thanks
>>
>>Carl wrote:
>>
>>>www.partsamerica.com works with your local CSK (checker, schucks, kragen)
>>>to
>>>save you 10-50%
>>>
>>>Carl
>>>
>>>"The Merg" > wrote in message
egroups.com...
>>>
>>>>Thanks, Carl - prompt and informative as always!
>>>>
>>>>Where's the best place to get them? a Pep Zone or a catalog? Dealer?
>>>>
>>>>Carl wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Replace both. The stock ones should be fine.
>>>>>
>>>>>Carl
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>"The Merg" > wrote in message
glegroups.com...
>>>>>
>>>>>>So...I ended up buying a steering column for the XJ from a junkyard
>>>>>>(the bearings in the old one probably just need to be replaced, but
>>>>>>I
>>>>>>was fed up with it). After driving about 5 hours to pick it up, I
>>>>>>got
>>>>>>it in and drove to the gas station to fill up the tank.
>>>>>>I had noticed the engine had been running roughly, and it only got
>>>>>>worse on the way home from the gas station. It turned into what
>>>>>>felt
>>>>>>like the engine was swinging free, and either I had forgotten to
>>>>>>reattach the nuts to the crossmember and the tranny had broken
>>>>>>loose,
>>>>>>so to speak, or I had a broken motor mount. So when I got home, I
>>>>>>climbed under, the nuts were there. I checked under the hood, and
>>>>>>voila - passenger side motor mount is split in half. </rambling>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>My question is this: Should I replace both mounts at the same time?
>>>>>>and also, should I upgrade to heavier duty mounts?
>>>>>>
>>>>
>
>