bad vibration

[jre97]

Well not really bad but is very irritating and shouldn't be there. Ok this is kind of a long story. I hit a rather large dip in the road the other day kind of hard. I heard a bunch of banging around. I lost a bell housing bolt and two others were loosening. I removed all the bell housing bolts and threadlocked them. I replaced the one that was missing which was the one under the front mount and I had to jack the engine up to get it in. Well that seems to have taken care of the axle vibration. Now its vibrating sitting still clutch in or out doesn't make a difference. It seems to be running on all four. Any Ideas as to what is causing it?

[Murphy]

jack it up and see if there is any play in the wheels

[jre97]

Not in the wheels, definately engine related. I think maybe I hosed a motor mount and am just feeling alot more of the engine. I had an 89 cougar xr7 with the supercharged 3.8 that had a ballooned torque converter that felt much the same way. The daytona is a five speed and I'm getting the vibration while sitting still too.

[87glhs232]

Look at the rubber in the mounts. It may have separated the front mount. Also, since you had loose bell housing bolts, check the metal bracket part of the mount that bolts to the tranny/block. I had one tear in half.

[jre97]

Yeah thats going to be tomorrow evenings project.

[MVaughn]

Also check the motor mount at the front of the car. If they loosen up some they usually crack the mounting tab that is against the block.

[Tony Hanna]

Sounds like some good advice!
John,
Bring it on over after you get off work tomorrow and we'll have a look at the mounts. Between the stuff that's laying around here and what's on the Lebaron parts car, I'm sure we can fix you up with a decent set.
Just be easy on it until then.

[jre97]

Turns out I broke one of the bolts in the pass. side mount and it was sitting metal to metal. This is the worse car I've ever owned for bolts loosening or breaking on there own. From now on everytime I have the hood up the threadlock is coming out ready to be applied.

[Tony Hanna]

That was just strange. The vertical stud that holds the two halves of the metal part of the mount together snapped off.
That was a first for me. Oh well, at least we had plenty of spares to pick from right?
I don't know what to tell you about the bolts backing off. When I had the car with the auto in it, I never had that problem. Sounds like you're on the right track with the threadlock though.
If that doesn't do the trick maybe we can try threadlock in combination with lockwashers.
Anyhow, bring that puppy over tomorrow and we'll replace the rubber mount and check the others.
Later,

[3nglenn]

That vertical stud/bolt snapping is not as uncommon as you might think. It's happened to me 3 times over the last 5-7 years, two turbo's and one TBI. Why...? I have no idea other than we're dealing with a high stress area that's getting on in age (20+ years on some vehicles...), bad motor mounts...? G.P.

[cordes]

If you are havin a problem with bolts backing out in a specific area such as the trans, I would suspect that they were not properly torqued. I would give them all a once over with the old torque wrench to be sure.

[Tony Hanna]

Just out of curiosity, what do the bellhousing bolts torque to?
I've always just tightened them up "good enough" and left it at that.
Thanks,

[turbovanman²]

That was just strange. The vertical stud that holds the two halves of the metal part of the mount together snapped off.
That was a first for me. Oh well, at least we had plenty of spares to pick from right?
I don't know what to tell you about the bolts backing off. When I had the car with the auto in it, I never had that problem. Sounds like you're on the right track with the threadlock though.
If that doesn't do the trick maybe we can try threadlock in combination with lockwashers.
Anyhow, bring that puppy over tomorrow and we'll replace the rubber mount and check the others.
Later,

I see alot missing. If were talking about the pass side upper mount, then yeah, I notice that alot of people forget that the stud part is screwed it. The tighten up the large nut and of course, snap the stud or they think its tight when its not. I had a buddy with the same issue, sagging mount, I took it apart and the stud was bottomed out in the nut. Redid it all, bingo, fixed.

[cordes]

Just out of curiosity, what do the bellhousing bolts torque to?
I've always just tightened them up "good enough" and left it at that.
Thanks,

I will try to look it up for you.

[jre97]

I will try to look it up for you.

I would greatly appreciate it if you would! I am still having problems.

[cordes]

I would greatly appreciate it if you would! I am still having problems.

Sorry, every time I think about looking it up, I am not at home. I tried my darndest on autozone.com in the manual section, but to no avail. Next time I am home, I will try to remember.

[cordes]

70ft.lbs.

[jre97]

Thank you!

[Tony Hanna]

My torque wrench is laying somewhere in the area of the 2.5 if you need to borrow it.
Don't know if I told you or not, but Tiff and I found a house. It's maybe 2.5 miles from the hospital, so a short drive to work for her, and has a 2 car attached garage for me to play in.
We got in touch with the realtor and made an appointment to look at the place Saturday morning. If you're free, I'd really appreciate a second opinion.
You know how I am about buying stuff that later turns out to be a POS.
Later,

[jre97]

I dunno I've got something thats a pos too! Now the car is making a loud cracking noise whenever the clutch is let out.I think the tranny mount let go. It's just getting on my nerves.
I'm getting a new car as soon as I get my taxes back. Wanna buy a daytona?lol