Mazdaspeed Engine Mounts - Extra Room?

2700 Views 22 Replies 11 Participants Last post by steve b, Apr 13, 2010

Roadsterchinsk

Discussion Starter · Apr 7, 2010

Im getting these fitted at the moment.

Does anyone know if they give you a slightly lower mounting height over all.
The seem to be a little less tall then the previous ones so I would assume from this the engine sits fractionally (a few mm) lower.

Regards
Jonathan

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

azura

· #2 · Apr 7, 2010 (Edited by Moderator)

as far as i was aware the mk2 was slightly better inline (transmission line) maybe this was done by slightly lowering the engine i dont know?
I was told this by a dealership when they mk2's first came out.

UTU (Rich)

· #3 · Apr 7, 2010

IIRC The Mazdaspeed mounts were developed for the 2.5 Mazdaspeed car, the Mk2 mounts were supposedly softer than the Mk1 mounts, perhaps the couple of mm is to replicate the compression of the softer mounts so the engine sits in the correct position.

TBH never really noticed the engine sitting noticeably any lower when I fitted mine!

miles

· #4 · Apr 7, 2010

They are supposed to lower the engine a bit, but I found it's negligable at best. There was a good 150k on mine when I swapped them so hard to say whether new standard ones would have not made just as much of an improvement.

AndyBRG

· #5 · Apr 9, 2010

Miles said:
They are supposed to lower the engine a bit, but I found it's negligable at best. There was a good 150k on mine when I swapped them so hard to say whether new standard ones would have not made just as much of an improvement.

How much did it cost to replace them? That is how long did it take to change them?

Was there much of a difference?

Gixer

· #6 · Apr 9, 2010

Noticed no difference at all when i replaced mine.

miles

· #7 · Apr 9, 2010

Andrew22 said:
They are supposed to lower the engine a bit, but I found it's negligable at best. There was a good 150k on mine when I swapped them so hard to say whether new standard ones would have not made just as much of an improvement.

How much did it cost to replace them? That is how long did it take to change them?

Was there much of a difference?
[/quote]

I've another pair I got ages ago off the flea for ?30ish (from Carla if memory serves

). Might try and fit them to the MK2 this weekend so will let you know and take pics. Seem to remember it didn't take too long, just a case of getting the car on axle stands, jacking up the engine and undoing some bolts.

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guitarjon

· #8 · Apr 11, 2010

Are you replacing them to uprate or just because yours are nackered? Id be interested to see if they hold the engine much more.

miles

· #9 · Apr 11, 2010 (Edited by Moderator)

Before camcover against strut brace.

Jack the car up on to axle stands (not ramps).

Place jack with block of wood under the sump, just to take the weight of the engine at this stage.

Undo these 14mm bolts (one either side)

One the passenger side you need to remover three 14mm bolts.Easy through the wheel arch with wheels on full lock (can't do that with ramps).

Now these bolts on the drivers side. I struggled on the MK1 with after market exhaust, but stock seems OK. Again access from wheel arch.

I had to jack the engine up more and remove the plenum support to get the mount assemblies out of the car.

Remove the mounts from the brackets by undoing the one 14mm nut.
Heres old and new for comparison.

Reassembly is the reverse

And the result engine now sits 5mm HIGHER!!

I'm guessing they will settle down and will check back later.
Engine is absolutely rock solid at idle with much less rocking when I blip the throttle.

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9

Reactions: 1

azura

· #10 · Apr 11, 2010

nice write up miles shiould be saved that so others can see what to do.
certainly takes the fright out of doing it.

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UTU (Rich)

· #11 · Apr 11, 2010

guitarjon said:
Are you replacing them to uprate or just because yours are nackered? Id be interested to see if they hold the engine much more.

You definitely get a more positive feel through the drive train and less rocking as they are 35% stiffer. There maybe a little more vibration and noise in the cabin, but that is negligible if hardly noticeable!

UTU (Rich)

· #12 · Apr 11, 2010 (Edited by Moderator)

DP!

miles

· #13 · Apr 12, 2010

Right had a blat through the twisties earlier and the car does seem to feel tighter somehow.

azura

· #14 · Apr 12, 2010

Miles said:
Right had a blat through the twisties earlier and the car does seem to feel tighter somehow.

might be because the engine is acting as a brace now aswell.

indykid

· #15 · Apr 13, 2010

azura said:
Right had a blat through the twisties earlier and the car does seem to feel tighter somehow.

might be because the engine is acting as a brace now aswell.
[/quote]
it's more likely placebo and a slight decrease in the backlash in power take up
tom

azura

· #16 · Apr 13, 2010

indykid said:
Right had a blat through the twisties earlier and the car does seem to feel tighter somehow.

might be because the engine is acting as a brace now aswell.
[/quote]
it's more likely placebo and a slight decrease in the backlash in power take up
tom
[/quote]

you say that but there is theory behind the madness. I should have said could.

indykid

· #17 · Apr 13, 2010

azura said:
you say that but there is theory behind the madness. I should have said could.

i think you'd have to be getting towards nylon or delrin before you got any sort of real bracing effect though.

35% stiffer than softish rubber is still.....softish
tom

Roadsterchinsk

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 13, 2010

Nice write up miles. Something doesnt look right with the picture of the mounts - the new ones look a lot fatter then the original. I thought it was the other way around?

At 5mm higher, this might well cause me some supercharger clearance problems?

indykid said:
it's more likely placebo and a slight decrease in the backlash in power take up
tom

Do you not think it could possibly have a major effect Tom? Its known that the engine through its mounting is one of the stiffening points on many cars and if the mount is 35% stiffer then it makes sense that the car feels stiffer? I think this mod is potentially of far greater benefit. This is a major structural point strengthening point. The autocross guys in the sates seem to go with the stiffer mazdaspeed competition versions.

More so than if you fitted a strut brace which apparently does nothing as the MX-5 is not set up that way - although I could swear I felt the difference immediately.

One of my best mates is the engineer for the ford C platform engine mounts and spends ages arguing with the suspension and handling people and the guys who worry about noise and comfort. I have been to a few motor shows with him and ive never been so bored. Its great he gets trade tickets and they are free, but way to spoil a motorshow by ignoring the cars and girls and spend the whole time trying to photograph engine mounts on the fancier cars before eventually getting shew'd off the stand.

Jonathan

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azura

· #19 · Apr 13, 2010 (Edited by Moderator)

can you get Mk2 mounts or are they the same? I will now search...

ok after a quick search.. not much, but the part no. in the manual for the mk2 is...NC10-39-040.

does anyone have a part no. from the mk1 manual?

indykid

· #20 · Apr 13, 2010

Roadsterchinsk said:
it's more likely placebo and a slight decrease in the backlash in power take up
tom

Do you not think it could possibly have a major effect Tom? Its known that the engine through its mounting is one of the stiffening points on many cars and if the mount is 35% stiffer then it makes sense that the car feels stiffer?
[/quote]
no, i do not think it could have a major effect. it could have a small effect.

they're mounted in semi copression but it still assumes the spring stiffness of the mount is significantly greater than the spring stiffness of the subframe and surrounding bodyshell. you'd probably notice a difference if you fitted new standard mounts, but it's NOT from the increased stiffness, it's the noise, the power takeup, the feel of the gearstick even.

feel free to believe whatever you choose though.
tom

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