** AWR Front Motor Mount Help **

[jurgs01]

actually that makes sense, I figured that there must be pressure on that bolt (from the tranny, I guess)

That's exactly what I did. Makes install a hell of a lot easier.

 

[warrier04]

i really wish someone would have mentioned that little hint to me before i started giving myself a hernia trying to get the damn thing off. good times ...

 

[biochembruin]

hernia = good times, yes

 

[warrier04]

update following dealer visit:

i went in with the notion that the mount was making the noise, seeing as how the noise wasn't occuring until after i put the mount in.

the checked what i had done, and everything seemed to be tight and in tip-top shape in terms of proper install.

we checked around that area to see what could be the culprit, and we came upon the front sway bar bushings. we don't know for sure, but it seems like they could be the cause of the noise.

this explanation makes more sense than the mount, seeing as how the sound doesn't happen on every take off from a stop, and i'm pretty sure that if the mount was loose enough to rattle, i'd definitely feel it (and have some other, more serious probelms).

final thought ... the motor mount stiffened things, i think, to the point that on take off, the bushings are slapping against the frame of the car. i've had my rear bushings replaced under warranty, but are there any types of problems with the front ones? i asked the service guy and he printed up a list of all the recalls for the mazdaspeeds, and no luck there. i think the solution is gonna be to "band-aid" the problem (even though i'd like to just eliminate the problem), and by that i mean put some insulating-type material along where the bushings run to reduce (if not eliminate) the noise they could be making.

any thoughts/comments on my conclusion would be appreciated.

on a side note ... i hear a weird swaying sound coming from the rear portion of my car at all times moving. i have an apex dp and custom catback (with reused stock hangers), so could this sound be all of my exhaust piping moving? no banging in this case - just a mysterious swaying sound. i thought it could be the seats, but it can't be seeing as how right when i come to a sudden halt the sound continues for a couple seconds instead of stopping immidately (which, if the problem were the seats, the sound would cease very quickly).

thanks for reading my damn-long post.

drew.

 

[jurgs01]

Don't let him just give you a quick fix. There is an updated front bushing (I think it's the "A" series), so make sure they put that on. I have the updated front and rear bushings in my car.

 

[warrier04]

i did a search and came up with 156A.

did you have to tell them to fix it, or did they just come up with it? the guy i worked with pulled up a list of all the 'recall' parts for the mazdaspeed, and only the rear bushings (156E) came up, and i've already dealt with those.

maybe some kind of official release that says to fix it?

drew.

 

[jurgs01]

My dealership told me about them.

 

[4001]

WOuld the 156A really help the problem I thought all the "A's" did was remedy the squeek in the front bushings. Thats weird no one else has had a problem like this with the AWR that ive heard

 

[warrier04]

i doubt that it will help this problem, seein as how this is a bad rattling sound.

i checked all around the underbody of the car, but to no avail found anything that was obviously making the problem.

like i said in a previous post, i'd like to wrap the bushings (current or updated) with some kind of protective foam or something to at least test my theory and possibly fix the problem.

ya it's weird that no one else has had this problem. i'm 100% sure i didn't mess anything up during install (seeing as how there's really only 1 correct way to do it), and the sound wasn't occurring until after the mount was in. also, i don't think this is a break in thing anymore - it's just downright annoying.

drew.

 

[jurgs01]

I think someone mentioned to check your rear mount. That could definately be the case. It may have been destroyed before you got your front mount, but by stiffening the front mount you could have just now heard the sound of the rear thrashing arount. Just a thought.

 

[warrier04]

ya i did some searching last night and came up with a few threads that were debating whether or not the awr front mount messes up the rear.

probably down the road i would consider this option, but it hasn't been that long since the mounts been on (i usually only drive the car friday midday thru sunday midday), and it the sound is definitely coming from somewhere in the front of the vehicle.

maybe replacing the rear mount would fix the sound in the front?

drew.

 

[jurgs01]

It's a pain to replace, but if you are willing to put in the time it is cheap. I don't think it messes up the rear mount, but if you already have a bad mount you will hear it more. It's at least worth checking.

 

[warrier04]

after doin some more searching, i think the rattle might be coming from the apex downpipe i have. i don't know for sure, but it could be the case.

the sound isn't on start up (like a few poeple had troble with) - only taking off from a stop.

where can i pick up a set of kartboy hangers?

drew.

 

[warrier04]

went out tonight and tried to find some evidence of rubbing somewhere, but was unsuccessful.

here's my current setup:
* awr front motor mount
* hardpipes
* intake
* apex dp (catted)
* custom catback

a deep, growling/rumbling/vibrating sound happens when:
* only from starting form a stop
* doesn't happen everytime on level ground
* never happens from a roll
* DOES happen everytime when starting on hill (going up the hill)
* DOES happen everytime when turning from a stop

upon inspection of the underbody of the car, a few things i checked:
* apex dp didn't appear to be hitting anything, anywhere
* mount appears to be solid and installed fine
* front bushings didn't appear to be rubbing on anything

few facts:
* the sound only started occuring after the mount was installed
* only thing diff. now than before install is that plastic water guard (piece that gets in the way when accessing the mount) is now no secure because i broke that one plastic nut/bolt

the sound is deep enough that it has to be metal on metal vibration (or something close to that).

does anyone have ANYTHING that i could check?

drew.

o ya - i'm thinking of putting in the awr mount to try to stiffen the backside of the chassis. just running out of ideas ...

 

[Professor MSP]

When I first installed my 2.5" Apex j-pipe/midpipe, it caused the resonator to slap the heat shield after the car had warmed up and caused the rubber exhaust hangers to soften a bit. I adjusted the cat-back section down, bent the heat shield, and bought Kartboy exhaust hangers to solve the problem.

 

[warrier04]

i searched around and read a little about that, but when did that sound happen with your situation? the other threads i read had some rattling on start-up, but nothing while taking off.

drew.

 

[warrier04]

proff - could you post some pics or a quick how-to of sorts? i read another thread that you posted in, and i noticed you installed kb hangers - did that help alot? also, what part of the pipe is the resonator?

the sound on my car seems to be happening farther forward than the midpipe area.

 

[warrier04]

another piece of info ...

so i take it up to 5500 in 2nd, go to third, and then it's steady throttle up to 5000-5500 range and i slowly let off the throttle - VIOLENT BUCKING.

it's like the momentum of the car makes the engine violently buck when i start to let off the gas.

would the rear mount help this?

drew.

 

[jurgs01]

That sound more like a vacuum or fuel problem than the mount.

 

[warrier04]

really? i can go right past the 5000-5500 range with no problem. it's only when i start letting off the gas in that area do i feel the hardcore bucking.what, specifically, should i check?