Motor mounts good(?) but horrid wheel hop R/F

[rustychops41]

My 2007 MZ3 HB (bought used)has suffered from horrible R/F wheel hop and banging from under the hood when you spank it from a stop. While having the front brakes done I had my very reputable mechanic shop check the motor mounts, as I hear the fluid filled Passenger side mount is a weak spot. He says they are all fine, and they tested them as best they could. I guess I am asking: is a bad passenger side mount hard to detect, or do I have a right front strut that has s*** itself thousands of miles ago? I can swear the horrid banging is from under the hood. Thanx in advance!

 

[fam]

Im a complete moron so take my words with a grain of salt...but wheel hop is the nature of the fwd beast...its all about the suspension being in check and working properly as a ways of minimizing it but ive never heard of it to be a motor mount issue. Every one of my mazdas wheel hop if you dump the clunch like a madman (ive owned 4 3's, 4 5's, and a 2)...and usually one side gets it a little more....Its all about launching with just enough spin that you know youre giving it all that will grab but not too much that youre losing traction.

Some good reading.

http://www.mc2racing.com/tech/20061012a/

 

[rustychops41]

What about the violent banging under the hood? You can almost feel that something is jumping up and down. Could the anti-freeze (what I'm told is in there) have leaked out and the mount APPEARS fine but isn't?

 

[fam]

Next time you're at a decent shop getting your oil changed have them check it for you....most places will give you a free inspection

 

[BrooklynNY]

This is more than likely a strut mount, ball joint or strut issue and nothing to do with motor mounts.

 

[Faeker]

crawl under the car and remove the rmm. see if it has begun cracking. if that's fine, check the tmm. those two are weak points that help wheel hop occur. if this is only when you drop the clutch, and you're an idiot if you're doing that, then mounts. if it's doing it during a launch, which again you're an idiot if you're doing that, during normal driving, and during turns I would look into strut mount and possibly ball joint.

 

[brandini]

Also the two large front lower control arm bushings will flop around like mad if they're dead.