Rear trans/engine support bracket missing/sheared bolts Topic is solved

[RedBrickCollector]

I've run into an issue where my trans/engine support bracket for the rear is missing a couple bolts, the lower most and upper most. This is the bracket that connects to the rear engine support, from what I can tell it's part no. 1397889, 7 in the diagram.

I can see into the lower hole, and it seems fine. The upper hole however I cannot see into it and poking it with a stick feels like it may have the old bolt sheared off inside.

What I tried is loosening the front engine mount and then putting a piece of wood so I could jack the right side using the big flat area where the trans and engine meet. It got the holes to align more or less but very frustratingly I couldn't get the bolt to start threading. Cue several hours of going back and forth, adjusting the jack a little, checking the hole with a stick, and trying to thread a bolt in.

Considering that the car has been running with just one bolt for who knows how long, I'm thinking two out of three bolts should be fine until the engine needs to come out of the car. Does this logic seem sound and does anyone have an idea for removing the broken bolt without pulling the engine?

Diagram


Lower hole


Upper hole

[scot850]

Where is the broken bolt. I see the missing bolt but not the broken one.

This drawing may help better for the missing bolt part number. Unfortunately it does not give any details on the bolt spec. I'm going to guess an M8 or M10 bolt, 8.8 Grade. I will check on my Vida system tomorrow if there is any better description on the bolt details.

Neil.

[RedBrickCollector]

Where is the broken bolt. I see the missing bolt but not the broken one.

This drawing may help better for the missing bolt part number. Unfortunately it does not give any details on the bolt spec. I'm going to guess an M8 or M10 bolt, 8.8 Grade. I will check on my Vida system tomorrow if there is any better description on the bolt details.

Neil.

Totally slipped my mind to include it in the post. What I ordered is 982820.

The broken bolt is the upper hole. I have no way to see into it but if I I poke into it with a stick or similar I can feel it just barely go in and hit something solid. I'm assuming it's a sheared bolt.

I want to avoid installing 2 out of the three only for both of them to shear. The single bolt left now is fine but also the transmission is partially resting on the subframe.

[foggydogg]

The broken bolt is the upper hole. I have no way to see into it but if I I poke into it with a stick or similar I can feel it just barely go in and hit something solid. I'm assuming it's a sheared bolt.

I want to avoid installing 2 out of the three only for both of them to shear. The single bolt left now is fine but also the transmission is partially resting on the subframe.

Remove the bolt on the upper torque mount so the engine can rock forward, unloading the rear mount completely.
Another way to give a little more wiggle room is to jack the right side of the engine enough to loosen the two bolts under the harmonic balancer, jack a bit more, and install the 'top' bolt in the bottom hole, raising the engine just under an inch ( I don't know what that is in metric.)

[scot850]

Yes, like foggydogg says do not raise the engine more than about and inch/25mm as it can pull the axles out of their seats on the inner ends.

Support the engine under the oil pan with a jack and a piece of wood on top to spread the load. Again as foggydogg said, disconnect the upper torque mount and crank pulley engine mount, then you can raise the engine and remove the whole bracket and it may give more access to the broken bolt so you can try drilling it out with a 90 degree or short drill.

Neil.