Sleeper8

This is the rubber mount at the torque arm on my S8. The new mount I purchased is at least .200" (5mm) shorter than the space between the mounting surfaces, so if I install it as-is, it will be under that much tension. Shims can be taken out of the upper mounting plate to close the gap, but I am trying to figure out the cause. This car has never been in any accidents per carfax and has no signs of damage/repair, so I don't really expect that the body or subframe is bent. The miles are near 80k right now.

<img src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f202/G1968Y/S8/DSC_1040.jpg">

Can a lower engine mount collapse? Eyeballing it, the engine looks dead level with the subframe, and the gap around the rubber shroud on the mount looks equal on both mounts. Also, the subframe mounts seem to be equally spaced from the body mounting points, so I don't expect that is failure of the subframe mounting bushings.

Any input will be appreciated! Scratching my noggin here!

TIA,
Greg

Mex77

Do you have the partnumber and price on it?

pkrasusky

^ditto^ (@ 100k tbelt change) on my //S - same exact failure

Sleeper8

Did it have a big gap when it separated? The bentley says it should not be under tension.

Sleeper8

4D0 199 267, about $45 at genuineaudiparts.com

Mex77

Thank You...!

diogeniS8

What about your other engine and tranny mounts....

Sleeper8

I am unfamiliar with the construction of the electronic-controlled front ones. Can they collapse? I would hate to take the subframe off just to check them though.

diogeniS8

the rest of your mounts need replacement too but.....Tozo probably can give you a better answer than me. I don't think that the mounts are supposed to be in any strain when the car is stationary, and the shimms were placed there for a reason. On the other hand it depends how demanding you are, if the rest of the mounts are "ok" for now, then may be removing the shims would be ok. Keep us posted

Sleeper8

I am thinking to take 1 of the 2 shims out. This will leave about 1/8" of stretch. That's about how much I had on the A8, which has the original mount intact at 160k.

It makes me fee much better to know that others have observed failure of this component. I will be doing c. arms soon so I may pull the subframe at that point and check the engine mounts.