difficulty: 3/5
back to 1000q: B5.5 VW Passat TDI "how to"
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Introduction
The 2 front mounts are hydraulic filled to reduce vibration and increase comfort. They were redesigned to fix leaking problems. The 2 rear mounts are on the transmission and are rubber mounts - they should last a long time. While not technically difficult, you have to support the engine while replacing the mounts. Because of this, I rate it as 3/5 difficulty. For whatever reason, the driver's side tends to leak more than the passenger side.
If you have an automatic transmission and noticeable vibration at idle, it could also be the CV joints. While stopped put the transmission into neutral, drive, and reverse. If the vibration changes you may have bad CV joints. Also try this test while rolling. If the CV joints make clicking noises when you turn the steering wheel sharply while driving they're definitely bad. Cheap replacement axles can also cause rattling due to poor build quality. See 1000q: axle replacement and boot replacement for a video of clicking.
Below is an example of a leaking motor mount. The red stains are the
hydraulic fluid inside the mount leaking out. The fluid is greasy, not
watery.
Here is another example in context (automatic transmission shown). The
motor mount is at the front of the engine, just in front of the subframe,
resting on an aluminum motor mount bracket.
Parts
(for TDI engine only!) right motor mount: 8d0 199 382 ar
(for TDI engine only!) left motor mount: 8d0 199 379 ar
engine hoist (cherry picker) or engine support bar shown below (older Passat
shown, you'll need the type with extension bars to reach the lift points)
(Optional parts if you lower the motor mount bracket) Note - the 18m subframe bolts are single use stretch bolts! Some reuse the subframe bolts and their cars haven't fallen apart and I would not reuse them more than once. My car got all new bolts.
(2 total) front subframe long 18mm bolts VW# n 908 235 01
(2 per side, 4 total) front motor mount bracket shorter 18mm bolts VW# n 906 630
02
subframe alignment pin VW tool# 3393
Procedure
Caution: This procedure requires the engine's weight to come off the motor mount. You can use a hydraulic jack from below to support or raise the engine but also use a engine support or engine hoist from above as a backup! A hydraulic jack can blow a seal, break, fail, etc., and this can crush your hands or cause other serious injury if the engine moves or the jack slips. Never put yourself into a position where you could be injured because the engine could shift or a jack can suddenly fail. See the TOS Agreement for the full legal disclaimer.
There are two ways to change the motor mount. The first method involves raising the engine while also supporting it from below. The second requires loosening the front subframe to remove the motor mount brackets. Do not lower the subframe unless the engine, transmission, and subframe are supported because they can fall down and cause serious injury or damage if you loosen the bolts too far! If you do remove the motor mount brackets, use the subframe alignment pins to make sure the subframe doesn't shift.
If you are lowering the subframe for any other reason it's just a matter of unbolting the 13mm nuts holding the motor mount and removing the mounts.
First rest the car on jack stands at the factory jack points, making sure the
car is safe and securely raised before getting under the car. Chock the
rear wheels and double check all safety and jack equipment. Remove the
splash shield. See 1000q: VW Passat
splash shield for more details or replacement fasteners. Below is a
picture looking at the front of the engine (front bumper removed for
illustration) highlighting the location of the mounts. Also note the snub
mount bracket. If you want to replace the snub mount, first mark the original position
of the bolt holes with some paint and then remove the bracket to get the mount
out.
Place a wide, flat piece of wood between a hydraulic jack and the aluminum oil pan to raise the engine. Do not place a jack directly on the oil pan or use a small piece of wood because it can crack the soft metal!
As seen in the introduction, there is a 13mm nut holding a cable bracket on
the driver's side. Remove it and the 13mm nut under it holding the
mount. Also remove the 13mm nut and power steering line holder on top of
the driver's side mount (highlighted below, some items removed for
illustration).
The long studs will prevent removal of the mount without raising the engine or lowering the subframe or both. If you have an engine hoist and are replacing both front motor mounts, you can slightly raise the engine using the hoist and hydraulic jack and remove the mounts. If you have an engine support bar, you can use the screws to raise the front of the engine to and support it as a backup. Follow the instructions on your engine hoist or engine support for details on their use. Again, use a backup just in case the engine slips or your jack slips or fails.
If you can't raise the engine far enough you have to lower or remove the aluminum motor mount bracket. This is more dangerous because if your jack fails or the engine slips, it could fall down to the side without the mount - do not put your hands in a position where they could be crushed if the engine moves! Again, note the caution above: you can use a hydraulic jack from below to support or raise the engine but use a engine support or engine hoist from above as a backup! A hydraulic jack can blow a seal, break, fail, etc., and this can crush your hands or cause other serious injury if the engine moves or the jack slips.
If you must remove or lower the motor mount bracket for clearance, first note the 3
alignment holes on the car frame rail, subframe, and motor mount bracket.
Below is a picture with the wheel, plastic wheel well liner, and bumper removed
for illustration. The subframe alignment pin VW tool# 3393
fits through the holes and rests in place. It should easily slide in and
out easily and rest in a vertical position. If you only loosen one corner
at a time it shouldn't go out of alignment but no guarantees. You should
at least use a socket of the correct diameter as a substitute for the VW tool to
check alignment.
Here is a view from below, looking up at the bracket with the wheel, etc., in
place. The holes should line up (the picture was taken slightly off
center). If they aren't then the subframe is crooked. If they are
perfectly lined up and the tool goes in and out the same as before, you won't
need a wheel alignment (the suspension is connected to the subframe - loosening
the front subframe can shift the suspension and throw off the wheel alignment).
First disconnect the 2x 13mm sway bar bracket nuts. Again, the engine must be supported before loosening the motor mount bracket bolts or subframe bolt! Only do 1 corner at a time to prevent the subframe from shifting!
Then loosen the 2x 18mm motor mount bracket bolts and the 18mm long subframe
bolt. Loosen them all by a single turn before removing any of them.
This helps avoid stressing the threads. The 2x 18mm bracket bolts will
probably have to come out. The 1x 18mm long subframe bolt is long enough
so that you probably don't have to remove it if the engine is raised a little
for clearance. You should be able to raise the engine and lower the mount
bracket enough to get the mount out.
Now you'll have plenty of room to put the new motor mount in place. Note the washer between the mount and bracket attached to the engine. The top of each mount also has 2 tabs that fit into the bracket on the engine.
First secure each side before doing the other side or else the subframe could fall down!
Shown below is the passenger side, refer to the introduction for a pic of the
driver's side - they are almost the same. The driver's side has a power
steering bracket on the top of the mount. On the passenger side you'll
have to remove the turbo outlet hose for access. The disconnected hose end
in the below picture normally connects to the air tube going to the intercooler.
Note - make sure the ground wire isn't rubbing against the hose coming from the
turbo because some have complained of the cables rubbing through the pressure
turbo hoses.
The passenger side also has a starter
motor battery cable on it - remove it if you want to remove the motor mount
bracket. Once you remove the hose you'll have access to the passenger side
mount. Below is a clearer view from another writeup. You can also see the
alignment tool in place (AC compressor removed for illustration). There
are 2 spring clips on the ends holding it on.
Again, note the washer between the mount and bracket attached to the engine. The
top of each mount has 2 tabs that fit into the motor mount bracket on the
engine. Make sure they are in place when lowering the engine.
Obviously, use a screwdriver or pry if it needs adjusting when lowering and not your fingers.
Also note the round knob on the bottom of the mount.
During replacement of the motor mount bracket, use the alignment pin to line up the motor mount bracket, frame rail, and subframe holes. With the pin in place, tighten the bolts loose wrench tight. Check to see if the pin still moves in-out smoothly. Then tighten to their final torque. Repeat on the other side as needed.
If the bolts won't go in, don't force them. Raise/lower/shift the subframe until they go in smoothly. If they get stripped you can use a helicoil to repair the threads.
(2x per side) 18mm aluminum motor mount bracket bolts: 55 ft-lb
(1x per corner, single use only) 18mm long subframe bolt (for both front and
rear): 81 ft-lb + 1/4 turn
13mm engine mount nuts: not 100% sure but it should be about 17 ft-lb
Feel free to post your comments in the myturbodiesel mk4 VW forum for Passat TDI You can also google the site here: