Engine mount failure

[Joniboy]

Hey guys. Had a bit of a problem with the GTi last weekend.
It developed this horrible creaking noise which I suspected to be the bottom mount. I checked it all out and it seemed to be ok. The car felt fine but I wasn't happy with the noise so decided to look further. I tightened a few things up and went for a spin. This is when it developed a horrible banging noise when pulling away with what felt like the engine being lifted up and then dropped.
I decided to check the top mounts and found this.




The mount had completely snapped into two parts and looks like its been going for some time too.

Imagine if this had gone while cruising down the motorway to work!

Check your mounts

[alexperkins]

Wow thats the first one Ive seen go like that. Im presuming thats the right hand side mount (gearbox side)?

[Bepe]

Your not the only one out there, my right hand side mount is creaking like a b***h. Need to order one. How much was yours? Was it from the stealers? How did you remove and fit it?

[Bradley]

No way ive never seen that happen on a Polo before.Like you say it does look like it's been cracked for quite a long time judging by the oxidation on the surface of the lefthand side.Hope you manage to get something sorted mate.

Brad

[tegwin]

Is there any evidence of any other crash damage on the car?

I would be willing to suggest that the car had a front end nudge at some point which cracked the engine mount.... bodywork repaired but they forgot the engine mount or didnt see it perhaps?

[Joniboy]

Your not the only one out there, my right hand side mount is creaking like a *****. Need to order one. How much was yours? Was it from the stealers? How did you remove and fit it?

It was £64 for the top part but I ordered the bottom bit too just to be sure which was another £40. Both from the stealers.
Seeing as it was already snapped I simply put a jack under the gearbox to take the weight and unbolted the bottom bit off the gearbox. Then I put the new bottom bit back on, followed by the new top bit, jacked up the engine from underneath so the bottom bit slid into the top bit and bolted them up nice and tight.
This will be slightly different for you though as you will be doing the drivers side mount. Should be pretty straight forward though. Mine took 20 minutes.

[Joniboy]

Wow thats the first one Ive seen go like that. Im presuming thats the right hand side mount (gearbox side)?

Yeah it was the gearbox side.

Is there any evidence of any other crash damage on the car?

I would be willing to suggest that the car had a front end nudge at some point which cracked the engine mount.... bodywork repaired but they forgot the engine mount or didnt see it perhaps?

Actually, yes! I bought the car 15 months ago as a CAT D write-off. I had it all checked out and got details from the DVLA and insurance companies before taking it to VOSA for the final re-check and an MoT. It was the drivers side that got shunted which resulted in a new wing, headlight (expensive!), bumper and bonnet.
I even took the bumper off before purchase to check the front frame. There isn't any crash damage to the structure and even the shell that the wing bolts too was perfect. Apparently the shunt was very light but enough to make the owner take the money.
I was happy though as I got a tidy looking GTi for half the price of the current market. Plus the new panels are really well done. I know re-sale could be a problem, but I'm not intending to sell it anyway.

I guess that would be why it started to crack in the first place though. Well spotted sir!

[Bepe]

got my engine mount from the stealers, £63.26 it cost!

[Joniboy]

Cool. Yep that sounds about right for that bit. The bit it bolts too (that is bolted to the gearbox) was another £40 or so. I decided to buy both bits just to be sure but in all honesty the gearbox bit was totally fine. Hope the install goes ok!

[Bepe]

I wonder what mine will look like when i take it off! I.ll post it up when Ive done it. Cheers Ive got a mate thats doing it Haha

[Bepe]

Got cracking on with my engine mount today. Mine is nearly as bad as yours, that was a picture of it on the car still after just removing the battery tray, notice the lack of bolts lol

[Joniboy]

Not good! I was missing one bolt but it made no odds seeing as the mount was no longer attached anyway.
Did the new one go on ok?

[Bepe]

Yeah Mine was completly seperated. The bolts had sheared off. Yeah the new one went one easy as pie! The car is so quiet now Iam worried lol, no more creaks!

[Joniboy]

Good to hear it went on ok. Yeah, my car feels like new now. Almost too quiet! It makes you wonder if something is suddenly gonna go BANG!

[alexperkins]

I might have to take a look at mine, as I know mine has had a bump in the past. Mount is under the battery tray isnt it?