Replaced 996 engine mounts - wow!

[Scrump]

I had read a few times over the years about how new engine mounts on a 996 or 997 give a real improvement to the handling by better control of the engine weight during cornering. These discussions usually go on to discuss which replacement engine mount is the best with options including RS mounts or solid aftermarket ones.

I don’t track my car and so have never explored the options in engine mounts. My 996 is now coming up to 20 years old and still had the original mounts (I think).

This week I had my engine mounts replaced. Not wanting any increased harshness I went with standard Porsche 996 mounts.

I wasn’t expecting very much of a difference just driving about normally on the street. I assumed the difference would only really be noticeable at higher speed cornering.

How wrong could I be? The improvement is immediately obvious. The car is less unsettled by bumps and the throttle response feels tighter. Even the gear changes are smoother.

I wish I had done this a lot sooner. So if any of you have the original mounts in your 996 then I can recommend replacing them, not cheap (especially for the standard Porsche mounts) but worth every penny.

[bloody tourist]

Sounds good, I hear this is something that is often overlooked. Did your 996 have many miles before the change?

[Scrump]

Just ticked over 100k miles. Treated it to the new mounts in celebration

I replaced all the suspension only a couple of years ago. New springs, dampers, anti roll bars, top mounts, coffin arms, bushes etc. So all that side of things was already in good order.

[m444ttb]

I’ve been looking at doing this on my 2002 C4. Hartech said they were fine back in 2015 (only 10k miles ago!) but I think I’m going to get the gearbox whine sorted next year so feel like new engine and transmission mounts may be worth doing at the same time.

[jonny996]

If you don’t mind could you pop up the costs parts & labour.
Mine is prity well sorted but as you say these are often overlooked & I think it’s time to complete the circle

[anyideas]

I purchased the RS engine mounts that many have used from Type 911. I think the kit was £125 + VAT.

[ditchvisitor]

I recently fitted RSS engine mounts to my GT3 and the difference was incredible!!

[ringweekends]

Ditto

RSS mounts in a 996 C4S and the difference was remarkable, not just for the surprising lack of NVH.
It's noticeable, coming from 60k mile OEM mounts, but certainly not harsh.

[David W.]

ringweekends said:

Ditto

RSS mounts in a 996 C4S and the difference was remarkable, not just for the surprising lack of NVH.
It's noticeable, coming from 60k mile OEM mounts, but certainly not harsh.

This job done on recent Auto Amateur YouTube channel vid if anyone is thinking of diy.

[shalmaneser]

David W. said:

ringweekends said:

Ditto

RSS mounts in a 996 C4S and the difference was remarkable, not just for the surprising lack of NVH.
It's noticeable, coming from 60k mile OEM mounts, but certainly not harsh.

This job done on recent Auto Amateur YouTube channel vid if anyone is thinking of diy.

It's also about as simple a DIY as you're likely to get. If you can change brake pads you can change engine mounts on a 996/997.

[TheThrottleCable]

I also put RSS in my 996 and the change was night and day - most impressive was the improvement in gear change.

I made a how-to guide if anyone wants to attempt this themselves:

https://youtu.be/1exyTcURbs8

[ATM]

I think my engine mounts are only 3 or 4 years old but the gearbox mount is original. I want to get that done.

[HughG]

The gearbox mount is theoretically a gearbox out job.
There is a kit available to do it in the car, but it is about $300. https://agatools.com/products/aga-por-996-997-tmt
I got some steel CHS offcuts from one of our suppliers to make up something similar, but as the gearbox is coming out soon will get it done conventionally. If anyone wants the CHS bits to make up a puller then let me know and I will post them.

[ringweekends]

Alternatively Powerflex do a gearbox mount insert which tightens it all up.

I did the RSS mounts and the gearbox insert in an afternoon, with lots of tea.

[ATM]

ringweekends said:

Alternatively Powerflex do a gearbox mount insert which tightens it all up.

I did the RSS mounts and the gearbox insert in an afternoon, with lots of tea.

I've seen some chat about the gearbox inserts where people talk about cutting off some of the side. Did you install yours whole or trim it down?

[LPAK]

Can someone explain the technical reason why this change makes such a big difference to daily driving feel? Very curious!

[Kawasicki]

LPAK said:

Can someone explain the technical reason why this change makes such a big difference to daily driving feel? Very curious!

One possible reason... the engine movements stay more in sync/phase with the body motions...so the damping of the whole vehicle is better. Cleaner responses.

Imagine a loose football weighing 200kg in the boot of a normal car.

[HughG]

LPAK said:

Can someone explain the technical reason why this change makes such a big difference to daily driving feel? Very curious!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/36385666@N00/5035971...

This was one of my mounts when I changes for RSS mounts earlier in the year. I changed them speculatively because the car felt unsettled over uneven roads, it was evidently the engine moving around

[ATM]

Kawasicki said:

LPAK said:

Can someone explain the technical reason why this change makes such a big difference to daily driving feel? Very curious!

One possible reason... the engine movements stay more in sync/phase with the body motions...so the damping of the whole vehicle is better. Cleaner responses.

Imagine a loose football weighing 200kg in the boot of a normal car.

This

[LPAK]

Thanks for the additional insight