Trans Mount Replacement Cost Estimate

There are a couple of things that will be checked when a transmission mount is suspected of failure. First, with the engine on, the technician will have a helper shift the transmission from reverse to drive several times to search for excess movement, noise, and to measure the vibration in the cabin of the vehicle. This is done with the understanding that a bad transmission mount will make the most vibration in gear with the vehicle stopped. Next, if excess vibration or movement is detected. The technician will visually inspect all mounts for signs of past leakage. This is only done for liquid filled mounts. Afterwards, even if no leakage is detected, the mounts will be manipulated with a prying tool. When the mounts are moved, they will give the technician an idea of the firmness of the mount, and allow any cracks or deterioration to show. If the mounts fail any of these checks, they will be replaced.

The engine and transmission must be supported, and this may be done with a transmission jack or engine brace, depending on the location of the mount and the orientation of the drivetrain. Once weight is removed from the transmission mount, the bracket will be disconnected from the transmission, then the housing will be removed from the chassis. Note that some subframe components or chassis crossmembers may need to be removed. The new mount is placed into the vehicle, attached first to the chassis, then the transmission is positioned in line with the new mount before bolting the transmission to the metal bracket extending from the rubberized insert. In some cases it may be necessary to adjust the other mounts for proper fitment, as the failing transmission mount can cause small movements to occur for the other mounts.

We recommend having the motor mounts inspected at major services. This should already be on the maintenance schedule, so follow the owner's manual guidance concerning the inspection and repair intervals. In general, transmissions require fluid and filter changes at the same interval they require transmission mount inspections.

Keep in mind that motor mounts and transmission mounts fail gradually under normal circumstances. With every blow they absorb from the drivetrain they become unnoticably weaker. This will cause a long term owner of a vehicle to gradually adapt to the feel of the vehicle with bad mounts, and leads to increased repairs of the CV axle and wheel bearing assemblies. Also, some motor and transmission mounts are required to be adjusted for exact positioning. This will eliminate the possibility of excessive vibration from the new mounts.

For most transmission mounts, the experienced DIYer can take on replacement with no problems. However, when precision alignment of the mount is required, even experienced technicians may have issues eliminating vibrations after installation. In theory, there should be no trial and error to adjusting the mount, but since aftermarket parts are likely to be used, the mount may not align as the factory mounts once were. If supporting the engine and transmission is not possible for the exchange, or excessive vibration is noticed after the repair, consult a professional.