Replacing Front and Rear Engine Mounts
 

I have a 2001 RX300 with 208,000 miles. It vibrates when idling in Drive and my mechanic said it needs new front and rear engine mounts. When I have them replaced does it also make sense to replace other parts at the same time? I'd especially like to know about two parts I came across when looking things up. One is the engine mounting stabilizer, part 12381-20020 which someone in a recent thread said fits above the front engine mount. The other is part 12307-20021, which seems to be an engine shock absorber. Thanks in advance for the advice.

Right answer will come from observation of movement.

Let the tech examine and tell you what needs to be replaced.

I would also have him look at the transmission mounts. Then have the other suspension items examined ... Lower control arm may be at the end of life,

Salim

You would have to remove the upper engine torque mount to raise the engine enough to replace the front and rear mount, so it may be a good time to do it too. The trans mount is the easiest to see from the drivers side wheel well area. You can tell if its cracked, squished, oil soaked or anything. The transmission sits on the mount on the sub-frame. You also have to unbolt the strut tower brace or the intake plenum hits it not allowing the engine to raise enough to get the rear mount. You don't have to remove it, but just unbolt it and let the intake raise it up as needed. I just replaced the three engine mounts at 134,000 miles. Trans looks perfectly fine. There really isn't anything else involved that would be a good time to replace kind of thing.

Did it fix your vibration?

Did the new mounts fix your vibration?

After this length of time (4 to 5 years) it is much, much better to start a new thread clearly stating your condition and question.

Please determine if the mounts are broken.cracked. If there is movement then you need to replace the mounts. Since the transmission is mated to the engine the transmission mounts, if bad can also cause vibration. Blindly replacing the mounts may not help you if there are good.

Salim