ZAZ Forza engine mount replacement
Content
The engine mount is a special fastening element that holds the car's internal combustion engine. Also, the mounting device on which the motor is mounted is called a support. In form, they may vary, since there is no single standard. But the functions of all pillows are common and are aimed at solving the same tasks - securely mounting the engine under the hood of the car and effectively smoothing out the vibrations and fluctuations to which it is subject. Experts compare a ride in a car without pillows with flying in a "corncob" - unpleasant and very noisy.
The number of engine mounts in different designs may vary. The ZAZ Forza motor is equipped with 3 pillows:
Front;
Rear right;
Back left.
The manufacturer ZAZ Forza indicates that the original pillows from the factory are provided for an average run of 150 thousand kilometers. For some time, cars of this brand were equipped with oil-filled supports, which were intended for use in the Asian (Chinese) climate. Naturally, ZAZ Forza, together with its Chinese hydraulic supports, is not ready for Ukrainian weather conditions, which are noticeably different. When winter and frosts begin, a car with such pillows creaks and quickly fails. Therefore, in the application in the winter season, they have proven themselves not very well. According to the advice of experts, in temperate climatic zones it is better to use mechanical supports.
In what cases is a replacement necessary?
ICE pillows are conditionally called automotive consumables, since over time they wear out and stop working. Even a driver without experience can determine their malfunction. The wear of the pillows is followed by the accelerated wear of adjacent elements under the hood. Therefore, their damage should not be ignored. What are the signs of wear and damage?
If suddenly there are vibrations at idle;
If there were taps under the hood when the engine was stopped, or vice versa, it was started;
It became difficult to shift gears;
If there are strange sounds during trips, in the checkpoint area or under the hood;
There were jerks when accelerating the vehicle.
All of the above signs of wear on the engine mounts can be established during inspection. Of course, sometimes there is no need for it - such characteristic vibrations under the hood make it clear to the driver what caused them.
If squeaks are heard from the engine and vibrations are transmitted from it to the body, then the supports are not doing their job. It is better not to postpone their repair until later, since a rattling engine significantly affects the degree of maneuverability.
As already mentioned, most breakdowns happen with the onset of the winter season, hydrosupports are especially affected. And if the owner of the vehicle knows that these are the ones on his unit, he should refrain from traveling in frosty weather (-15 ⁰С or more). Despite this shortcoming, oil-filled pillows have excellent performance characteristics, and much better than mechanical ones cope with the main target - to smooth out vibrations.
Among the positive qualities of mechanical supports are a more convenient price range and operation regardless of climate conditions. But the mechanics, alas, are not as good as hydraulics at suppressing vibrations and noise from the internal combustion engine.
Instructions for replacing engine mounts on ZAZ Forza
All engine mounts are not interchangeable with each other, because each of them has its own design features. It is not at all difficult to replace, but the master will need to try to carefully lift the engine to dismantle each. According to experts, it is better to change all three pillows at a time, despite the fact that such maintenance can hit your pocket. The replacement process is as follows:
After you have put the car in the inspection hole and turned on the parking brake, remove the engine protection (if any).
Next, you need to make a reliable platform (from a pair of thick channels and an iron sheet with a minimum thickness of 5 mm) under the gearbox and engine.
We support the gearbox, and between them you need to install a board or thick rubber (so as not to damage the elements of the box body in contact with the jack).
Let's start by replacing the front cushion: unscrew the nut on the stud fixing the bracket to the support.
We unscrew the bolts securing the pillow to the cross.
We raise the internal combustion engine, after which we remove the old support, in place of which we put a new one.
Now let's move on to the right rear cushion. Unscrew the 3 bolts securing the bracket to the support.
On the left and right sides of the cross, unscrew the mounting bolts of the support.
Raise the engine with a jack and remove the right rear support. We put the new one in place of the old one.
We change the last left. First, unscrew the bolt with which it is attached to the gearbox bracket.
We remove the bracket from the gearbox, which is held on by 3 bolts.
Unscrew the 2 bolts securing the support to the subframe. Then we remove the left rear pillow, in place of which we put a new one.
We assemble all the parts and details in the reverse order.
All of the above actions are of an insignificant level of complexity and you can do them yourself. As practice shows, most drivers decide on their own to replace the engine mounts.
If you contact the service station and order this service from them, then you will spend much more on repairs. As a rule, the amount of payment for the work itself is the same as the cost of all the necessary spare parts. In total, turning to professionals, you overpay twice. The only caveat concerns only the installation of the platform and lifting the motor. At the service station, they use lifts and other special equipment, which greatly facilitates the work process.
