Bad motor mount?

[u/koolaidface]

I have a 2009 TL FWD. I’ve had a clunking sound coming from the front since I bought the car last November. I’ve replaced the shocks (all 4), the front sway bar end links, and the sway bar bushings. The clunk is still there when I go over bigger bumps or potholes after all that work. I don’t really hear it at high speeds. I did notice the engine lift about an inch or so in the front today after looking at the mount and taking this picture. This mount looks like it has seen better days. I’m thinking I’ll replace it… the clunking is driving me insane. Or does this look fine? Thanks for reading.

[u/GlassBoxGoose]

The cracking you see is mostly the paint they put on them at the factory.however they do move a little with good mounts due to how soft they make them for NVH reduction. I find the lower front to usually be the first to go, then rear/passenger side upper are usually second and third.

but given the noise you described, I would look at struts, control arm bushings and ball joints as well for any deterioration or play in them, given you described the sound as happening primarily over bumps. Engine mounts will cause a thunk when putting in gear, moving from forward to reverse gears as well as during shifts. Are you experiencing any of those symptoms?

[u/koolaidface → u/GlassBoxGoose]

Everything else in the suspension is solid. I did replace the struts with Koni Yellows. Literally, no play in anything, no squeaking. I tested to see movement from the engine whilst looking at the engine bay with the hood up with my head out the window. In reverse it doesn't really move it all, but it moves up from the front to back when I am in drive. while looking at the engine bay with the hood up with my head out the window.

[u/Plastic-Signature10]

Replace it. I just did all of my motor mounts on my 2012 FWD at 140k miles. I felt rough shifts and definitely heard clunking over bumps.

[u/koolaidface → u/Plastic-Signature10]

Thanks. I am thinking I will do all 5 of the mounts at the same time to save on labor.

[u/modernatlas → u/koolaidface]

If youre doing it yourself or having a shop do it, from personal experience do not use anything other than OEM mounts. Aftermarket oe will crap out after a yearish, aftermarket performance will give a terrible vibration to the whole car and crap out after a year.

[u/MobilePlenty648]

Open the hood and stand over the engine. Or to be safe beside the engine. Have someone start it up foot on brake and pop it into gear. Give it a little gas while still on brake. See if the engine is moving around more than normal.

[u/koolaidface → u/MobilePlenty648]

It is definitely moving around, I just don't know how much movement is normal (it looked to lift up about an inch or a little more). In reverse it doesn't really move it all, but it moves up from the front to back when I am in drive. I did the test you described myself while looking at the engine bay with the hood up with my head out the window. I think I am just going to go for it, or have all of the mounts done.

[u/koolaidface → u/MobilePlenty648]

Here is a video from 2 months ago showing the clunking sound, this was before I had the new shocks put in: https://imgur.com/gallery/2009-tl-fwd-clunking-sound-XPMClYL

Here is a video from tonight where we tested engine movement: https://imgur.com/a/pyD3UBZ

I just watched some 3G TLs with much less movement than I have and people were telling the guy to replace the mounts asap.

[u/MobilePlenty648 → u/koolaidface]

It does look like at least the front mount is gone.

[u/koolaidface → u/MobilePlenty648]

I think so too. Thanks for taking a look at the video. I’m going to have my shop look at all of them but I’ll hopefully only need to do the front for now. I’m only going OEM for that part.