when to replace mounts?

When do you replace mounts?
Such as engine mounts and transmission mount (manual)

I've only dealt with passenger cars, and there it can be tricky.
Old Audi's will vibrate and you can watch the engine tilt if revving while braked, going into drive gear or reverse, etc.
more-so the new ones on top of that, also leak out a purple/black hydraulic oil from inside the mount, leaving a stain.
Mercedes is the same way.
Or they have these metal rests that it collapses on causing vibration when worn.
for Mercedes trans mount (old ones) you also check to see if it looks sagged, dry/stale, and knocks while shifting on the road

parts-wise, Mercedes tends to just get replaced with OE.
Whereas Audi has upgrades. Like stiffer S4 mounts put onto an A4, etc.
Regardless of how they reveal themselves to have failed, it's automatically assumed they do at 100k.
So for most enthusiasts of those cars, it's not even worth it to remove bellypan and inspect. May as well just order new at 100k.
One exception that lasts a bit longer might be transverse engine cars because their mounts work differently.

Is the Tacoma the same way?
I don't see a lot of mount replacement on this forum.
I'm guessing no stiffer ones exist (more rubber, solid filling, higher durometer rubber)
OE is expensive so it'd suck to spend money if it doesn't need it.
And it would suck to drop that money, only to feel no difference in how it drives after.
The factory design doesn't even look that good to begin with; appears to allow lots of flex.
But I don't know, maybe that can be a good thing off road and reduce stress to the frame, if it allows the engine to move. Or maybe it's the other way around.

TL;DR if a Taco is 100k mi/10yr old (most Taco's on this forum), does it automatically need all mounts replaced?

There's upgraded poly mounts for 1st gen Tacoma on the market; I hear they might also fit 2nd gen.
I have seen "solid motor mounts" (aftermarket) that seems like more of a track car kind of thing that'd introduce a lot of engine vibration to the cabin.

 

I’ve had 4 tacomas all over 350k 2 with over 400k never replaced one mount. Now if you do lots of off-roading I imagine you may break one. Curious to see if any of the others have had issues or seen a regular breakage/worn out issue.

 

@Torspd

 

supposedly the frame section that holds it breaks on '05/'06 but not after
just am not sure if the mount itself (on any 2nd gen) can wear being that it's rubber
since rubber naturally over time will dry, stiffen, sag, crack, etc.

 

Well I have been driving a long time and have only replaced one set of motor / transmission mounts in all that time. That was due to an screw up of my doing when I was 16 years old. Wasn't pretty...

Usually when a mount does break it is from abuse.

 

I normally see this issue more on front wheel drive cars.
Never seen it on a Tacoma, I’m sure they go bad. I just have seen one go bad or had a reason to suspect on was bad.

 

a few old mopar torque monsters and small block chevys other wise never

 

I had to replace the transmission mount on my 94 (Hilux) truck because the rubber had failed and it was sitting really low in the mount. Not completely metal to metal, but close. Not a difficult replacement, and I went with a OEM. The engine mounts were still fine. Although I'm a huge proponent of preventative maintenance, I wouldn't replace them unless they have failed.

Just a warning when it comes to transmission mounts: recommend sticking with rubber mounts. A bud installed a polyurethane bushing for his (non-Toyota) car's transmission mount, and it transmitted a lot of vibrations back into the passenger compartment. He hated it, and went back to a rubber mount after a week. There are good places to use polyurethane bushings (frame, suspension, etc.), but anywhere that will send those vibrations directly back to the driver is not one of them.

 

Yep; I had motor mounts go on my Highlander. There was/is a front mount that moderates the motor from rocking back and forwards. That went and then took out mounts under the motor.

 

Here you go OP.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ted-solid-motor-mounts-for-sale.406631/page-8

If you do decide to replace and upgrade to the poly mounts, do the engine mounts first. No debate.

Then the transmission. Or all at the same time.

We can all speculate when and why. Observation and necessity should be the main factors influencing the reason to do so.

 

Depending on what your year model is, frame mount gussets may also be necessary.

 

Never replaced mine and not even on the radar. My truck is mostly road trips and dirt roads. Far from abused.
I'd guess anyone looking for better hp/tq transfer might have more insight as to whether it's worth it or not. Otherwise I don't see many people replacing them, as you mentioned.

 

From an increase power output standpoint, it definitely transmits more to the wheels. For the occasional Tacoma with very high torque, they really help reduce a lot of side to side action. In some cases preventing damage to the A/C lines.

 

Why doesn't everyone install these?

 

Those that really push their trucks the the limits, usually do, or have. They are quality.