The engine of your car sits on the frame of your car, but there are other parts that play an important role in securing it. One of these is the transmission mount, which secures the transmission to keep it from moving too much while you drive. This means that when you go over bumps in the road or make sharp turns, the engine does not jerk around and instead remains securely in place where it belongs.
The transmission mounts essentially prevent any noticeable shifting or shake while driving. It can be very unnerving to have parts on your car move while you’re driving, especially while traveling at highway speeds. If the engine shakes, then all of your car’s other parts can shake or rattle as well, and this will lead to more wear and tear on the car itself.
If you begin to notice that your car is shaking or making odd noises while you drive, this might be an indicator that your transmission mount might need replacement. These parts can wear down over time and begin to crack, which will make them far less able to secure the transmission. If they are cracked at all, then it’s important for you to replace them as soon as possible before they cause any real damage.
It will cost you about $300-$500 (or even more) depending on where you live and what type of car you have. The good news is that these parts are not very expensive and we will break down the costs below.
What is a Transmission Mount?
The chassis of your car is what holds everything together, and it provides the base for all of its parts. If there was no chassis under the engine, then your wheels would fall off every time you go around a sharp turn. The transmission mount secures the transmission to this chassis so that the engine does not shake during driving. This everything stays in place where it belongs, even over bumps or on turns.
It is important for this part to be securely fastened to both your car’s frame and your transmission so that they stay put when you’re driving at high speeds. Otherwise, you will notice that the engine will shake and make more noise than usual. This can put more wear on your car’s other parts, like belts, hoses, and more.
Top 5 Bad Transmission Mount Symptoms
The following are the most common symptoms that indicate you need to replace your transmission mount.
1. Difficulty Cornering
When cornering, you will notice that your engine suddenly becomes very loud and shakes around. This is because the engine isn’t securely fastened to the chassis, resulting in everything moving around haphazardly.
2. Chassis Flex
Concerning popping and creaking sounds while you drive your car is another symptom of a faulty transmission mount. This often indicates that the mount has cracked and is no longer able to secure the transmission.
3. Vehicle makes loud noise while driving
The sounds will be very loud and rough, almost like your engine is about to fall out of the front of your car. Like clunking, bashing, and banging.
4. Engine shakes or rocks when accelerating or braking
Your vehicle may shake violently when you accelerate or brake suddenly. This is an indication that the transmission mount needs replacement as soon as possible.
5. Excessive slippage in the transmission
Often, the transmission will slip out of gear if the transmission mount is damaged. This can be dangerous as this may prevent you from changing gears as needed, especially while driving.
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Transmission Mount Replacement Cost
Getting a replacement for this part can be expensive, but it’s definitely worth it if you’re concerned about the safety of your vehicle. Depending on what type of car you have, the cost will vary from about $200 to more than $600. This is because of the differences in labor costs and the steepness of replacement required for some makes and models.
For the Transmission mount itself, expect to pay roughly $45-$135 for this part and $75-$150 for labor.
In total, on average, expect to pay $300-$500 (or even more) depending on where you live and what type of car you have. Good practice is to actually have the mounts on your engine and transmission checked for wear when you are getting your car’s other components changed. This way, you can have the mounts replaced at the same time so that you don’t have to pay for another trip later on.
How Long Do Transmission Mounts Last?
Normally, these parts don’t need to be replaced unless they are worn out. However, this all depends on your driving habits and how well you take care of it. If you floor your car frequently, the transmission mount will wear out faster, meaning that you will have to replace it more often than if you drove normal speeds with no heavy acceleration or braking.
If you do a lot of stop-and-go city driving, then this also wears down your transmission mounts faster than if you did highway travel only. We suggest checking them every 30k miles for damage because this is about when they’ll start to show signs of wearing out.
Can You Drive with a Bad Transmission Mount?
Unless the mount is completely broken, you can technically drive with it. However, if the mount is still intact, but showing some signs of wear and tear, you should replace it as soon as possible so that your car runs smoothly. Driving without a transmission mount will put more stress on other components like your engine mounts or axles which will cause additional damage to them that may end up costing more money in the long run.
Conclusion
As mentioned before, you can check your mounts at least every 30k miles for any signs of damage. However, if you notice cracks starting to form even earlier than this, then get everything checked out by a professional mechanic immediately. Waiting too long for this problem could lead to severe problems down the line which are much more expensive to repair.
In total, you should expect to pay somewhere around $300-$500 for your transmission mount replacement, however this is subject to change depending on the make and model of your car.
We hope you found this article helpful.
