Rear motor mount removal dillema

[isaacallyn]

I am doing all my mounts today on my 96 corolla m/t 1.6L 4afe. I came across a problem with the removal of the rear mount. I got all the nuts off of the mount and it moves freely. I also took the center bolt out. However, I cannot take the actual rear mount out. I have seen three possible reasons. First, there's a bracket that is bolted into the engine. Unfortunately, I don't have good access to that bracket. The second reason is the rack and pinion set is restricting the rear mounts movements. The third one is more of an idea; If I drop half of the cross member, than i might be able to get the mount out that way. Is there anyone who has already gone through this? I really can use the advice.

[Bitter]

cross member has to come down.

[kevmac]

you got the right plan. Drop it with a jack supporting it and remove the front mount lower nuts as well. The only bitch is those long bolts that go into a rubber bushing thing. You have to align the wheel to get those bolts back in and if your not ready for it, it's a bitch.

use loc tite if you have it.

[1jzdreamer]

I just did this on thursday. If you support the car from the chassis (behind the subframe) then its easy to drop the subframe and the cross member for the front mount. When those two are dropped it literally falls out. After use the jack to push the subframe up to the chassis again, and then shift it around to gets the bolts started on either side. Its about a 25 min job if your quick.

[isaacallyn]

Thank you for your replies, all of you. I did a somewhat hybrid version of getting the mount out and back in only to encounter a problem that has turned this one day job into beginning of day three. I am having an extremely difficult time re-aligning the cross member to the sub frame. The drivers side, I got one of the bolts in no problem; but the bolt that is closest to the wheel well(cross member to sub frame bolt) gets about half way in and then it gets too tight. I am essentially four bolts away from a test drive on new mounts and very frustrated anyone have any ideas?

Isaac

[kevmac]

You have to remove the support off the bottom of the front mount from underneath. Take off the 3 bolts or nuts. Then remove all of the crossmember bolts with the jack holding it up. Then lower the jack until it comes off. Take off the front wheels while up on jack stands. It will be easier to align the bolts that way. I remember it was a PITA too.

[1jzdreamer]

You may have the wrong bolt in the wrong hole. One is longer than the other, and they vary in diameter depending on position. Get one in on the one side, and then proceed to get the same one in on the other side. Then fire in the remainder.