engine support bars

[BrokenBiker]

anyone tell me how they are supposed to be used? am going to do the engine mounts on the megane Friday, as even thought 2 of them look ok there is play in the lower mount so am going to do all 3 at once.

I have use of an engine support bar but never used one or seen one being used.

anyone got a pic of how it works

 

[zzr1200]

Place the feet on the inner wing lip and find suitable engine support points.


http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/laser-4842-engine-support-beam-500-kg?da=1&TC=SRC-engine support bars

hth.

 

[BrokenBiker]

ta, thought it was something like that, just wanted to make sure incase I broke something lol

 

[AndyStobbs]

Is it not practical to use a jack underneath?

 

[BrokenBiker]

Is it not practical to use a jack underneath?

I haven't looked at that yet. I just mentioned to my neighbour (the 'mechanic') that I was going to be doing the mounts and he brought an engine bar out. it doesn't appear to be very adjustable though, looks quite cheap. will be buying the mounts tomorrow and then starting on it Friday when I get in from work at 6am.

need to do the 3 mounts, new exhaust downpipe gasket and I would have been doing the rear brakes too but the pads are wrong and as I bought them off ebay am still waiting for replacements to arrive

 

[Fazerruss]

Bars are better, especially if you need to access to sump. I got one off Ebay when I had to change the sump gasket. Very useful to have in the garage.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Surely if you want access to the sump thats an entirely separate job to the engine mounts, and the engine can be left fixed to the body/subframe as normal?

 

[BrokenBiker]

if I wanted access to the sump I would just drive the front wheels up onto the ramps, axle stands under the jacking points and jobs a good un.

just nipped out to look and I think with a decent bit of wood spanning from under the sump to under the subfame I should be able to support it that way and not have any issues getting at the lower mount, and obviously no issues with access to the mount on top of the engine and under the air filter box

 

[AndyStobbs]

I think by the time you've messed about fittong the bar you could be halfway into the job using a jack.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I think you're right

 

[Fazerruss]

Surely if you want access to the sump thats an entirely separate job to the engine mounts, and the engine can be left fixed to the body/subframe as normal?

Not on a BMW 3 series unfortunately. The subframe is in the way so that had to be removed and the engine mounts sit on subframe.
Ask me how I know?!
I paid about 40 quid delivered for mine. Couldn't even make one for that. Also timing belt change on a lot of modern engines requires engine mount to be removed cause it bolts to the head between cam pulleys

 

[steviec_lj]

Not on a BMW 3 series unfortunately. The subframe is in the way so that had to be removed and the engine mounts sit on subframe.
Ask me how I know?!
I paid about 40 quid delivered for mine. Couldn't even make one for that. Also timing belt change on a lot of modern engines requires engine mount to be removed cause it bolts to the head between cam pulleys

On which 3 series?

Never had an issue dropping the sump from ANY BMW engine with the subframe still attached, etc.

 

[AndyStobbs]

320d can be a pain on the E90 chassis if I recall correctly.

 

[Fazerruss]

On which 3 series?

Never had an issue dropping the sump from ANY BMW engine with the subframe still attached, etc.

E46 chassis with the N42 engine. You can un bolt it but it won't clear the balance shafts.

 

[pedrobedro]

We made one from a 40x3mm RHS and a scissor jack. It went from front to back not across the engine and had a piece of round bar that rested in the bonnet channel with some lagging round it to stop marks and the jack stood on the front slam panel. It got recycled into something else a few years ago but it wouldn't be hard to replicate it.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

From when I had my subframe off.

 

[Fazerruss]

That looks identical to mine.