340 front engine bearer
 

Whilst under my trusty 1987 340 GL 1.7 recently, I noticed that the front engine bearer is looking worryingly rusty. :-( Mileage is reasonably low at about 126,000.

I'm no mechanic, so before I take the car to the garage, has anyone had problems with their front engine bearers? For example, have they been known to fail?

With hopeful thanks.

RE: 340 front engine bearer
 

The 360 turbo modders always recommend that you fit new engine mounts to cope with the extra power, as the old ones go soggy with age. Put the bonnet up, and rev the engine to ~2.5k rpm quickly - does the engine rock much? mine does, and i think it needs new mounts quite soon.

i think it would have to be pretty extreme for the mount to fail, but they definitely go 'soggy' with time. as you obviously are doing, its always wise to check the underside of these cars for rust - it creeps up on you, as the rust proofing is not what it should be.

cheers

james

RE: 340 front engine bearer
 

Have worked on 340's since they came out and have never experienced any problems with these. They are quite substantial members of tubular construction and would take years to rot enough to worry about.
Regards Paul

RE: 340 front engine bearer
 

Fair enough - although isnt that the point - a car which has not been cared for in the past is now old enough to be in a right state - mine is beginning to go this way!

cheers

james

RE: 340 front engine bearer
 

I definitely agree with Paul. The engine bearers on the 1.7's and for that matter on all the 300's are solid things and I would think that although they might look a bit rusty are still very sound as they are pretty thick and will take ages to rust through, unless the car has lived in an ultra rust inducing environment, like the coast for example.

Andy

RE: 340 front engine bearer
 

> unless the car has lived in an ultra rust inducing environment, like the coast for example

guilty as charged! torbay, most definitely on the coast, and makes mincemeat of bodywork!

cheers

james

RE: 340 front engine bearer
 

Thank you all for your helpful advice. Nottingham is about as far from the sea as you can get, so hopefully should be alright for a while longer :-). Cheers.

RE: 340 front engine bearer
 

Mine went a few months ago - - F reg 340 but the end caps had come off and so the tube had filled up with soil,mud, water etc and it reusted where it attached and the starin eventually fractured the tube.

Only a local firm spotted it when i went in for a check on noises coming from front suspension!!!!

£30 to repair as i got a decent one from a scrap yard and a local guy fitted it.