Anyone heard of solid subframe mounts?

[xvivalve]

Amongst the parts from the farm that belong to the Club I have found a box of subframe mounts, some standard and some made from mild steel!

Anyone fancy a firmer front end?

[yorkshire_spam]

That's a new one on me... I think I'll stick with rubber for now. The Spitfire is already trying to shake my fillings out, I don't want the Dolomite doing it as well!

[Carledo]

There's no really good reason why the front subframe is rubber insulated anyway. Sure it helps (a bit) with noise and vibration transmission, but most moderns have a similar subframe or reasonable facsimile that is just bolted solidly to the shell.

I could easily understand the compo dept wanting something like this, it would stiffen the shell considerably. I'd quite like to try a set on the next (220bhp) incarnation of the Carledo. If it turns out to be TOO teeth jarring I can always convert back!

Steve

[matt of the vivas]

There's no really good reason why the front subframe is rubber insulated anyway. Sure it helps (a bit) with noise and vibration transmission, but most moderns have a similar subframe or reasonable facsimile that is just bolted solidly to the shell.

I could easily understand the compo dept wanting something like this, it would stiffen the shell considerably. I'd quite like to try a set on the next (220bhp) incarnation of the Carledo. If it turns out to be TOO teeth jarring I can always convert back!

Steve

I honestly can't think of a single modern that has a solid bolted subframe. They are virtually all rubber mounted?
You could try solid mounts - but I can't imagine it improving the car at all. There's very little flex in the originals, they are there to absorb vibration rather than allow any significant movement - and if there is any movement the the mounts are worn.

[Carledo]

There's no really good reason why the front subframe is rubber insulated anyway. Sure it helps (a bit) with noise and vibration transmission, but most moderns have a similar subframe or reasonable facsimile that is just bolted solidly to the shell.

I could easily understand the compo dept wanting something like this, it would stiffen the shell considerably. I'd quite like to try a set on the next (220bhp) incarnation of the Carledo. If it turns out to be TOO teeth jarring I can always convert back!

Steve

I honestly can't think of a single modern that has a solid bolted subframe. They are virtually all rubber mounted?
You could try solid mounts - but I can't imagine it improving the car at all. There's very little flex in the originals, they are there to absorb vibration rather than allow any significant movement - and if there is any movement the the mounts are worn.

Just in the last week i've been under and removed the front subframe from a (VW Golf derived) Seat Altea, no rubber! BMW Mini, No rubber! My Peugeot Expert Van and all my series III Cavaliers have huge subframes, No rubber mounts! I honestly can't think of any mainstream motors that have a front subframe where its not firmly bolted up. Rears especially independent rears, are another matter, those seem to be rubber mounted almost exclusively, everything from Jags through Mondeos to Beamers.

Personally I can't tell the difference on the road between original old (but not worn out/missing) rubber and new Poly in Dolomite subframe mounts. Not in vibration/noise or improved stiffness. So I doubt i'll notice much if anything with solid metal subframe mounts either. But it'd be interesting to try!

Steve

[matt of the vivas]

So pretty much any Renault, Citroen Peugeot..
Nissan. Anything on the Mk4 Golf Platform.
Vauxhall Vectra Zafira Astra Corsa... All rubber mounted. It's pretty unusual not to have rubber mounts!
Later Minis do too ..