The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Gang@TDC

I have a annoying rattle / knocking - narrowed down where the knocking is coming from - on tick over the oil circulation pump is fouling the right hand stearing rack clamp - has anybody else encountered this problem and what did they do to rectify the issue.



Thanks & regards
Paul.

My first thought is that you must have a failing engine mount. There should be room to get a finger between the engine and the oil pump there.

JPB wrote:My first thought is that you must have a failing engine mount. There should be room to get a finger between the engine and the oil pump there.

Thx John

Engine mounts & gearbox mount have been renewed.

Regards
paul.

Could the mounts have been fitted without their restrictor plates?
In this shot, you can just about see that the mounting U-bolt is well clear of the sump:

And same area from above:


It's possible that the mounts would be lower if the restrictor plates weren't fitted as they themselves afford some lift as well as preventing too much rocking about.

One of the many reasons that the sprint was a poor competitor with the Escorts.
It just was not developed enough, sadly

Has this happened only since you replaced the mounts ?

80Sprint wrote:Has this happened only since you replaced the mounts ?

Mike

It was more noticeable prior to changing the mounts - there was a lot of flex in the engine when starting and on initial starting it was a bang bang on the rack mount and I thought it would be the mounts so I ordered two and thought whilst I was changing these do the gearbox mount as well - I'm glad I did the gearbox mount was shot and I have poly bushed the engine steady bar as well - all new mounts fitted. I can rock the engine by hand and hear it knocking the rack clamp I have to pull / push hard to get the engine to rock - it just seems like the engine need lifting up more on the off side of the car or pulling over more to the near side.

Regards
Paul.

Gang@TDC

Few more picyies attached.





Regards
Paul

Could it be the subframe mounts on that side perhaps?

Oli_88 wrote:Could it be the subframe mounts on that side perhaps?

No, the rack and the engine are both attached to the subframe.

I literally just thought of that too. I'll be quiet.

Ah, but then it occurred to me that the engine steady may be - I can't remember for sure - attached to the chassis leg and not the subframe, so if the subframe mounts were soft, could that cause the engine to be forced down at the opposite side?

My thought is still that one or both of the restrictor brackets is missing, that would sit the engine lower and allow more movement. Movement that would to a point be masked by the presence of the engine steady on the left.

There must be a simple explanation.

JPB wrote:Ah, but then it occurred to me that the engine steady may be - I can't remember for sure - attached to the chassis leg and not the subframe, so if the subframe mounts were soft, could that cause the engine to be forced down at the opposite side?

My thought is still that one or both of the restrictor brackets is missing, that would sit the engine lower and allow more movement. Movement that would to a point be masked by the presence of the engine steady on the left.

There must be a simple explanation.

John

What are the restrictor brackets.

Regards
paul.

They're the right angled brackets that sit between the engine mounts and the brackets on the engine that bolt to the mounts, the idea being that they restrict the movement in the mounts. The brackets are only about 1/16" thick, but that could be enough to allow engine to steering rack contact if they were missing since they'd allow the engine to sit that little bit lower and the mounts to deform that tiny bit more.

John

Bought the engine mounts from Rimmers - attached mounts to engine brackets, attached the whole assemblies to engine - had one hell of a job to get one side in, the distance between the engine subframe mounts was considerable smaller than the overall length of the rubber + engine brackets once attached to the engine.

For example: if the width between the engine subframe mounts was 1000mm, the engine mounts + engine brackets and engine was 1010mm - the gap was to small so with some manipulation with a large screw driver I manage to squeeze everything into the gap.

I hope this make sense.
Regards
Paul.