949 SuperMiata Hybrid Motor Mounts

[timely]

Finally got around to installing the hybrid mounts last night ("SuperMiata race mount on the right side with a flexible rubber Mazda Competition mount on the left side"), 5 months after purchasing them  .  Man, didn't realize how badly my car needed it until I drove to work this morning.  103k miles on my car, and the driver's side mount was pretty badly split.  I should have taken a picture but they went straight into the trash 

Install:

As others have said in the past, the engine mounts can be quite a pain to install.  It took me probably a total of 8 hours, which is probably longer than most, but I work slowly and take my sweet time.  I didn't have an engine hoist, and as a result had to lower the subframe on the driver's side to get the mount back in the subframe hole, as well as using a rachet strap (attached to the driver's side mount and the rear subframe) to pull the engine back far enough.  The passenger side is super easy to get in since the SuperMiata mount swivels, and the hole on the subframe is slotted.  Annoying? yes, but definitely worth the hassle.

First Impressions:

On first startup, there was definitely more NVH, but they still have to break in so I'm not concerned (will follow up after a couple hundred miles).  In fact, I did notice a slight decrease after my 6 mile drive to work this morning.  Everything is smoother while driving though.  Taking off in first gear, 1-2 shifts, all of it.  No more bucking when in first gear, and the nose doesn't dive nearly as much when shifting under heavy throttle.  Before the new mounts I could watch my shifter move ~1" while taking off in first.  Now? Nothing, I can hardly see it move.  It honestly feels like a brand new transmission because it shifts so smooth.  I'm very happy with this upgrade, at the moment.

I plan to give an update, once the mounts break in a bit and the NVH diminishes.  Though that might take a while, since my commute to work is very short.

[ManiacLachy]

Thanks for the review. I'll be very interested to hear more about the changes after break in, but it doesn't sound too bad out of the box.

I also have a set sitting in a box in my garage, hopefully to be installed by the end of the year. I've heard a few horror stories on the install, so I might try to find a friend with a hoist to make it a little easier going!

[gladuboy]

just a helpful tip to move the engine, I used the scissor jack to push the drivers side over. I also brought the passenger mount in from the front of the engine over the steering rack. 

[timely]

I actually tried using the scissor jack method on the drivers side but that wasn't working for me, I still needed more clearance.  I think, for me, the SuperMiata mount on the passenger side pushed the engine ever so slightly more towards the drivers side.  That's just speculation though.  Even after using the scissor jack I still needed to move the engine over about half an inch.

[barmato]

Would it have been better to do the drivers side first while the old "loose" passenger side mount was in there?  Do you think that would have allow you to move the engine easier?

[timely]

Possibly, the thought occurred to me while I was fighting with the driver's side, but at that point I made the choice to muscle the last half inch in instead of removing the passenger side mount.  If I had to do it again I would absolutely try that first.

[timmcc02]

I did the same motor mount set about four months ago and while the nvh does settle down a bit, you can definitely tell they are different motor mounts. But the gain I feel in more solid shifting was worth it. I just put on xidas last weekend and found nvh has now gotten a little worse but still now terrible. As for the install issue I found a big prybar and a lot of swearing did the trick


Language edited

[timely]

For the xidas, did you re-use the nb top mounts or use the xidas top mounts? I hear 949's top mounts cause more nvh.

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

[jkjeer]

In for a review after you've had this for a few weeks.  I had the SuperMiata race mounts but the NVH was too much for me to DD so I went back to Mazda Competition mounts.  But I kept the SuperMiata race mounts so I could still do the hybrid.  Didn't know this was a thing until this thread.

[timmcc02]

For the xidas, did you re-use the nb top mounts or use the xidas top mounts? I hear 949's top mounts cause more nvh.

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

I put in new nb top mounts as this is my daily

[timely]

After a few weeks with these I think I've changed my tune.  My car has developed a lot of rattles and more appear every week.  I've bought dynamat for my doors because that's where 80% of the rattles are coming from; yes, I have the delrin door bushings.  I haven't installed it yet and was going to this weekend but I may get rained out (no garage).  The other 20% of the rattles seem to be coming from inside the dash.  Unless you don't mind chasing down rattles, I think this is too much NVH for a DD.  To be fair, I haven't had a radio for a while now (story for another time) so with some music playing you probably won't hear the dash rattles.  There is also a bit of a drone when cruising on the highway; definitely noticeable.

The more I think about it the more I realize that the hybrid mounts are kinda pointless.  It's too much NVH for DD, and the website says not to use them for Autox and Track.  They do make shifting a heck of a lot better though, so that is one upside to installing these.  Although I've heard good things about the competition mounts and better shifting with no real increase in NVH, so that's probably the better route for a DD.  I'll probably chime in again after I get the door rattles sorted out.  Who knows, I may change my mind again 

[barmato]

Thanks for the update.  I would rather not ADD any more rattles than I already have. 

[timely]

Yeah, especially when I first take off in 1st.  Between 1200-1500 rpm the entire car shakes, quite loudly.

[timely]

One last update to finalize my thoughts on it.  I finally got around to putting dynamat in my doors and get rid of any rattles while I was in there.  This made a HUGE improvement and I do feel much better owning it.  Dynamat in the doors should be part of everyone's mods list, but that's a story for another time.  However, I still don't think it is enough to sway my mind into recommending this to daily drivers.  You'll constantly be chasing rattles.  If you only drive this car in the summer with the top down, then the improved shifting is totally worth it.  Then again, if rattles don't bother you like they do me, then the improved shifting is totally worth it and you should install them.