Northstar Front Engine Mount

[NashvilleMan243]

Got a 05 GXP a few weeks ago. Took it to Good Year and Firestone today, and a front engine mount needs replacing. They want $470, for Firestone, and $514 for Good Year. The book time is 4.3 hours. How much trouble is this mount to replace? Anybody have pics on how to do it?

[CMNTMXR57]

Do a search on hockey puck mount. this is an issue for all 2000+ Bonnevilles.

It is something you can do yourself, for cheap, that'll work better and last longer than any replacement.

[NashvilleMan243]

Ok, thanks. Just type in '2005 Bonneville GXP hockey puck motor mount'?

[CMNTMXR57]

Just "hockey puck" should be sufficient.

[CMNTMXR57]

Just one thread I pulled with that criteria in the search;

http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... lit=hockey puck

[94SilverSSEi]

I didn't think you could use hockey picks because of the angle of the mount bolt?

[NashvilleMan243]

Also, I was just online reading about the pros and cons about owning a GXP. Then I read about the front shimmy in the steering wheel between 65-70 mph. Mine has this shimmy too. It feels like the right front. I had the tie rod ends and front suspension checked out. All is good. They did recommend new front struts and strut mounts. Which I think it does need. I guess I'll need the thread about the shimmy too. I'm really wondering what I got myself into with buying this car. I mean good lord, the fog light issues, dash panel issues, engine reliability issues, motor mount issues, now the shimmy issues! And the lack of performance upgrades kinda sucks too. Oh well,I hope I can get this crap all sorted out. I like the styling, the sound, and it is kinda peppy, and it has all the gauges, which is good.

[CMNTMXR57]

Lots have done it regardless of the angle. Seth took it one step further I believe, but you'd have to look up his thread in this section.

There are lots of cons to this car. :p

[NashvilleMan243]

Hopefully I can work thru the cons, and make this a good driving, dependable car. I'm taking it to Bristol Motor Speedway in August. I definitely need to get the shimmy out of it. Its getting all 4 tires rebalanced, and a 4 wheel alignment this Saturday. I was looking on Auto Zone's site, they have KYB front struts at a good price. Top mounts too. Gonna get those installed in 2 weeks. Hope this helps.

[94SilverSSEi]

Have you tried rockauto or Advance with the promo codes? They are usually much cheaper than anywhere else

[NashvilleMan243]

I tried Advance. I like KYB, had em on my T/A's, and my GTO

[fisdadsbonneville]

I have submitted a new mount to milzy motorsports to have a solid mount manufactured for the GXP and northstars. It's only a matter of time at this point before completion.

[NashvilleMan243]

That's good to hear. I'm gonna try the hose clamp method until I can get another mount for it. It worked well on a drag car we used to run, until we got solid mounts for it.

[Bad GXP]

I recently read that Northstar Performance offers a high quality engine mount specifically for Northstar cars.

$160.00 plus shipping with a lifetime warranty sounds like a pretty fair deal to me.

[NashvilleMan243]

That sounds great! Thank you very much!

[sethjamesrimrodt]

Two different links that might help you out.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... ck#p321638 http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... ck#p320329

[bobgto65]

This thread may also help on the motor mount.

http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 33837.html

Concerning the highway vibration you have to take your car to a shop that has a Hunter Road Force Balancer, have them balance the tires, and put the two most balanced ones on the front. If your tires have stiffer sidewalls, then the problem is more likely to be noticed. If this is not correcting the problem, then the lower control arms should be replaced. Most dealers have the Road Force Balancer.

[1tinindian]

The better lower control arms were install at the factory after a certain VIN break, IIRC.

I question why take any car to a tire store for mechanical work. A GM dealer might be higher priced, but they have the factory backed training you can't get elsewhere.

Having the car on a lift helps a lot in changing the front mount. I did mine in under an hour at work.
I also road force balanced my tires too, still a very slight vibration in a very narrow speed range.
I just avoid that speed range.

Leon