Got me a Caddy

[94SilverSSEi]

So are you subtly saying I should replace all my motor mounts? Thinking of trying to fab up some dog bones and I think that would cure the problem but if the mounts are already bad, its sort of just a band fix, then.

[repinS]

I'm not sure if the left and right side mounts are easy to pull on the Seville. They were a bit of a pain in the ass on the Bonneville, but easier than the front and rear. Helps to have skinnier arms though.

Silver lining: If you're pulling the front mount again, the job gets easier with the left and right mounts loose/out. So you can check them at that time.

[94SilverSSEi]

I believe they are the same setup. Front and rear mount to the subframe. Side mounts mount the trans/engine to the actual body of the car NOT the subframe.

I had the subframe dang near pulled off the car just doing the front. Hindsight is 20/20 though. I think it will only take a couple hours to do it again. It's only got 70k its just beyond me that it would need all the motor mounts replaced already. Think I'm just going to try a new front mount and dog bones and see what happens.

[repinS]

The one bad mount can take all the others out. An L67 would do the same. You probably did similar to the guide I have floating around:

0) Remove the torx screw holding the airbox to the front fender. This may have already come loose on most cars when the busted trans mount flops the powertrain around.
1) Raise and safely support car - not via the subframe - stands at the jack points at the rockers are ideal. You want to go pretty high. Don't forget to chock your rear wheels and set your parking brake beforehand.
2) Remove the clips holding the front airdam. Don't force them out, pry up the center section of the clip and they will just slide out.
3) Optional: Remove the front wheels. Recommended if you don't have an impact extension and air tools.
4) Support the engine/transmission with a jack. I use a bracket covering the exhaust between the oil pan and transmission pan. It'll be pretty hard to miss.
5) Unbolt rear half of the front trans mount, there are three or four locations: Bottom nut under the subframe, two nuts near the exhaust manifold that hold the bracket, and two studs that are bolted into the transmission. There is also a secondary bracket/bar that will need to be moved out of the way.
6) Undo the bolts for the two side engine mounts - they are near each wheel. If you pulled your wheels, you'll have lots of room. If not, you may be able to cheat and access them by steering the wheels to one side.
7) Undo the front two bolts for your subframe. You may want to use a jack (I use a spare tire jack) to ease the subframe down. Air tools may come in handy here to break loose the thread lock compound.
8) At this point the front mount should be loose and flopping around - here comes the challenging part.
9) Slinky the mount AND bracket assembly out from the engine bay. You may have to pry downward on your subframe to create enough space, OR jack up the engine/transmission to create enough clearance between the body and subframe. Play around here. I find a good place to pry would be off the AC compressor. Be careful about the metal lines (oil? fuel? ABS? I forget) that pass through this area. You will have to move them around, but make sure not to pinch or break them. I have found the best way to take it out is by turning the whole assembly upside down so that the bracket comes out first.
10) Cuss, swear, and take a break. Have a beer or six.
11) Hopefully you'll get the mount out. Installation is pretty much the reverse of removal. You may want to put some new thread locker on the subframe bolts.

You are probably doing no favours to your back 4 front subframe mounting points or your AC compressor by doing it this way, but I find it's the most effective for doing the front mount.

[94SilverSSEi]

ok thanks for that. Got too many irons in the fire on the moment but hopefully I'll have some more time to work on the Caddy in a week or two.

Rockauto was jerking me around on the mount, they wanted me to pull the old one and mail it back (I pay shipping) before they would send a new one. To which I told them I was disgusted this one lasted 5 days and I hope it was just a faulty part and not a faulty design and that I can't have the car down for a week mailing mounts back and forth.

So they said they mail me a new one free of charge and told me to keep the old cool. Cool! Not happy about having to change it again but at least I'll have the mount on hand and it was free replacement shipped to my door.

[DAT_STS]

I dont think it was ever resolved but your pushed out fender is from someone lifting your SLS from the wrong location. If you can get underneath it with a pair of long nose vice grips you should be able to pull the lip back down and as you do that it will drag the fender back in. I did it to my own STS the first time I put it in the air. The guys I work with almost saw a grown man cry that morning. Lesson learned the hard way. Awesome car, sucks about your front engine mount glad it was resolved.

**edit, added a thought.