A quick page detailing how to install an STi Group N Transmission Mount (manual transmission only). Please feel free to email and ask any questions. Comments are always welcome.
I'm going to start by showing the difference between the STi Group N transmission mount and the stock one- the STi mount is not only harder, but has more material to it. The stock mount is soft enough to compress with your hand, whereas standing on the STi mount barely deflects the material.
Top: STi Group N transmission mount
Bottom: Stock RS transmission mount
To start off, look for the long crossmember holding up the transmission- it will be at the end closest to the engine. The ends of this crossmember are right near the rear mount for the front A arm, and are held in with a large 17mm bolt, one on the driver side . . .
. . . and one on the passenger side. Remove them both completely. Fair warning- these bolts were EXCESSIVELY tight from the factory. I placed a 3 foot length of pipe over my socket wrench for leverage after I had a casualty- I broke one of the 4" long socket extensions.
This was the extension in question- it is a 1/2" drive Craftsman, and I snapped the bugger in two. I have NEVER had that happen before!
The next thing to do is to remove the 2 14mm nuts that hold the bottom of the transmission mount to the crossmember that runs the length of the transmission- these were also tight but came out without breaking any of my tools.
At the rear of the transmission, you will find the third and final crossmember holding the transmission in its place. There are four 14mm bolts in this crossmember- 2 on the driver side . . .
. . . and two on the passenger side (this picture is not great, but it is a bad spot to take a photo of). Remove the two bolts closest to the engine completely. Now, loosen but do not remove the last two bolts- do not worry, the transmission will NOT fall out on you if you do. The idea is to basically "hinge" all the crossmembers off of these last two bolts, to give you enough room to unbolt the transmission mount and then remove it.
Finally, there are 4 14mm bolts (these ones have washers on them) that are holding the transmission mount in (only two are pictured here). Remove these four bolts, and the mount should just about fall right off the car. Installation of the STi mount reverses the process, with just one caution. The four bolts that hold the transmission mount to the transmission need to be snug, but do NOT overtighten them. The holes for them are tapped into aluminum, and you do not want to strip the threads or worse, crack the aluminum.
Standard Disclaimer: Modification of your car involves risks and may void your warranty. I can not be held responsible for the modifications you consciously decide to undertake nor for the results of doing so.
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