PITA and the Payback
Oh yeah, perceptions do have a bit to do about it. The PITA and the payback.
I watched the ecs video about the install and bought some grease from Autozone and was gonna slip this ***** in, an easy install. I'd recommend dishsoap. I don't have a floor jack, so I lifted the car and set it down on blocks to squeeze in the inset that way. No big deal, it gets in okay, but then when I go to thread the bolt it doesn't line up, cuz the insert pushed up the top part. Yeah, I didn't even think about that until I was trying to figure out how to get it back in place. Tight fit, nice. I didn't have anyway to get it back out because it was all the way in there.
So I put the bolt back in the best that I could and drove for a couple of miles to try to work it out by having the dogbone push on the insert.
That worked to get it halfway out. Then in the struggle I tore off the front two smaller inserts. Maybe that makes a little difference? (the red ecs insert)
So after wrenching on it in a tight uncomfortable spot, on my back under the car, cutting my hands and getting greasy from yanking on this *****. I said **** it, I squeezing this ***** back in, with the bolt in, so it keeps the top and bottom in line.
That's what I recommend to anyone because both sections can move forward, where there is more room.
Small project turned bad.
So we didn't get off on the right foot. Then when I drove it, I couldn't notice anything but the ****ing annoying bucking and shaking. SOaB
I opened my mind the next day, when my wife informed me that, "It shifts better". really???
.. So I quit focusing on the terrible ass kicking bucking and shaking and started driving it.
Huge difference. I have one uphill intersection that I have to stop at everyday. Before, I'd rev it and barely make it into second with any momentum. Now, I'm chirping the tires going into second. Hell yeah. I leave people in the dust at that intersection everyday. What up fools?
And second to third? Forget about it. Solid.
The terrible noise, bucking and shaking. Yeah, I wore that out. I wasn't having it. Now it's fine.
I was thinking about it on the ride home, (contemplating my opinion) focusing on the downsides. The vibration. I felt it twice. One time, it was relaxing. It didn't make noise, just the motor shaking. I don't think anyone else in the car even noticed.
I read every post I could find about it right after the install, cuz I hated it. Was the performance trade-off bearable while I drove the hell out of the car to payback the abuse that the dogbone insert had, and was currently giving me? Barely. During the first days? No.
Did I have a bad install or did I have a good install? Based on the current cost/benefits of 1. improved performance, 2. low cost, 3. little or no side effects, and 4. amusing third person accounts of how terrible it is, I'd have to say that it was a good install.
Would I do it again? No, I'd replace the entire mount.
