KTR Group N Engine and Gearbox Mounts

[BenG]

Hey.

Ive just had these fitted to the Trophy along with the powerflex dogbone mount.

I decided to buy these mounts because while back I had my car put on the RR and I was shocked by the amount of movement from the Engine under acceleration and when backing off the pedal at high revs. The standard mounts are pretty poor to be honest and flex way too much for my liking. This is my view of the Group N mounts.....

I picked up the car this morning from the garage, Opened the bonet and give the engine a good shake, No movement what-so-ever ! Im actually surprised how solid the group N mounts are.

Got in the car, started her up and initially felt the affects of the mounts. On start up you can feel the engine come to life through the steering wheel and then everything settles down and there is very little vibration through the car just slighly more vibration through the steering wheel.

ok, so I set off and into second and straight away I noticed a difference ! The gear box feels really tight and together when engaging the clutch if that makes sense. Before the mounts were fitted the gear stick used to move quite alot whenever I used to accelerate or back off the pedal and there was a jerkiness from the engine, but that has gone now and the gear stick stays solid. When I let off the pedal there is no jerkiness from the engine or box. Everything feels tight, like it should feel. These mounts do actually make a big difference but is really one of those things that you would need to drive the car with them fitted to understand the benefits. Im glad I got them done.

However ! Due to the mounts being so stiff I have developed a rattle from somewhere in the dash at 3K revs. This is a really annoying rattle which I wont be able to put up with so I will most likely have to remove the dash and do some fault finding when I get the time. But no biggy !

The car feels alot better to drive now. very pleased !

 

[480bhp.com]

Yeah they're pretty stiff :wink:

As you've stated the feel through the gearbox is greatly improved, it's still not in the same league as the German cars but it's loads better than with the standard mounts.

They're not actually Group N mounts, Ktec just call them that, they are infact just Vibratechnics designed mounts.
The genuine Group N mounts cost abut 6-7 times more

I did notice a bit of vibration though the steering wheel though, more noticable when on the motorway at a steady pace.

Still i'd never go back to the standard mounts especially as i only use the car on circuit (other than driving there)

Chris

 

[keith185]

Great write up Ben, have been looking at these myself - keep me posted on how these hold up in the longer term please.

It's nuts how much movement there is in the standard mounts :lol:

 

[BenG]

They're not actually Group N mounts, Ktec just call them that, they are infact just Vibratechnics designed mounts.
The genuine Group N mounts cost abut 6-7 times more

I was actually aware of this. How do the actual Group N mounts compare to these vibratechnic ones ?

keep me posted on how these hold up in the longer term please.

It's nuts how much movement there is in the standard mounts

Cheers Keith, I will keep you updated. The only downfall at the moment is the rattle at 3K revs but with these type of mounts fitted you cant expect the vibrations to be damped as much as the standard mounts and the rattle should hopefully be able to be identified when I find the time.

Chris wont have this problem as he doesnt have any interior :wink:

 

[Gman]

I was contemplating these mounts for my car but was a little nervous due to past experiences with stiffer mounts, in the end i just bought some new genuine items, even the new standard ones have made a massive difference.

I too will be interested in how you get on with them in the long term. A friend of mine has some very similar ones fitted to his escort cosworth and they are very good, just a little sign of increased vibration mostly when in a high gear at lower speeds.

 

[PeterGinger]

I'm also interested. The Renaultsport ones at £1000 + fitting seem a bit high in price. The K-tek ones are much cheeper, so will like to see how they hold up. I would also like to see what mark fish ones are like.

 

[BenG]

I went on the Motorway today for the first time in ages. You know how the Engine goes Grrrrr constantly, well it Grrrr's slightly louder now but at the same time it sounds really strong, its hard to explain. Although I have just had it serviced.
I didnt experience any extra vibrations through the steering wheel at speeds up to (5K revs in 5th, you do the math) :wink:
I also found the rattle to be my head unit so I wedged a piece of paper in and it has gone how. There is another minor rattle somewhere that I hardly notice so ill have a look at some point.

I have heard that when mounts are replaced with stiffer ones the next mount will take the strin and so on. Now, I have uprated the Dogbone mount and the Upper Engine and Gear box Mount. Apparently the strut top mounts would be the next mount to go?

Gman - What past experiences have you had with stiffer mounts ?

 

[480bhp.com]

I have heard that when mounts are replaced with stiffer ones the next mount will take the strin and so on. Now, I have uprated the Dogbone mount and the Upper Engine and Gear box Mount. Apparently the strut top mounts would be the next mount to go?

Gman - What past experiences have you had with stiffer mounts ?

This only happens with associated mounts, the strut mounts are independant of the engine mounts so it will have no bearing on there life at all.

As you've uprated all 3 mounts that take the main strain of the engine and gearbox underload, i'd be surprised if you have any engine mount related problems, until the new ones wear out.

Chris

 

[BenG]

Cheers Chris. Glad to hear that from someone who knows what they are talking about.

 

[Jonc]

I read a while back, possibly on the CS site, that when someone had uprated their engine mounts the next thing that took the strain of the engine were the exhaust headers which subsequently broke.

 

[BenG]

How would exhaust headers take extra strain from the engine, they move with the engine and seeing as though there is now less movement in the engine the headers will move less. I dont understand ?

 

[Gman]

The exhaust headers and cat are more likely to brake with worn mounts due to excessive movement so surely the less movement the less likely they are to brake.

BenG - when i say bad past experiences it's only as you'd imagine, i had some fitted in a civic and it just shook the car to bits basically, it was most annoying in slow moving traffic.
I just want to keep the Trophy as nice to drive as possible. By the sounds of it these mounts are fairly different though.

 

[Jonc]

How would exhaust headers take extra strain from the engine, they move with the engine and seeing as though there is now less movement in the engine the headers will move less. I dont understand ?

Sorry it was a while ago when I read it somewhere. When I say a while ago, before the Trophy when I had a 172 in 2001! May be my memory is failing me in my old age!

 

[BenG]

Its ok, Id rather your memory failed than my exhaust headers :wink:

I have no doubt that you did read that on CS.

 

[BenG]

Going to remove these now because rattles are appearing from everywhere and are driving me mad to be honest.
Im going to replace them with new standard ones.

Wasn't much of a long term test was it ! :lol:

 

[480bhp.com]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Jessie :twisted:

Got to admit i don't think i've got any rattles, then again there's not much left inside to rattle, just the driver :wink:

Chris

 

[BenG]

:lol: :lol:

It sounds like ive got a nest of crickets behind the dash !

 

[hoolio]

Lol Ben why don't you buy something altogether more comfy? ;-)


Clearly a more track oriented mod though.

 

[shiftspark]

I am glad your doing all the test and research for us

Get some MF springs they are well worth it!

Have a look here http://www1.clikpic.com/rick25/photo_4080117.html

 

[George K]

I am glad your doing all the test and research for us

Get some MF springs they are well worth it!

Have a look here http://www1.clikpic.com/rick25/photo_4080117.html

Colin, Looks nice - even less rear droop! Glad to see the quick and easy mount for the timing strut - they seem otoend up tight in the upright position! BTW I made mine out of a black plastic seed tray!