TheSamba.com :: View topic - Late Bay Front Transmission Mount Variation

Thu Dec 11, 2025 7:05 am

Hi, all. I ordered a new front transmission mount for this ‘73 and what arrived (mounted) is a little different than what came off (what I’m holding). I was going to figure they’re “the same thing but different” but decided I really ought to find out for certain before putting everything together. First off, are they perfectly interchangeable? Second, does the new style not use the big, round, rubber bumpers? They don’t slide nearly as far onto the forks, so I’m guessing not. Again, just want to be sure.

Thanks!

Dan

Thu Dec 11, 2025 4:41 pm

Never seen a bus mount with those rubber bushings on it.
I'm going to make a mistake & assume it is a later Mexican mount of some sort.
The seventies mounts I've seen & put on are steel on steel block/clamped with 17mm bolts. ????
Only thick rubber is trapped in the sleeve/clamp to the nosecone.

Thu Dec 11, 2025 5:16 pm

It’s what they show in the Bentley. Not entirely sure what the function of the rubber rings is if I’m honest. They must help in limiting movement a little.

Dan

Thu Dec 11, 2025 6:12 pm

At the factory, the rubber bumpers align the transmission and engine hanger mounts in the rear. They’re a solid alignment stop without being metal and introducing more vibrations.

They’re not needed as long as you don’t mind aligning the drivetrain by eye with screwdrivers and swear words.

Robbie

Thu Dec 11, 2025 8:53 pm

airschooled wrote: At the factory, the rubber bumpers align the transmission and engine hanger mounts in the rear. They’re a solid alignment stop without being metal and introducing more vibrations.

They’re not needed as long as you don’t mind aligning the drivetrain by eye with screwdrivers and swear words.

Robbie

I've worked on many many Buses with these donuts on the mount (I think they are only on '72 & '73) and never understood the exact purpose of the donuts on the early mounts. The above makes sense. Whatever the purpose was, it was deemed expendable because the donuts disappeared after (?) '73.

The way I align the mounts is to have the mount hardware on this mount, and the 4 sets of screws/nuts/washers on the rear carrier bar, snug but not torqued. Able to move just a little. The hardware on the upper carrier, the two large screws that fasten to the ears on the transaxle, are fully torqued.

Run the engine (not drive it, just run it) and allow the engine/trans assembly to settle/centre itself naturally. Then torque all the remaining fasteners. This has never failed to get a good centred alignment.

Thu Dec 11, 2025 9:15 pm

Did they disappear that early? I thought I’ve seen them on most pre-091 buses.

Bentley gives good instructions on settling the drivetrain, I mostly struggle with getting the transmission ears aligned with the engine rear and nose cone mounts lined up. Usually 2 of the 3 mount locations line up easy for me, and I fight one or another…

Thu Dec 11, 2025 11:18 pm

those donuts do not work with the late 091 mounts.