1990 Mk2 16v rear engine mount

[jezza16v]

Hi, I have to replace the rear 'drivers side' engine mount  Haynes says it can be done with the engine in place but gives no detail. It looks pretty tight down behind there, anyone have any tips to keep it simple?

[Mk1Mad J - 16v]

You can probably leave the engine in but the actual mount would need to come out for the new insert to pressed in.  Support the engine with a trolley jack and just unbolt the mount.

I've got a spare/surplus mount if you're local (Bromley) and dont want to be without your car 

[Agreeable Slick]

Support the engine with a trolley jack and just unbolt the mount.

and crack the sump...

Get a engine hoist and support it from the top not the bottom, then undo the mount and rock the engine forward. Should have enough movement to get the engine out of the way and get to the rear mount. If not then undo the gearbox mount aswell.

[Mk1Mad J - 16v]

Support the engine with a trolley jack and just unbolt the mount.

and crack the sump...

Get a engine hoist and support it from the top not the bottom, then undo the mount and rock the engine forward. Should have enough movement to get the engine out of the way and get to the rear mount. If not then undo the gearbox mount aswell.

  never gonna happen, i've jacked a car up on its sump 

put the jack under the gearbox anyway  near the mount you're taking off

[jezza16v]

Thanks for the rapid advice both & offer of a spare, I'm in Oxford so would be a bit of a stretch. No panic to keep on the road as this is a second car. I've got the gearbox mount to do at the same time, that looks tedious but at least its easy enough to get to. I don't have use of a hoist so will have to go the jack route (with something squishy between).
How many bolts on the rear mount, its very difficult to see. I can only see one from the top and a couple of unused holes, any on the bottom? Think I'd better order some new knuckles before I start! 

[Mk1Mad J - 16v]

You can use a bit of wood between the jack but to be honest its so much hassle trying to line it up i don't bother 

If i remember correctly (i only stripped the 16v, im a mk1 driver)

Rear of engine - 5 or 6 x13mm on the back of the block & 1 big one (17mm i think) through the insert (rubber bit).

Gearbox - 2 big ones (17mm)  through the gearbox with another one big through the insert


If you can get hold of some new knuckes i'll take a few sets 

[rubjonny]

Easiest way to do the gearbox mount is to unbolt the linkage bracket and jack the gearbox up slowly.  Then you can get 'just' enough clearance to swap the mount.  I find the main bracket on the front can be a pain to remove, not so much clearance!

Oh and apparently if you undo the driver side driveshaft at the gearbox end and move it out the way it gives you tons of room to remove the rear mount

[jezza16v]

Thanks for the 'driveshaft' tip, never thought of that. Need a wierd (sort of but not quite) 'star' drive thingy to get the shaft bolts undone, I don't have those, are they easy enough to get hold of or are they VW specials?  I think the g'box mount is OK but I have a new one so might as well replace it, the problem seems to be the rear mount cos the engine jumps on that end when I reverse.

[rubjonny]

star or splined bit or something. Halfords have em