Everything you need to know about rubber to metal mounts

Febi explains the methods of suppressing vehicle vibration

Everything you need to know about rubber to metal mounts

Vehicle manufacturers fit vehicles with insulators and vibration countermeasures to reduce noise, vibration and harshness.

The engine mount carries the weight of the engine and absorbs vibrations to ensure smooth, stable and quiet driving.

As a safety-critical component, it is essential to use high-quality mountings for maximum control and safe driving.

In time all engine mountings have the potential to fail or wear, reducing their dampening countermeasures, which then causes discomfort for the driver.

The most common symptom of a failing engine mount is the sensation of strong body vibrations when accelerating.

Transmission mount failure can cause vibrations, particularly when changing gear and steering.

Rubber in the mount can crack over time, and as the mounting perishes, the engine may shift slightly, which can cause excessive vibration.

In the case of a hydraulic mounting, wear and tear can cause the fluid to leak. It is important to check the mounting regularly and replace if there are any signs of wear.

When replacing an engine or transmission mounting, ensure that all correct procedures are carried out to avoid reducing the life of the replacement part.

Rubber mount

The traditional and most common form is the rubber mount.

This is available in numerous shapes and sizes from a simple cotton reel shape to a very complex rubber and metal formation.

Stiffness is regulated within the properties of the elastomeric material used, and the direction of movement is determined by the fixed links within the design of the mount.

Hydraulic mount

The more dynamic hydraulic mount combines the acoustic isolation functions of a conventional rubber engine mount, but with a balanced damping performance.

Hydraulic engine mounts can adapt their characteristics depending on the induced load.

The viscous liquid in the hydraulic mount acts as a damper to ensure optimum insulation.

Inside a hydraulic engine mount, the main rubber spring has an upper and lower chamber.

A series of canals connect the chambers and separated by a rubber valve.

The mainspring is filled with a viscous liquid which acts as a secondary damper.

During impacts that generate shock and vibrations, the rubber valve opens and closes the bypass channel redirecting the viscous liquid flow between the two chambers.

This changes the stiffness of the mount, creating optimum damping characteristics for any road conditions.

Electronic engine mount

An electronically controlled engine mount offers more control.

The switching function causes the air suspension in the mount to be utilised in the neutral position, providing soft suspension when at idle or low rpm.

Then, when the vehicle is being driven, the mount switches to hydraulic suspension and provides a firmer suspension between the engine and the vehicle’s body.

Febi offer over 850 engine and transmission mounts for a variety of vehicle makes and models, which are rigorously tested to meet or exceed exact OE standards.

For further information select ‘more details’ below.

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