Truck repairs and tune-ups can be extremely expensive. This can leave you wanting to make smaller adjustments on your own. And if you’ve noticed that your engine mounts in your Peterbilt don’t seem to be functioning correctly, this is a costly adjustment that you can take a look at on your own before you bring it into the shop.
Ready to save yourself some money and time waiting for repairs? Then keep reading to find out when, why, and how you can adjust your Peterbilt motor mounts.
How Do You Know Your Motor Mounts Need Adjusting?
There are several symptoms that your truck may exhibit when the motor mounts need adjusted or changed. It is imperative that you watch out for these signs and investigate them right away when they happen.
Generally, the main signs of a bad or defective motor mount to watch out for are impact noises coming from the engine, excessive vibration, or if you notice the engine has moved within the engine bay. Each of these signs warrants a different action.
If you hear noises from the engine area, this typically means your engine mounts are broken or damaged. In this case, an adjustment won’t help you much, and it is highly likely that you will need to skip right to installing all-new engine mounts.
On the other hand, if you are noticing vibrations or engine movement, this could mean that the engine mounts are worn or damaged, but this also means that they may need a simple adjustment in order to hold the engine in place more tightly.
How to Adjust Peterbilt Motor Mounts
If you’ve decided that there is something wrong with your Peterbilt motor mount, then it may be time to try a simple adjustment to see if the problem can be corrected without replacing the motor mounts themselves.
A Peterbilt motor mount, a proper alignment with installation is critical. Afterward, the motor mount can be adjusted using a torque wrench to tighten the bolts and increase the tension.
When your Peterbilt has already had motor mounts installed, it is very easy to adjust the tension of the mounts using a simple torque wrench. If you are experiencing problems like vibrations or movement, it is highly likely that you need to increase the tension.
Steps to Adjust the Tension
- Acquire a torque wrench
- Locate the bolts holding the engine mount in place
- Tighten the bolts using the torque wrench
If you’ve adjusted the tension, and this hasn’t solved the problem, then it is possible that your motor mounts are aligned improperly. This may require you to remove the engine mount and reinstall them. This can be a difficult and costly repair if you don’t know what you are doing.
How to Install a New Peterbilt Motor Mount
For those with the technological know-how, and the proper equipment, installing a new motor mount is relatively easy and will only take a few hours.
To install a new motor mount, you will need to jack up the engine, remove the bolts, then place the new motor mounts. This does typically require you to move several other parts of the truck motor out of the way and can take a few hours to complete.
When installing new motor mounts, you only have to remove the bolts of the mounts you need to replace. If there is a mount that you aren’t replacing, save yourself some time and leave the bolt in place.
If you are having trouble getting the bolts out, this is a common problem when the engine mounts are worn or damaged. Many mechanics will use some oil to help loosen the bolts and make it easier to take them out. You can also use an air chisel to try and get the bolts out from the bottom. If they still don’t come free, you may have to do some cutting.
If you find yourself unable to get the bolts out with the basic equipment and oil, then it is highly recommended that you have a certified professional help you, as you wouldn’t want to accidentally cut the wrong part as you try to free the bolts.
Conclusion
Truck repairs are pricey, and being without your truck for the time it takes the repair to be complete is tough! Don’t worry, because some repairs involving your engine mount can easily be performed on your own.
Simply grab that torque wrench you have lying around and use it to tighten the bolts to adjust the tension on your Peterbilt engine mounts. If this doesn’t solve the problem, then replacing of the engine mounts is probably in order. You can attempt this repair on your own. However, it may be easier on you to seek the help of a professional truck mechanic.