So once by steering rack was out, I thought when can be a better time to do the engine mounts then now with best access available.
The old ones were bulging out and filled with oil at the bottom:
I ordered QP engine mounts 225839 as based on research they are the best alternative and expected to be "easy fit". Oh how wrong was I...... I literarily took full Saturday to replace them and I was half way to give up. Main issue being the top mount nuts. These guys, 18mm nuts, recessed inside the alu casting:
There is no way to get a ring spanner on them as they are recessed and once you get a socket on them there is no more space for the ratchet as the exhaust manifold pipe goes just above. The only thing I didn´t have available is 3/8" 18mm socket that might be a bit smaller, but 1/2" socket+ratchet are for sure too big.
After triyng for 2-3 hours I decided I have to fabricate a tool. I went to store, bought 3-4 18mm socket with intention to create various sorts of tools and drive to my friend with a welding machine.
This is all I tried:
On drivers side I was successful with the shortened 18mm socket welded on a bent steel bar to crack the nut loose and on passenger side with a shortened socket with welded 19mm nut on top. I used a ring spanner on that one, interlocked with second spanner to get more leverage and I cracked the other one too. Pretty nasty job if you are on your back under the car lifted on quickjack lift with face only few inches from the car and trying to apply force with al body. Those stupid nuts are secured nuts by being crushed and in addition they are locktited. Pain to release, equal to typical crank pulley nuts.
But I removed them and tried to lift the engine from the mounts to get them free:
Of course it was not enough and I was missing few centimeters of space. IN the end I had to drop the subframe. Not completely, I cracked the bolts, unscreved them but left hanging by the last millimeters and dropped the subframe on bolts by 3-5 cm.
Still not enough, so re tool all bolts out on one side to get that one few mms lower and manage the maneuver the mount out and new in. Then I attached subframe bolts on that side and removed on the other one and replaced the other mount.
Here is the old vs new mount. Old one was really collapsed. The QP mounts have different plate on the top, but no need to modify, they fit. The old one have captive threads for the bolts attaching them to subframe, on QP ones you need to use 10x1,25mm fine thread nuts. Otherwise they fit perfectly.
The rest was easy, put all back together and install the steering rack and bits around it. I don´t know what is the official procedure to do the mounts, but I think I would not be able to do them with steering rack in. Respect to anybody who can without that. Of course, having a full size workshop lift would make all much easier and give better leverage on the tools etc, but considering my options I saw only this one.
After that saga I was really happy to have it done and though the rear one at the gearbox must be easier. Oh how wrong was I......