Violent judder from engine/gearbox when setting off in first

[moggy]

Heeeyulp... I've replaced the front engine mounts which were indeed completely sheared in 2 but now the problem still persists (although not as bad). The 2 next things to check would be the rear gearbox mounts and the clutch (unless there's someting else I'm missing..):

RE: Rear gearbox mounts: Whats the simplest way to see if they're shot without having to take them out? The engine ones I could plainly see by looking at them that they were sheared in 2 but I can't see anything so obvious on the gearbox ones.

RE: Clutch: I'm tending not to think it's a clutch problem, mainly because whenever a clutch has gone in the past on my beetle its just started to slip rather than a violent judder in first.

BTW this is a 914/4

Any advice greatly received as I've got tomorrow off work to solve this mystery.

Cheers

Moggy

[Gary71]

I think you've indentifed the suspects already. It could well be the clutch friction disc having warped, I had one on a Golf that did this. It didn't slip when engaged but juddered violently on the way in. If not the friction disk then the cover plate, or even the flywheel, maybe the cause.

It may be that your clutch has been juddering the engine/transmission to the point whereby it's finished off some weakened old mounts. If the gearbox mounts are not visually damaged then these are unlikely to be the cause.

If you come on and off the throttle when in gear does the engine/box thump or bang? Can you get someone to watch the engine when you bring up the clutch when stationary against the brakes? If if moves excessively then maybe the other mounts are indeed shot, but that may be effect rather than cause!

Hopey ou get it sorted, but it sounds like the engine/box may be coming out

[fourteener]

Moggy, If you want to check your gearbox mounts it's very simple.
Put a jack under your gearbox for support, loosen the two main 17mm(?) nuts under each gearbox eare. Remove 2 (per side) 13mm nuts that fix the mount to the chassis. Once the mount is free slide it towards the front of the car and inspect visually. Incidently I'm sure these are the same as the 911 engine mount.

[Derek]

Incidently I'm sure these are the same as the 911 engine mount.

They are the same.

[autohausdolby]

When I had this on a customer's bay window van recently it was the clutch at fault, combined with worn engine and gearbox mounts

[Robster]

Also worth checking (if you split the engine and gearbox) is the crankshaft oil seal behind the flywheel. If these leak, the oil gets on the flywheel and is then sprayed liberally over your clutch, and it could be a contaminated clutch plate that is causing the judder.

good luck!

[moggy]

Guys... I took the gearbox mounts off tonight and sure enough they're virtually split into 2 (both of them). So where can I get some replacements from at a good (i.e. cheap) price. The cars a 1973 914 which came out the factory in Jan of that year.

Cheers

Moggy

[moggy]

I phoned around a couple of places in the UK but all seemed a bit pricey so took advantage of the £ to $ rate and ordered them up from Pelican - £40 for 2 including postage. Pretty good deal I thought.