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Smooth Moves

September 13, 2026

Stop for a moment and think of what’s holding that heavy engine that sits under your vehicle’s hood to your vehicle’s frame.  Your engine weighs hundreds of pounds, so it’s a big burden on those things that are holding it in place.  Same is true for what holds your vehicle’s transmission in place.

The parts responsible are called mounts: engine mounts for the engine, transmission mounts for the transmission.  They are either made of rubber or what’s called a hydraulic cushion, a mount filled with fluid instead of being made of rubber.

One thing to warn you mounts might be failing is you will feel shakes or vibrations, especially when stopped at a traffic light or when you’re idling.  Another symptom is thumping or clunking sounds.  You may notice the engine is rocking if you rev it in neutral, your gear changes feel jerkier than they used to or you hear more engine noise or vibration.  

If you notice any of these signs, you should have one of our technicians check it out fairly soon.  The reason?  If you wait too long to have a bad engine or transmission mount replaced, that delay can lead to premature wear on your axles or driveshafts, hoses and wires stretching or cracking and exhaust joints and flex pipes stressed to the point of failing.  

We’ll check your old mounts, remove the bad ones and install new ones.  The technician will make sure everything is aligned and check the engine for vibration before heading out on a final road test.  Once your new mounts are installed, you’ll notice the engine runs more smoothly, and your gear shifts feel as seamless as they should.

Spartan Tire Brighton
4880 Old U.S. 23
Brighton, MI 48114
8102277377

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