I have been looking on the internet for answers but haven't found any so I suppose I will just start a thread...

So after spending 3 hours trying to get these motor mounts out of the car unsuccessfully, (It's the third bolt that is further down attaching the mount to the subframe) I decided maybe a new course of action is necessary. Is just changing the inserts an option? Or are there any great tricks to changing the entire mount without taking the springs out?

Car is a 2.8, engine is in, all 4 wheels up on stands. Oh and please refrain from 2.8 bashing,

 

Changing mounts is just an ugly long job. Top two are OK (as you found out). The only way I found to get the bottom one was to pull the tire, pull the spring (with a coil spring compressor), let the a arm drop and get at it that way. And it's still a pain in the a##. I lost a couple of sockets down in the crossmember and spent even more time fishing them out. You could change the inserts; punching or drilling the old ones will be probably the easier part of the job and then trying to get the new inserts in will be even more fun. Think marshmallow in a parking meter...

 

Ahahaha! Ya know, given enough time, and a flat head screw driver I bet you money I could get that marshmellow into a parking meter slot haha!

Yeah, Im thinking compressing the spring and getting at those bolts may be the real only way. So will I need to unbolt the shock too? Ill need an alignment after that =/ I dont really want to have to do that.

Ive lost some sockets and wrenches down in there too, thank goodness there are drain holes down there I got a piece of wire through to push the awol tools back out!

Well Im headed to the parts store to rent a spring compressor then. This is something Ive never done before and working with the springs makes me a little uneasy. Ive heard scary stories...