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Transmission Mount Replacement Cost: 2023 Price Comparison

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If your transmission is loose, knocking around, or causing the vehicle to vibrate, replacing the mounts might fix the issue.

Your transmission mounts are essentially rubber bushings that absorb shock and vibration between the transmission and the chassis.

This keeps the transmission firmly attached to the vehicle’s frame while preventing vibration from damaging the motor or the drive shaft.

So, if you’re having issues, it’s important to get a new mount or mounts ASAP. 

Here, the average cost of replacing a transmission mount is $150-$100. Here, the mount normally costs $10-$200. The rest is labor, because replacing transmission mounts requires taking the transmission out. So, you can expect your mechanic to spend 1-3 hours on the job. 

The table below shows a quick price comparison of transmission mount replacement cost estimates from reputable suppliers:

SupplierTransmission Mount CostLabor
YourMechanic$160-$962$237-$1016
Midas$125-$870$195-$1220
Firestones $150-$780$190-$1270
Valvoline $127-$888$194-$1210
Pep Boys $19-$879$189-$1380
Walmart $7-$118NA
Amazon $3-$1,129NA

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How Much Does Transmission Mount Replacement Cost?*

In most cases, the largest factor impacting the cost of replacing your transmission mount is labor. However, the cost of the part can also be significant, especially if you have a rare vehicle with hard-to-find parts.

On average, you’ll pay about $150 or less for your transmission mount and the rest is labor. 

The following estimates cover normal price ranges for changing transmission mounts in popular cars. 

VehicleTransmission Mount CostLabor Cost
Honda Civic $124-$193$116-$194
Dodge Dart  $135-$284$160-$256
Chevy Tahoe $70-$154$65-$260
Mazda 3 $122-$190$85-$190
BMW X3 $107-$195$160-$445
Chevy Cruze $86-$248$165-$254
Ford Focus $112-$223$85-$134
Nissan Altima $176-$257$105-$228
Dodge Journey $114-$246$99-$245
Mercedes s550 $160-$537$192-$527

*Note: Prices are estimates and were correct at the time of writing (April 2022). Cost estimates may have changed since, our figures should be used as a starting point for your own research.

Transmission Mount Replacement Pricing Factors

The cost of replacing a transmission mount will normally depend on factors like the mount, the vehicle, and the cost of labor.

Here, labor is almost always the largest part of the cost – although it can be about even with the cost of the mount.

You’ll also want to consider if you’re just replacing one mount, both transmission mounts, or the transmission and motor mounts all at once. 

Cost of Labor 

The cost of labor will always be a significant factor in replacing your trans mount.

Here, you’ll have to factor in paying for 1-4 hours of labor for the work.

That’s because replacing a transmission mount means decoupling the transmission from the flywheel and the driveshaft. Then, you’ll drop it down onto a lift or set of jacks to replace the mounts. This can be labor-intensive. 

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It’s also one reason why even people who like DIY work sometimes prefer to have trans and motor mounts replaced by a mechanic. The job is a lot easier if you have a lift. Having a lift also reduces any chance of dropping the transmission to near zero.

However, it will mean paying for a significant amount of labor. 

In most cases, labor starts out at around $60 per hour and goes up to $200+. If you have an independent shop you might pay as little as $15 per hour, but you probably don’t want to.

Additionally, if you choose a chain shop like Valvoline or Midas, you’re most likely going to pay rates starting from $94.99 per hour + shop fees. This usually means the cost of labor for replacing transmission mounts usually starts at around $100. 

Cost of the Part 

Transmission mounts are made of rubber bushings over a metal mount. These function as shock absorbers to reduce vibration, reduce damage to the transmission, and ensure that the engine moves with the chassis and the drivetrain.

Therefore, they can range from very simple parts to very high-end parts designed to optimally reduce wear and tear to your engine. 

Here, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) part is likely to start at around $100 but will average about $150. If you choose universal or made-to-fit aftermarket parts, costs are more likely to range between $10 and $80.

On the other hand, if you choose performance parts, rates can go up well over $900. That’s also true if you’re buying parts for an older or rare car – you might be forced to pay a premium for parts because they are hard to find.

However, universal bushings will often work – but you might want to consult specifications with your owner’s manual. 

Number of Mounts 

Most cars have one or two transmission mounts. Here, the large part of the work is pulling the transmission out, so many mechanics will recommend replacing both at once.

However, that may not be necessary. In addition, some mechanics will also recommend that you replace the motor mounts at the same time. Others will not. Here, the torque mount and the rear transmission mount are the most prone to damage – and therefore the most likely to need replacement.

That can mean you might want to replace more than one mount. However, you might also be able to get away with inspecting and replacing just the ones that are having issues. 

Mount Placement 

If your trans mounts are in the front and rear of the transmission, you may be able to replace them without fully removing the transmission.

Here, you can support one end of the transmission, drop it down just enough to pull out the mount, replace the mount, and then jack that side back up.

On the other hand, if your transmission mount is in the center, you might have to take the full transmission out. This will impact the amount of labor. It also impacts how difficult it is to do the work yourself. 

5 Symptoms of a Bad Transmission Mount

If your transmission mount is going out, you’ll probably notice noises and vibrations first. Otherwise, symptoms may require significant inspection of the vehicle. In other cases, symptoms of a bad mount will overlap with steering issues. 

1. Vibration 

If your vehicle vibrates significantly, especially when cornering, shifting gears, or idling, it’s a good sign that something is wrong with the mounts.

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Here, the issue might be either the motor mount or the transmission mounts. In either case, you’ll want to inspect them. Normally, if you can move mounts with your hands, they have too much play. That means you’ll want to replace them. 

Vibration is more than just uncomfortable. It causes excess shock to the drive shaft, the flywheel, and the crankshaft and camshaft.

If left alone, it could mean your entire engine will need work or have to be replaced or even rebuilt. Therefore, it’s important to tackle issues with excess vibration as quickly as possible. 

2. Loud Noises 

Loud clunks, bangs, and thumps from under the car are always a bad sign. Here, it probably sounds like something is loose in the engine or in the chassis.

Likely, that’s the transmission. Most importantly, those thuds are caused by the transmission hitting things, by the transmission shifting enough to cause the driveshaft or the crankshaft to thud against something else, or by the transmission hitting the chassis.

This happens when the mounts have too much play to hold the transmission in place. But it will cause significant damage to every part of the engine if left alone. 

3. Difficulty Cornering

If you’re having trouble cornering, it might be because the transmission or motor is shifting when you turn. Your vehicle might pull hard in the direction of the turn as the motor shifts in that direction.

This can be dangerous and can cause significant damage to the engine or the transmission. Here, you’ll likely notice this when accelerating, when going uphill, when going downhill, and when cornering at higher speeds. 

4. Damaged Chassis 

If you can inspect the chassis around the transmission and see physical damage such as dents or scrapes, it’s a good sign the transmission is hitting it.

In extreme cases, the shifting weight of the transmission can actually cause the chassis to flex as well, which could knock the doors out of alignment. A misshapen frame is difficult and expensive to fix, so you hopefully catch the issue before it becomes this serious. 

5. Gear Shifting Difficulties 

If you’re having trouble shifting gears, it could be any part of the transmission or the gearbox to blame.

However, it could also be that your transmission has shifted slightly out of alignment. This can start out as a slight problem, it can come and go, and it can suddenly get very bad – especially when cornering or going up hills.

If you have this kind of issue, you do want to have it looked at, whether or not it ends up being the transmission mount. 

Changing A Transmission Mount: 12 Steps

If you want to change the transmission mounts in your car, you can do so yourself.

However, it’s important to make sure you have jacks to support the transmission. You’ll need a good floor jack to hold your transmission up. 

Things You’ll Need: 

  • Floor jack
  • 4 Jack stands
  • New Transmission mounts
  • Wrench set
  • Screwdriver
  • Brake cleaner
  • Penetrating fluid 
  • Disposable towels
  • Disposable gloves 

Replacing Your Transmission Mount

  1. Park your car on a flat and level surface. Make sure it’s hard enough to support the jacks and jack stands. Chock the back wheels. 
  2. Lift up the front of the vehicle and suspend the vehicle on jack stands. Make sure the wheels are at least 3 inches off the ground. 
  3. Jack up the back of the vehicle and suspend it on jack stands. Make sure everything is stable and the jack stands are not in danger of slipping.
  4. Position the floor jack or two normal jacks under the transmission. You want most of the weight to be spread over the transmission pan. Here, you’ll want to use a plank of wood to further distribute the weight to avoid putting a hole in the pan. Lift the jack to apply upwards pressure on the transmission. 
  5. Spray the transmission mounts with penetrating fluid and let them sit for at least 5 minutes but up to 24 hours. 
  6. Use a ratchet and wrenches to keep the transmission mount bolts from spinning while you loosen them from the bracket.
  7. Raise the floor jack until the mounts lift up and you can pull them out. Here, you can often simply lift until the bolt drops out of the bottom. Pull the mounts out.
  8. Then clean the new mount surface with a scraper, a screwdriver, and brake fluid.
  9. You might have to raise the transmission further to insert the new mounts, they will be taller than the old ones.
  10. Insert the mount bolts from the bottom. Then, lower the transmission until you can tighten the nuts down on top of the bolt. If you have two mounts, stagger tightening the nuts between them, so equal pressure is applied on both sides. Tighten the system fully.
  11. Lower the floor jack out from under the transmission.
  12. Lower the car.
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From there, you should be able to test drive your car to make sure everything is performing as expected. Here, it’s extremely important to keep in mind that your transmission is very heavy.

If it falls off the jack, you likely won’t be able to get it back out. In addition, if you lower it without removing the flywheel and the drivetrain, you could damage those parts if it falls.

Be careful with the jack, use two jacks if you want to be sure, and always take steps to stabilize everything before raising or lowering the transmission. 

FAQs

If you still have questions about replacing your transmission mount, this FAQ should help. 

How long does it take to change transmission mount?

Normally, you’ll spend 1-3 hours changing a transmission mount. If your mechanic has a good lift and doesn’t have to remove the flywheel and drivetrain, the job should take about an hour.

On the other hand, you’ll probably spend at least 2 hours replacing it at home. 

Can I drive with a bad transmission mount?

It’s not a good idea to drive with a bad transmission mount because it can damage other parts of your engine. Your $200-$500 job could end up costing thousands if you have to replace the crankshaft bearings or the flywheel.

Therefore, it’s crucial to react quickly and replace the mounts when you notice they are going bad. 

Can a bad transmission mount cause damage?

A bad transmission mount can cause damage to your transmission, the flywheel, the crankshaft, the camshaft, the bearings, the chassis, and the driveshaft. Essentially, it can damage most of your engine. 

How do you check transmission mounts?

In most cases, the easiest way to test an engine mount is to check to see if you can manually move it. If the mount moves by hand, it has too much play in it. In other cases, you can inspect the mounts for physical damage like stiff, cracked, or torn rubber bushings. 

To Finalize 

Replacing a transmission mount is a big job. In most cases, you can expect to pay between $200 and $500 if you have it done by a mechanic.

If you do the work yourself, you’ll save money and can pay as little as $20 for the bushings.

However, you’ll have to be extremely careful in lowering the transmission. 

Compare Car Warranty Quotes For Free & Save Big!

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