T4 TDi noise at high torque/throttle

[farmsyncro]

Our T4 TDi Syncro continues to be a fantastic work horse/transport/camper.

My last adventure was a heavy towing job pulling a large car trailer loaded up with dam liner material. I estimate this was (an unplanned) 2t load and needed every bit of torque and 2nd gear to negotiate significant hills.
Some way into the trip in 2nd gear at full throttle a noise developed. This was a vibration/grinding noise like the exhaust was touching on bodywork or something like that. As soon as I backed off to half throttle or so the noise went away.

I assume with the above symptoms that I have broken an engine mount allowing the engine to move excessively and stop against something hard producing the noise.

Has anyone had a similar experience and may know which mount provides the torque stop to the engine & gearbox? I have had a good look around with someone inside loading up the engine but cannot see where the torque mount would be. The engine certainly moves a bit but I suspect we cannot move it as far as "in service" when the noise happens.

Thanks,
FarmSyncro

[Umai Naa!!]

Check your front driveshafts.

Check that the bolts are all tight and accounted for, especially the carrier bracket that hangs off the rear engine mount on the drivers side.

[jets]

Have a read of this thread.
'Rocking' engine - change engine mounts? - VW T4 Forum - VW T5 Forum

[Sunny43.5]

My son's one had that problem the pendulum mount for engine was flogged out easy job to replace and the noise was gone , and as Umai says check the bolts holding the half shafts to the gear box output shafts .

[Jmac]

Pendulum mount is a good place to start, engine does cant back when you accelerate.
Jmac

[farmsyncro]

Hi all,

Well I'm confident that may be the fastest, cheapest repair I have done in a while (a pity I'm not charging for the repair!).
After a good look at the engine movement when loaded up (only loaded as far as we could with handbrake on & first gear) it is not excessive. Sure it moves a bit but doesn't try to leap out of the engine bay like I have seen others do with a broken engine mount.

After the above advice I checked the pendulum mount at the back of the gearbox and this seems sound with no particular movement or any signs of rubbing/fouling. I did find the sump guard very close to the gearbox housing and a wear mark where it has been touching. A quick reshaping the guard with a lever & it has plenty of clearance.
I have driven it & no noise - although the noise only showed up with a huge load so it may take some time to be sure to be sure.

Thanks for your help.

Regards,
FarmSyncro

[Umai Naa!!]

Good work.

It's either that, or some goose has left half the bolts out.

[jets]

Hi all,

Well I'm confident that may be the fastest, cheapest repair I have done in a while
I did find the sump guard very close to the gearbox housing and a wear mark where it has been touching. A quick reshaping the guard with a lever & it has plenty of clearance.

I love it when a plan comes together. Well done.

[Sunny43.5]

A lever why ? didn't you have a knockometer .