JHM Drive Train Stabilizer - any good

[vtraudt]

I am debating if the drive train stabilizer offers the expected 'bang for the buck' improvement.
I am currently setting up my 2002 Allroad 6 spd for 500+ HP (turbos, 750cc injectors, fuel pump, MAF, custom tune, Clutchmaster FX400 6-puck; FMIC, already has Arnott bags, Bilstein shocks, Deatschwerks 300, silicone hose, lower temp afterrun pump, colder plugs, piggies, main cat delete, wheels, lower, Stern motor/trans/snub street mounts, JHM short shifter, Forge DV)).

Is the DTS worth it?

[julex]

No.

I tried that and it was a fail. DTS causes tons of vibrations/noise in the cabin with no real improvement over already upgraded tranny/engine mounts. I hated it. There was no marked improvement over super crisp shifting with JHM SS/refreshed factory linkage.

For reference, it was installed on tial 770 allroad with stern soft engine mounts, 034 street tranny mounts. JHM shifter, apikol rear diff mount, rear diff carrier poly bushings, stock snub.

[aysix]

No.

I tried that and it was a fail. DTS causes tons of vibrations/noise in the cabin with no real improvement over already upgraded tranny/engine mounts. I hated it. There was no marked improvement over super crisp shifting with JHM SS/refreshed factory linkage.

For reference, it was installed on tial 770 allroad with stern soft engine mounts, 034 street tranny mounts. JHM shifter, apikol rear diff mount, rear diff carrier poly bushings, stock snub.

Still have the dts?

[vtraudt]

No.

I tried that and it was a fail. DTS causes tons of vibrations/noise in the cabin with no real improvement over already upgraded tranny/engine mounts. I hated it. There was no marked improvement over super crisp shifting with JHM SS/refreshed factory linkage.

For reference, it was installed on tial 770 allroad with stern soft engine mounts, 034 street tranny mounts. JHM shifter, apikol rear diff mount, rear diff carrier poly bushings, stock snub.

Since I have the Stern Street and JHM shifter (plus linkage repair kit), I stay away for now.

Thanks for the hands on insight.

[Scotty@Advanced]

A better design would use the DTS as a bump stop of sorts. Instead of physically attaching the mount to the trans, using a rubber stop would eliminate all the NVH associated with the current design, but limit the amount of downward engine movement in that direction, it would function as a torque strap rather than a physical mount.

[A62TURBO]

I was thinking of removing mine as well to see if the vibration gets any better.

[redneck truck]

So basically, install the DTS, but don't bolt it to the transmission; that way you only get the vibration when the load is hard enough to flex the engine/trans mounts to their limits such that the bushing limits further downward movement. Right?

[vtraudt]

A better design would use the DTS as a bump stop of sorts. Instead of physically attaching the mount to the trans, using a rubber stop would eliminate all the NVH associated with the current design, but limit the amount of downward engine movement in that direction, it would function as a torque strap rather than a physical mount.

The text says poly 'cushion'. If that is too hard (vibrations!), maybe a softer poly would do the trick? I helped my kid in 'new cougar' times to cast our own motor mounts (bought the poly in the desired hardness from Grainger IIRC).


From JHM text:

For years we have been a big proponent of the DTS bar coupled with the JHM upgraded poly DTS mount for proper drivetrain stabilization for the demanding driver. The problem in the past has always been a high price and the soft rubber mount included. We now have the solution for both. The issue with the rubber mount with brand-x kits was that it just allowed the drivetrain (including the shifter which is attached to the transmission via linkage rod) to move forward and backwards too much. The rubber mount issue with current units that made the bar almost useless for hard launching, drag racing or heavy accel/decel road racing type driving was our biggest complaint. So JHM introduced the Polyurethane mount upgrade many years ago to help reduce this forward and backward movement. And NOW to help with price we decided to introduce our own bar with the polyurethane mount included


http://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catalog/images/JHM_DTS.jpg

[vtraudt]

So basically, install the DTS, but don't bolt it to the transmission; that way you only get the vibration when the load is hard enough to flex the engine/trans mounts to their limits such that the bushing limits further downward movement. Right?

Up/Down yes. What about the mentioned (JHM text) fore/aft movement?

[redneck truck]

Not sure how that bushing, mounted in a position that would shear in the event of fore/aft movement, would help to control said movement. But maybe I don't drive my car hard enough.

[Scotty@Advanced]

Up/Down yes. What about the mentioned (JHM text) fore/aft movement?

The engine only moves fore/aft in the even of a collision. Most engine movement is up at the front down at the rear due to torque and the pivot point is at the front axles.

[G Men 08]

I have one, haven't had a chance to install it yet. But I did read up on reviews of the DTS and they were mixed. A lot of the guys complaining about vibrations installed the DTS and torqued everything down right away.

Everyone who mounted it to the car and torqued the bolts to the car then snug the bolts for the mount, take a quick drive (mile or two) then torque the bolts for the mount, reported back with no problems.

Food for thought.

[peter1992]

I have one, haven't had a chance to install it yet. But I did read up on reviews of the DTS and they were mixed. A lot of the guys complaining about vibrations installed the DTS and torqued everything down right away.

Everyone who mounted it to the car and just , torqued that. Then snug the bolts for the mount, take a quick drive (mile or two) then torque the bolts for the mount, reported back with no problems.

Food for thought.

so youre saying to only torque to the car and snug to the trans, drive for a bit then torque the rubber trans mount? and people said less NVH?

[G Men 08]

Correct^^

[julex]

Nuh, the vibrations are purely due to the mount being an extremely hard poly, nothing to do alignment as there is almost zero of it on dts. Older version of dts had rubber mount which had no vibrations problem... But since jhm found that they can use $3 mount from some American truck part instead of custom made part, you're getting truck mount in passenger car.

That's it...