Not sure this is a common thing or not but check your mounts the next time your under your car.
Even though i didnt notice anything while driving mine were actually pretty bad.
After replacing them some time ago i noticed this time the right side engine mounting bracked (not the rubber mount itself) was cracked pretty bad.
Its pretty hard to see when the mount is dirty but 2/3 of it was broken. Hard to see even in the pictures but it actually moved about 1 mm at the end of the crack and the bracket has a slight bend in it.
PS it looks pretty easy to replace at first glance but it is a pain to get it out
But its welded now and good to go!

its right under the bolt.


on the right side here

That looks like an 88 V6 mount.
I have heard of several of them cracking, but your thread is a good reminder. Thanks for sharing.

I've welded a couple back together, 3 or 4. One had split completely. I never did find the culprit that lead up to the failure. All were 88's.

quote Originally posted by GreenPlatypus: I never did find the culprit that lead up to the failure.

I suspect it's just a design feature.

always good to know hard to find 88 parts seem to break
time for an engine swap

The 88 cars don't have the drive line absorbers, so they rely on the dogbone mount to minimize the forth to back movement.

The bracket is indeed from an 88 i forgot to mention, well spotted! But then i didnt know this is an 88 thing.
I'm not sure the dogbone could be the cause for this tho, i would imagine sideways motions from the engine would cause fatique on the bracket this way, not back and forth?
Perhaps worn left side engine mounts? Not that i know much about metal fatique tho

[This message has been edited by Edwin (edited 10-15-2014).]

Common problem with the 1988 V6 and 5-Speed transmission and lead foot driving. Replaced mine several years ago with a salvage yard part but kept the cracked one. Next time I'll get it welded. Replaced the upper dogbone mount with a Fiero Store steel and polyurethane mount and haven't cracked one since. Keep in mind, I primarily autocross my car, which does stress the drive line.

A friend of my owned Todd Rupp's 1988 Fiero Formula for three years and his had been replaced too. That car was an SCCA Nationally competitive car.

http://www.team.net/archive...000-06/msg00275.html

quote Originally posted by dbober: Replaced the upper dogbone mount with a Fiero Store steel and polyurethane mount and haven't cracked one since. Keep in mind, I primarily autocross my car, which does stress the drive line.

I was given one of those and installed it on my '88 Formula, which I also autocross. I was afraid that because it was so stiff, that it would actually contribute to factory motor (and/or tranny) mounts breaking, not prevent it. So I took it off and put back the stock dogbone.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 10-15-2014).]

quote Originally posted by Patrick: I was given one of those and installed it on my '88 Formula, which I also autocross. I was afraid that because it was so stiff, that it would actually contribute to factory motor (and/or tranny) mounts breaking, not prevent it. So I took it off and put back the stock dogbone.

That was a concern of mine too, but so far, no issues. I think I replaced that in 2005? Not sure. I do plan on replacing the rubber motor and tranny mounts next year, they are original.

I think by stabilizing the top of the motor, you relieve a lot of twist/torque stress on that bottom motor mount. But that's just a theory.