Finally found the vibration isolating sub frames Toyota mentions. The rear is fairly obvious, the trailing and lateral suspension links all attach to it. The front is the welded steel box frame, roughly an "H" shape (plus an additional cross piece under the steering rack) with the ends of the "legs" on each side bolted to the body structure through rubber cushions. The front attachment points are concealed by the plastic shrouding which directs air flow beneath the radiator. That's why you see those large body color welded steel box frame sections on the side of the engine compartment, they function like a conventional steel "ladder" frame providing the underside attachment points for the front of the sub frame which carries the weight of the engine/ transmission, and that is how the fluid filled engine mounts complement the vibration damping characteristics of a rubber isolated sub frame. By the way, one is supposed to be checking the torque of those attachment bolts for the sub frame as part of periodic maintenance.
- posted
19 years ago