How to: Install Prothane mounts (drill & saw method)
Article by: Paul Volk (99gst_racer) and Dale Fredricks (fertez_turbo)
In this write-up, we show how you can do your own Prothane mounts on your 1G or 2G with commonly found garage tools. The mounts were did were for a 2G DSM. I apologize for the low-quality cell phone pictures – it’s all we had in the garage at the time, and we figured these would be better than nothing.
STEP #1: Start out by tightening up the mount in a vise as shown below. Then repeatedly drill into the black rubber around the outside edge of the mount. The goal of this is to weaken the rubber and eventually remove the majority of the center of the mount. A corded drill is recommended for this as battery operated tools will loose their juice quick. The drill process shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes.
STEP #2: With the center mass removed, we can now easily get a reciprocating saw in there pretty easily. The next step is to make a cut through the metal ring that is pressed into the aluminum housing. Make sure you use a blade intended for cutting metal. Make one cut through the entire length of the steel ring, but try your best not to cut into the aluminum housing while doing this.
STEP #3: After you finish cutting through the ring, grab a large, strong flat-head screw driver and a hammer. Our goal now is to separate the metal ring from the aluminum housing. Wedge the head of the driver between the two materials and tap with a hammer. Do this on both sides of the cut. Instantly, you should notice that the inner metal ring is now loose. Loosen the vice, remove the mount, and let the inner portion slide from the aluminum housing. If the ring does not become loose while chiseling it with a screwdriver and hammer, then your cut may not have gone completely through the steel ring. Inspect the cut and verify it depth – you may need to use the saw on it again. The hard part is now over!
