What is it?

[Vanadian]

Could someone please tell me what the part is on top of the transmission that looks
like a spring kindof, it's hard to explain and I don't have a pic right now. It's mounted
in rubber and it's hitting the floor of my van now sometimes, I removed it today and
it's bent up on one end. I thought it may be a vibration dampener of some sort.
I left it off for now, didn't notice any difference. Could anyone please
tell me what it is and the importance of having it on there, thanks.

It's an '89 two wheel drive astro lt.

[Jasen]

From what you describe and from what I've seen here, it sounds like it is a trans mount.
Let's see what the masters say.

Can you post a pic

[Mr_Bowtie]

Not sure how important it is, but if you have no vibration or transmission movement I wouldn't worry about it too much. Heck there is a thread on here that we had pics of some guy with his mounted one way and my old Safari's was mount the total opposite way. Astroturf could probably find that thread if he wasn't banned......

[Astroplane]

Yes, that is the transmission damper. As Jasen said, check your transmission mount for separation (completely broken). It should not ever bump the underside of the floor.

[Dirk]

As Bowtie said.
If it's mounted facing the back of the Van it will always hit the floor.
The correct mounting direction is facing the front of the Van.