Removal and Installation - Front Subframe

Special Service Tools / General Equipment

Materials

Removal

1. 1

   NOTICE: Disconnect the battery ground cable before any steering gear repair or damage to the internal steering gear may cause the power relay to fail, resulting in steering gear replacement.

   Disconnect the battery ground cable.
   Refer to: Battery Disconnect and Connect (414-01 Battery, Mounting and Cables, General Procedures).
2. 2
   Position the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position.

   

3. 3
   Remove and discard the steering column shaft coupling bolt and separate the coupling from the steering shaft.

   

4. 4
   Remove the wheels and tires.
   Refer to: Wheels and Tires (204-04A Wheels and Tires, Removal and Installation).
5. 5
   Remove the fender splash shield.
   Refer to: Fender Splash Shield (501-02 Front Body Panels, Removal and Installation).
6. 6
   Remove the underbody bolts and shields.

   

7. 7
   Remove the clips and the underbody shield covers.

   

8. 8
   Remove the clips and the underbody shield covers.

   

9. 9
   Remove the front bumper cover.
   Refer to: Front Bumper Cover (501-19 Bumpers, Removal and Installation).
10. 10
    Remove the subframe support bracket bolts.

    

11. 11
    Both sides.
    Remove and discard the bolts and remove the front outer side rail.

    

12. 12
    Both sides.
    Remove and discard the lower stabilizer bar link nut and set the stabilizer bar link aside.

    

13. 13

    NOTICE: Do not use a hammer to separate the outer tie rod end from the steering knuckle, otherwise damage to the steering knuckle may occur.

    NOTICE: Use care when installing the tie rod separator, as damage to the outer tie rod end boot may occur.

    Both sides.
    Remove and discard the tie rod end nut and separate the tie rod end from the steering knuckle.
    Use common shop equipment: tie rod end remover.

    

14. 14

    NOTICE: Do not use a pry bar to open the slot in the steering knuckle to separate the lower ball joint from the steering knuckle assembly. Damage to the steering knuckle assembly may occur.

    NOTICE: Do not use a pry bar or separator fork between the ball joint and steering knuckle. Damage to the ball joint or ball joint seal may occur. Use a pry bar only by inserting it into the lower arm housing hole.

    NOTICE: Be careful when releasing the lower arm and steering knuckle, or damage to the ball joint seal may occur.

    Both sides.
    Remove and discard the ball joint pinch bolt and nut and separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle.

    

15. 15

    NOTICE: Do not bend or twist the exhaust flex pipe. Failure to follow these instructions may result in damage to the exhaust flex pipe.

    Secure the flexible exhaust pipe.

    

16. 16
    Remove the exhaust pipe support bracket bolts.

    

17. 17
    Remove and discard the roll restrictor bolt.

    

18. 18
    If equipped.
    Disconnect the wiring harness clips.

    

19. 19
    If equipped.
    Disconnect the wiring harness clips.

    

20. 20
    Position a transmission jack under the front subframe.
    Use common shop equipment: transmission jack.

    

21. 21
    Both sides.
    Mark the subframe position relative to the body.

    

22. 22
    Both sides.
    Mark the subframe position relative to the body.

    

23. 23
    1. Remove and discard the rear subframe bolts.

    2. Remove and discard the bolts and remove the subframe brackets.

    

24. 24
    Both sides.
    Remove and discard the front subframe bolts.

    

25. 25
    Lower the subframe.
    Use common shop equipment: transmission jack.

    

26. 26

    NOTICE: The steering column floor seal is single-use. The seal must be replaced each time the front subframe is lowered or separated from the vehicle.

    Remove and discard the steering column floor seal.

    

Installation

1. 1
   Before installation, clean and inspect the steering column floor seal mating surface.
   Material: Motorcraft® Metal Brake Parts Cleaner / PM-4-A, PM-4-B, APM-4-C

   

2. 2
   Install a new steering column floor seal.

   

3. 3
   Partially raise the subframe and position it on the vehicle.
   Use common shop equipment: transmission jack.

   

4. 4
   Both sides.
   Hand-tighten the new front subframe bolts.

   

5. 5
   1. Install the brackets and the new rear subframe bolts, hand-tightening them.

   2. Hand-tighten the new subframe bracket bolts.

   

6. 6
   Both sides.
   Align the mark made during removal.

   

7. 7
   Both sides.
   Align the mark made during removal.

   

8. 8
   Both sides.
   Tighten the front subframe bolts.
   Torque: 85 lb-ft (115 N·m)

   

9. 9
   1. Tighten the bolts.
      Torque:
      Stage 1: 159 lb-ft (215 N·m)
      Stage 2: 120°

   2. Tighten the bolts.
      Torque: 46 lb-ft (63 N·m)

   

10. 10
    If equipped.
    Snap the wiring harness clips into place.

    

11. 11
    If equipped.
    Snap the wiring harness clips into place.

    

12. 12
    Install a new roll restrictor bolt.
    Torque: 129 lb-ft (175 N·m)

    

13. 13
    Install the exhaust pipe support bracket bolts.
    Torque: 18 lb-ft (25 N·m)

    

14. 14
    Release the flex exhaust pipe support.

    

15. 15
    Both sides.
    Connect the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle and install a new ball joint pinch bolt and nut.
    Torque: 66 lb-ft (90 N·m)

    

16. 16
    Both sides.
    Connect the tie rod end to the steering knuckle and install a new tie rod end nut.
    Torque: 35 lb-ft (48 N·m)

    

17. 17
    Both sides.
    Position the stabilizer bar links and install a new lower stabilizer bar link nut.
    Torque: 85 lb-ft (115 N·m)

    

18. 18
    Both sides.
    Install the front outer side rail with new bolts.
    Torque: 30 lb-ft (40 N·m)

    

19. 19
    Install the subframe support bracket bolts.
    Torque: 22 lb-ft (30 N·m)

    

20. 20
    Install the front bumper cover.
    Refer to: Front Bumper Cover (501-19 Bumpers, Removal and Installation).
21. 21
    Install the underbody shield and retainers.
    Torque: 22 lb-in (2.5 N·m)

    

22. 22
    Install the underbody shields and retainers.
    Torque: 22 lb-in (2.5 N·m)

    

23. 23
    Position the steering shaft coupling and install a new steering shaft coupling bolt.
    Torque: 46 lb-ft (63 N·m)

    

24. 24
    Remove the restraint device.

    

25. 25
    Install the underbody shield and retainers.
    Torque: 13 lb-in (1.5 N·m)

    

26. 26
    Install the fender splash shield.
    Refer to: Fender Splash Shield (501-02 Front End Body Panels, Removal and Installation).
27. 27
    Install the wheels and tires.
    Refer to: Wheels and Tires (204-04A Wheels and Tires, Removal and Installation).
28. 28
    Connect the battery ground cable.
    Refer to: Battery Disconnect and Connect (414-01 Battery, Mounting and Cables, General Procedures).
29. 29
    Check and adjust the front toe if necessary.
    Refer to: Front Toe Adjustment (204-00 Suspension System - General Information, General Procedures).