Front Cross-Member: Service and Repair

ENGINE CRADLE CROSSMEMBER

REMOVAL

CAUTION: VERIFY THAT VEHICLE IS PROPERLY SUPPORTED AND SECURED TO THE LIFTING DEVICE. VEHICLE CENTER OF GRAVITY WILL CHANGE WHEN HEAVY COMPONENTS ARE REMOVED CAUSING A HAZARDOUS CONDITION.

1. Release hood latch and open hood.
2. Remove nuts holding engine mounts to cradle.
3. Install a suitable engine support device.
4. Raise and support vehicle on safety stands.
5. Remove bolts holding transaxle crossmember to cradle.
6. Lower vehicle and lift engine and transaxle off cradle.
7. Raise and support vehicle on safety stands.
8. Disconnect sway bar links.
9. Remove bolts retaining suspension lower ball joints to spindles.
10. Separate lower control arm from spindle.
11. Support cradle on a 10 cm by 10 cm by 90 cm (4 in. by 4 in. by 36 in.) wood beam and a jack.

Fig. 15:

12. Remove bolts holding cradle to body shell (Fig. 15).
13. Lower cradle away from body shell.

INSTALLATION

NOTE: If cradle replacement is required, transfer suspension components and jounce and bounce plates to replacement cradle.

1. Support cradle on wood beam and a jack.
2. Position cradle under body shell.
3. Install bolts to hold cradle to body shell.
4. Connect lower control arms to spindles
5. Install bolts to retain suspension lower ball joints to spindles.
6. Connect sway bar links.
7. Lower vehicle and lower engine and transaxle onto cradle.
8. Raise vehicle.
9. Install bolts to hold transaxle crossmember to cradle.
10. Lower vehicle.
11. Remove engine support device.
12. Install nuts to hold engine mounts to cradle.
13. Align front suspension if necessary.