Front

REMOVAL






1. Remove the 4 strut assembly upper mount to strut tower mounting nut and washer assemblies securing the right front strut in place.
2. Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a frame contact type hoist. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
3. Remove right front wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle.






4. Remove the right stabilizer bar attaching link nut at the strut assembly. Remove the attaching link from the strut assembly.






5. Remove the left stabilizer bar attaching link nut at the stabilizer bar. Remove the attaching link from the stabilizer bar.






6. Loosen, but do not remove, the right outer tie rod end to strut arm attaching nut. Release right outer tie rod end from right strut steering arm using Puller, Special Tool C-3894A, then remove nut and tie rod from the steering arm.






7. If vehicle is equipped with antilock brakes, remove the speed sensor cable routing bracket from the strut assembly.

CAUTION: The strut assembly to steering knuckle bolts are serrated were they go through strut assembly and steering knuckle. When removing bolts, turn nuts off bolts DO NOT TURN BOLTS IN STEERING KNUCKLE. If bolts are turned damage to steering knuckle will result.






8. Remove the 2 strut assembly to steering knuckle attaching bolts.
9. Remove right front strut assembly from vehicle.






10. Remove the nine bolts securing the structural collar to the engine oil pan and transaxle.






11. Remove the 4 nuts attaching the engine motor mounts to the cradle assembly.






12. Remove the bolts attaching each of the 2 stabilizer bushing retainers to the cradle assembly.
13. Remove both stabilizer bar isolator bushing retainers and bushings from stabilizer bar.






14. Position a transmission jack under the body of the engine oil pan . Use a wood block as a buffer between the jack and the engine oil pan in order to avoid damage to the pan. Carefully raise the jack until the motor mounts clear the cradle assembly. It may be necessary to raise the jack further.






15. Remove the stabilizer bar out the right side by rotating it, taking advantage of the removed structural collar area between the engine and transaxle assembly. Remove the stabilizer bar out the right wheel opening by routing it in front of the right halfshaft then behind the right knuckle.

CAUTION: Be careful not to pull knuckle outward, thus stretching halfshaft and possibly separating inner C/V joint. Refer to Axle Shaft Assembly, Constant Velocity Type. Keep knuckle in upright position.

INSTALLATION
1. Install stabilizer bar by reversing the manner in which it was removed. Rotate the bar the opposite direction used when removed and move it into mounting position.

CAUTION: Be careful not to pull knuckle outward, thus stretching halfshaft and possibly separating inner C/V joint. Refer to Axle Shaft Assembly, Constant Velocity Type. Keep knuckle in upright position.

2. Lower the jack supporting the engine, guiding the motor mount studs into place in the cradle assembly.
3. Install the 4 engine motor mount to cradle assembly attaching nuts. Tighten the 4 nuts to a torque of 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs).
4. Install the structural collar to the engine oil pan and the transaxle. The structural collar should be installed using the following sequence:
- Position collar onto engine oil pan and transaxle.
- Install the 2 center collar bolts to oil pan bolts. Tighten bolts initially to 3 Nm (30 inch lbs.).
- Install collar to transmission bolts and tighten to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs).
- Install the remaining collar to engine oil pan bolts. Starting with the center bolts and working outwards, tighten collar to oil pan bolts to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs).







5. Install stabilizer bar isolator bushings onto stabilizer bar with slits facing forward and flat side facing downward. The stabilizer bar to cradle assembly bushings must be positioned on the stabilizer bar so the slit in the bushing is positioned toward front of vehicle.
6. Install the isolator bushing retainers onto the stabilizer bar isolator bushings.

CAUTION: When stabilizer bar is installed, position stabilizer bar so lower part of stabilizer bar is centered in the middle of the cradle assembly. Failure to do this may cause stabilizer bar to come in contact with other suspension components.

7. Align the stabilizer bar bushing retainers with the mounting holes in the cradle assembly. Install and tighten the 4 stabilizer bar bushing retainer to cradle assembly attaching bolts to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.).
8. Install left side stabilizer bar attaching link to left end of stabilizer bar. Install attaching nut and tighten to 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.).
9. Install right front strut assembly into shock tower. Install the 4 strut assembly upper mount to shock tower attaching nuts. Tighten the 4 strut mount to strut tower attaching nuts to a torque of 45 Nm (33 ft. lbs.) torque.
10. Position steering knuckle into strut assembly.

CAUTION: The strut assembly to steering knuckle bolts are serrated were they go through strut assembly and steering knuckle. When installing bolts, turn nuts onto bolts DO NOT TURN BOLTS IN STEERING KNUCKLE. If bolts are turned damage to steering knuckle will result.

11. Install the strut assembly to steering knuckle attaching bolts. Install nuts on attaching bolts. Tighten the strut assembly to steering knuckle attaching bolt nuts to a torque of 203 Nm (150 ft. lbs.).
12. If the vehicle is equipped with antilock brakes. Install the front speed sensor cable routing bracket onto the front strut assembly.
13. Install outer tie rod on strut assembly. Install tie rod attaching nut. Tighten the tie rod attaching nut to a torque of 37 Nm (27 ft. lbs.).
14. Install stabilizer bar link on strut. Tighten the stabilizer link attaching nut to a torque of 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.).
15. Install the right front wheel and tire assembly.
16. Tighten the wheel mounting nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Repeat the tightening sequence to the full specified torque of 129 Nm (95 ft. lbs.).
17. Lower vehicle to the ground.