Cradle Assembly Replacement

CRADLE ASSEMBLY, REPLACE

Fig. 10 Ball Joint Stud To Steering Knuckle Clamp Nut And Bolt Removal:

Fig. 11 Separating Ball Joint From Steering Knuckle:

Fig. 12 Engine Cradle Assembly:

Fig. 13 Stabilizer Bar Isolator Bushing And Bracket:

Fig. 14 Supporting Cradle And Transaxle:

Fig. 15 Stabilizer Bar Location For Cradle Installation`:

Removal

1. Support engine and transaxle as outlined under "Supporting Engine."
2. Raise and support vehicle then remove tire and wheel assemblies.
3. Remove ball joint stud to steering knuckle clamp nut and bolt.
4. Insert a prybar between lower control arm and steering knuckle to separate ball joint stud from steering knuckle. Pulling steering knuckle out away from vehicle after releasing from ball joint can separate inner tripod joint.
5. Remove ground strap from cradle assembly.
6. Disconnect motor and transmission mounts from cradle assembly.
7. Disconnect stabilizer bushing retainer from cradle.
8. Position a jack stand under front of cradle and at center of transaxle cradle assembly mount. Raise jack stand at transaxle mount until transaxle just lifts off cradle assembly.
9. Remove cradle assembly as follows:
a. Loosen, do not remove, two rear cradle assembly to body bolts.
b. Loosen and remove two front cradle assembly to body attaching bolts. Ensure jack stand is properly placed under front of cradle to support cradle weight.
c. With a helper supporting rear of cradle and jack stand supporting transaxle, remove two rear cradle bolts and slowly lower front jack stand until weight of engine is supported by engine support fixture and motor bolts are clear of cradle assembly.
d. Lift front of cradle off jack stand and remove cradle from vehicle.

Installation

1. Install stabilizer bar, isolator and retainers into vehicle as an assembly. Ensure bar is installed through openings in splash shield.
2. Install stabilizer link attaching nuts.
3. Tie stabilizer bar up against transaxle to engine block brackets to keep bar clear when installing cradle.
4. Install cradle assembly into vehicle resting front of cradle assembly on jack stand.
5. Install cradle into vehicle as follows:
a. Raise rear of cradle far enough for rear two cradle bolts to support weight of cradle.
b. Using jack stand, raise front of cradle up to bottom of motor mounts. Ensure all four motor mount bolts come through holes in cradle assembly.
c. Continue to raise cradle assembly and engine using jack stand until front two cradle bolts can be installed.
d. Lower transaxle and align mount with holes in cradle. Install mount nuts, do not tighten.
e. Prior to tightening cradle bolts ensure all bolts are installed straight into mounting plates in frame rails and mounting plates are not cocked in frame rails.
f. Tighten cradle bolts using a crisscross pattern until cradle seats against body. then tighten cradle bolts to specification.
6. Tighten transaxle mount bolts to specifications.
7. Untie stabilizer bar and align bushing retainers with holes in cradle. Install, do not tighten, retainer bolts.
8. Install motor mount nuts and tighten to specification.
9. Install ground strap.
10. Install lower ball joint studs into steering knuckle then the clamp bolts and nuts. Tighten to specification.
11. Install tire and wheel assembly.
12. Lower vehicle and with full weight on suspension, tighten stabilizer bar bushing bracket bolts to specification.
13. Remove engine support fixture and webbing material.
14. Check wheel alignment.