Front Subframe: Service and Repair
Subframe - Front
WARNING: Before beginning any service procedure, REFER to Safety Warnings . Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.
Special Tool(s)
Exploded View
Removal
NOTICE: Suspension fasteners are critical parts that affect the performance of vital components and systems. Failure of these fasteners may result in major service expense. Use the same or equivalent parts if replacement is necessary. Do not use a replacement part of lesser quality or substitute design. Tighten fasteners as specified.
NOTICE: Do not use power tools to remove or install the stabilizer bar link nuts or damage to the stabilizer bar link ball joints or boots may occur.
NOTICE: Use the internal or external hex-holding feature to prevent the ball and stud from turning while removing or installing the stabilizer bar link nuts. The link boot seal must not be allowed to twist while tightening the link nuts or damage to the boot seal will occur.
NOTE: Removal steps in this procedure may contain installation details.
1. NOTICE: Disconnect the battery ground cable anytime the steering gear is being serviced or damage to the steering gear internal power relay may occur resulting in steering gear replacement.
Disconnect the battery ground cable. REFER to Battery Disconnect .
2. Using a holding device, hold the steering wheel in straight-ahead position.
3. WARNING: Do not reuse steering column shaft bolts. This may result in fastener failure and steering column shaft detachment or loss of steering control. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious injury to vehicle occupant(s).
Remove and discard the steering column shaft-to-steering gear bolt and disconnect the steering column shaft from the steering gear.
- To install, tighten the new steering column shaft-to-steering gear bolt to 28 Nm (21 lb-ft).
4. Remove the wheel and tire. REFER to Wheel and Tire .
5. If equipped, remove the 8 screws and the underbody insulator.
6. Remove and discard the 2 lower control arm ball joint pinch bolts and nuts.
- To install, tighten the 2 new lower control arm ball joint pinch bolts and nuts to 83 Nm (61 lb-ft).
7. NOTICE: Do not use a prying device or separator fork between the ball joint and the wheel knuckle. Damage to the ball joint or ball joint seal may result. Only use the pry bar by inserting it into the lower arm body opening.
NOTICE: Use care when releasing the lower arm and wheel knuckle into the resting position or damage to the ball joint seal may occur.
Insert a pry bar in the lower arm body opening, separate the lower arm from the wheel knuckle and hub assembly and remove the ball joint heat shield.
8. NOTE: The stabilizer bar links are designed with low friction ball joints that have a low breakaway torque.
Remove and discard the 2 stabilizer bar link lower nuts and disconnect the stabilizer bar links from the stabilizer bar.
- To install, tighten the 2 new stabilizer bar link lower nuts to 63 Nm (46 lb-ft).
9. Remove and discard the 2 outer tie-rod end nuts.
- To install, tighten the 2 new outer tie-rod end nuts to 48 Nm (35 lb-ft).
10. NOTICE: Do not use a hammer to separate the outer tie-rod end from the wheel knuckle or damage to the wheel knuckle may result.
NOTICE: Use care when installing the tie rod separator or damage to the outer tie-rod end boot may occur.
Using an appropriate tie rod separator, separate the outer tie-rod end from the wheel knuckle.
11. NOTICE: Do not excessively bend or twist the exhaust flexible pipe. Failure to follow these instructions may cause damage to the exhaust flexible pipe.
Support the exhaust flexible pipe with a support wrap or suitable splint.
12. Remove the 2 exhaust isolator bracket bolts.
- To install, tighten to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft).
13. Remove the roll restrictor-to-transaxle bolt.
- To install, tighten to 86 Nm (63 lb-ft).
14. Detach the 2 EPAS (Electronic Power Assist Steering) wiring harness retainers from the subframe and the body.
15. Index mark the subframe positioning for reference during the installation procedure.
16. Secure the front subframe to a transmission jack.
17. Lower the subframe in the sequence shown.
1. Remove the 2 subframe support bracket-to-crossbrace bolts.
- To install, tighten to 20 Nm (177 lb-in).
2. Remove the 4 subframe support bracket-to-body bolts.
- To install, tighten to 20 Nm (177 lb-in).
3. Remove and discard the 2 subframe rearward bolts. To install, tighten the 2 new subframe rearward bolts in 2 stages.
- Stage 1: Tighten to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft).
- Stage 2: Tighten an additional 180 degrees.
4. Remove the 2 subframe forward bolts.
- To install, tighten to 115 Nm (85 lb-ft).
5. Lower the subframe 35 mm (1.378 in).
18. Remove the 3 steering gear heat shield bolts and the heat shield and position the ground wire aside.
19. Disconnect the EPAS (Electronic Power Assist Steering) electrical connectors, detach the 5 wiring harness retainers from the steering gear.
20. Remove the subframe from the vehicle.
Installation
1. To install, reverse the removal procedure.
2. NOTE: While tightening the subframe bolts, make sure the front subframe does not move.
Before tightening the subframe bolts, align the subframe using 502-002 (T94P-2100-AH) and the reference marks made during removal.
3. Check and, if necessary, adjust the front toe. REFER to Toe Adjustment - Front .