Front Subframe: Service and Repair

Subframe - Front







3.5L Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDI) shown. 3.7 Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT) and 2.0L GTDI equipped vehicles similar.







Removal

All vehicles

1. Remove the wheels and tires.

2. NOTE: Use a steering wheel holding device (such as Hunter(R) 28-75-1 or equivalent).

Using a suitable holding device, hold the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position.







3. Remove the 4 retainers and the underbody shield.







4. Remove the 2 RH lower pin-type retainers from the engine splash shield and position the shield aside.







Vehicles equipped with 3.7L Ti-VCT engine

5. Remove the exhaust Y-pipe.

Vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engine

6. Remove the RH and LH exhaust flexible pipes.

Vehicles equipped with 2.0L GTDI engine

7. Remove the exhaust flexible pipe.

All vehicles

8. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Remove and discard the upper stabilizer link nuts.







9. NOTE:
- The hex-holding feature can be used to prevent turning of the stud while removing the nut.
- RH shown, LH similar.

Remove and discard the tie-rod end nuts.
- Separate the tie-rod ends from the wheel knuckles.







Vehicles equipped with vehicle dynamic suspension

10. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Disconnect the LH and RH height sensor electrical connectors and the harness retainers.







11. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Remove the LH and RH height sensor arm bracket-to-lower control arm bolts and position the brackets aside. Discard the specified component. Follow local disposal regulations.







All vehicles

12. NOTICE:
- Suspension fasteners are critical parts because they affect performance of vital components and systems and their failure may result in major service expense. New parts must be installed with the same part number or equivalent part, if replacement is necessary. Do not use a replacement part of lesser quality or substitute design. Torque values must be used as specified during reassembly to make sure of correct retention of these parts.
- Use care when releasing the lower arm and knuckle into the resting position or damage to the ball joint seal or Constant Velocity (CV) boot may occur.

NOTE:
- Use the hex-holding feature to prevent the stud from turning while removing the nut.
- RH shown, LH similar.

Remove and discard the lower ball joint-to-wheel knuckle nuts.
- Separate the lower ball joints from the wheel knuckles.







13. Remove the flap heat shield bolt and position the flap heat shield to access the EPAS electrical connectors.
14. Remove the bolt and disconnect the 2 Electronic Power Assist Steering (EPAS) electrical connectors (1 shown) and the wiring retainer (not shown).







15. NOTICE: Do not allow the steering column to rotate while the steering column shaft is disconnected from the steering gear or damage to the clockspring may occur. If there is evidence that the steering column has rotated, the clockspring must be removed and recentered.

Remove the bolt and disconnect the steering column shaft from the steering gear.
- Discard the bolt.







16. If equipped, remove the 2 nuts and remove the rear engine roll restrictor shield.







17. Remove the rear engine roll restrictor bolt.







18. Remove the front engine roll restrictor bolt.







19. Using a wax pencil (or equivalent) apply witness marks to the vehicle and subframe to aid in installation.
20. Position the Powertrain Lift under the subframe assembly.







21. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Remove and discard the subframe bracket-to-body bolts.







22. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

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







23. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Remove and discard the front subframe bolts.







24. Lower the subframe assembly from the vehicle.

Installation

All vehicles

1. Using the Powertrain Lift, raise and align the subframe to the witness marks made during removal.







2. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Install the 2 new front subframe bolts.
- Tighten to 200 Nm (148 lb-ft).







3. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Position the subframe brackets and install the 4 new bolts finger-tight.







4. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Install the 2 new rear subframe bolts.
- Tighten to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).







5. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Tighten the 4 new subframe bracket-to-body bolts to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft).







6. Install the front engine roll restrictor bolt.
- Tighten to 90 Nm (66 lb-ft).







7. Install the rear engine roll restrictor bolt.
- Tighten to 90 Nm (66 lb-ft).







8. If equipped, install the rear engine roll restrictor shield and install the 2 nuts.
- Tighten to 9 Nm (80 lb-in).







9. NOTICE: Do not allow the intermediate shaft to rotate while it is disconnected from the gear or damage to the clockspring may occur. If there is evidence that the intermediate shaft has rotated, the clockspring must be removed and recentered.

Install the steering intermediate shaft onto the steering gear and install a new bolt.
- Tighten to 20 Nm (177 lb-in).







10. Connect the 2 EPAS electrical connectors (1 shown) and attach the wiring retainer (not shown) and install the bolt.
- Tighten to 9 Nm (80 lb-in).







11. Position the flap heat shield and install the flap heat shield bolt.
- Tighten to 11 Nm (97 lb-in).

12. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Position the ball joints into the wheel knuckles. Install the new ball joint nuts.
- Tighten to 200 Nm (148 lb-ft).







Vehicles equipped with vehicle dynamic suspension

13. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Position the LH and RH height sensor arm-to-lower control arm backets and install the new bolts.
- Tighten to 30 Nm (22 lb-ft).







14. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Position the LH and RH height sensor harness retainers and connect the electrical connectors.







All vehicles

15. NOTE:
- The hex-holding feature can be used to prevent turning of the stud while installing the nuts.
- RH shown, LH similar.

Install new tie-rod end nuts.
- Tighten to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).







16. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Install new upper stabilizer bar link nuts.
- Tighten to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).







Vehicles equipped with 2.0L GTDI engine

17. Install the exhaust flexible pipe.

Vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engine

18. Install the RH and LH exhaust flexible pipes.

Vehicles equipped with 3.7L Ti-VCT engine

19. Install the exhaust Y-pipe.

All vehicles

20. Position the RH engine splash shield and install the 2 lower pin-type retainers.







21. Install the underbody shield and the 4 retainers.







22. Install the wheels and tires.

Vehicles equipped with vehicle dynamic suspension

23. Calibrate the suspension height sensor. Connect the scan tool and carry out the Ride Height Calibration routine. Follow the scan tool directions.

All vehicles

24. Check and, if necessary, adjust the front toe.