Front Subframe: Service and Repair

SUBFRAME - FRONT

Special Tool(S):

Special Tool(s)

Removal and Installation

All vehicles
1. Disconnect the battery.







2. Remove the rear transmission mount nuts and bolt.







3. Using the special tool, support the engine.
4. Remove the 2 front wheel and tire assemblies.
5. Remove the 2 engine air deflectors.







6. Remove the 2 lower control arm ball joint pinch bolts and nuts (1 on each side).







7. Disconnect the stabilizer bar link.
1 Remove the nuts.
2 Disconnect the link from the stabilizer bar.







8. Remove the lateral support crossmember.
1 Remove the bolts.
2 Remove the crossmember.







9. Remove the front transmission mount bolt.







10. Remove the engine support crossmember bolts.







11. Remove the nut and the engine support crossmember.







12. Remove the 2 steering gear bolts.







13. Position the steering gear out of the subframe mounts.
14. Remove the dual converter Y-pipe on the 3.0L (4V) engine or the muffler inlet pipe on the 2.0L (Zetec) engine.

Vehicles with manual transmission







15. Remove the 2 bolts and disconnect the manual transmission shift linkage.

Vehicles with 4WD

16. Remove the driveshaft.

17. NOTE: Lower the rear of the engine to allow the subframe to clear the companion flange on the transfer case.

Lower the rear of the engine approximately 150 mm (6 in).

All vehicles







18. CAUTION: Do not allow the rear subframe bolts to come out of the lower control arm bushing.

Completely loosen the 2 front subframe bolts, but do not remove them.







19. NOTE: The lower control arm ball joints must be disconnected from the spindles at the same time the subframe is lowered.

With an assistant, remove the 2 subframe nuts lower the subframe from the vehicle.

20. Transfer all necessary components.

21. CAUTION: When installing the subframe bolts, make sure that both of the subframe rear bolts are fully engaged in the cage nuts before tightening to specification.

To install, reverse the removal procedure.