Front Subframe: Service and Repair

SUBFRAME - FRONT

Special Tool(s):

Removal and Installation

Subframe - Front:

All vehicles
1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist.
2. Disconnect the battery.

Escape Hybrid
3. Remove the steering gear.
4. If equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD), remove the rear engine mount bracket.
1 Remove the 2 nuts.
2 Remove the bolt.
- To install, tighten to 80 Nm (59 lb-ft).

3 Remove the rear engine mount bracket.







All vehicles except Escape Hybrid
5. Remove the rear transaxle support insulator.
6. Remove the power steering hose bracket bolt.
- To install, tighten to 10 Nm (89 lb-in).







7. Using the special tool, support the engine.







8. Remove the bolts and the lateral support crossmember.
- To install, tighten to 115 Nm (85 lb-ft).

9. Remove the splash shield bolt.
10. Remove the front insulator bolt.
- To install, tighten to 115 Nm (85 lb-ft).

11. Remove the 2 engine support crossmember bolts.
- To install, tighten to 90 Nm (66 lb-ft).

12. Remove the nut and the engine support crossmember.
- To install, tighten a new nut to 175 Nm (129 lb-ft).

13. Remove the 2 lower control arm ball joint pinch bolt and nuts.
- To install, tighten to 63 Nm (46 lb-ft).

14. Remove the 2 nuts and disconnect the 2 stabilizer bar links.
- To install, tighten to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft).

15. Remove the 2 steering gear bolts.
- To install, tighten to 115 Nm (85 lb-ft).

16. Position the steering gear out of the subframe mounts.
17. Remove the exhaust flexible pipe (2.3L) or the dual converter Y-pipe (3.0L).
18. If equipped with AWD, remove the driveshaft.

19. NOTE: The engine must be lowered to allow the front subframe to clear the transaxle companion flange.

If equipped with AWD, use the special tool to lower the rear of the engine approximately 150 mm (5.9 in).

20. NOTE:
- Do not allow the front subframe rear bolts to come out of the lower control arm bushing.
- When installing the front subframe rear bolts, make sure both of the front subframe rear bolts are fully engaged in their cage nuts before tightening to specification.

Loosen the 2 front subframe rear bolts.
- To install, tighten to 175 Nm (129 lb-ft).

21. Support the front subframe and remove the 2 front subframe nuts.
- To install, tighten to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).

All vehicles

22. 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 front subframe.

23. To install, reverse the removal procedure.