Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
2012 Ford Taurus AWD V6-3.5LFACTORY OEM SERVICE PROCEDURE
Front Subframe: Service and Repair
Subframe - Front
3.7L
3.5L Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDI)
Removal
All vehicles
1. Remove the wheels and tires.
Vehicles equipped with Electronic Power Assist Steering (EPAS)
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.
All vehicles
4. Remove the 2 RH lower pin-type retainers from the engine splash shield and position the shield aside.
Vehicles equipped with EPAS (Electronic Power Assist Steering)
5. Remove the RH and LH exhaust flexible pipes.
Vehicles equipped with Hydraulic Power Assist Steering (HPAS)
6. Remove the engine exhaust Y-pipe.
7. Remove and discard the stabilizer bar bracket-to-front subframe bolts.
Vehicles equipped with EPAS (Electronic Power Assist Steering)
8. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Remove and discard the upper stabilizer link nuts.
All vehicles
9. NOTE: The hex-holding feature can be used to prevent turning of the stud while removing the nut.
NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Remove and discard the tie-rod end nuts.
- Separate the tie-rod ends from the wheel knuckles.
10. 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.
NOTICE: 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.
NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Remove and discard the lower ball joint-to-wheel knuckle nuts.
- Separate the lower ball joints from the wheel knuckles.
Vehicles equipped with HPAS (Hydraulic Power Assist Steering)
11. Remove the 2 power steering line routing bolts.
12. Remove the power steering gear-to-front subframe bolts and nuts.
13. Support the power steering gear and stabilizer bar to the underbody of the vehicle with mechanic's wire.
Vehicles equipped with EPAS (Electronic Power Assist Steering)
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. For additional information, refer to Restraints and Safety Systems &/or Air Bag Systems.
Remove the bolt and disconnect the steering column intermediate shaft from the steering gear.
- Discard the bolt.
All vehicles
16. Remove the rear engine roll restrictor bolt.
17. Remove the front engine roll restrictor bolt.
18. Position the Powertrain Lift under the subframe assembly.
19. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Remove and discard the subframe bracket-to-body bolts.
20. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Remove the front subframe rear brackets.
- Remove and discard the front subframe rear mounting bolts.
- Remove the front subframe rear brackets.
21. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Remove and discard the front subframe front mounting bolts.
22. Lower the subframe assembly from the vehicle.
Installation
All vehicles
1. Using the Powertrain Lift, raise the subframe into the installed position.
2. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Install the 2 new front subframe front mounting 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 front subframe rear mounting 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).
Vehicles equipped with EPAS (Electronic Power Assist Steering)
8. 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. For additional information, refer to Restraints and Safety Systems &/or Air Bag Systems.
Install the intermediate shaft onto the steering gear and install a new bolt.
- Tighten to 20 Nm (177 lb-in).
9. Connect the 2 EPAS (Electronic Power Assist Steering) electrical connectors (1 shown) and attach the wiring retainer (not shown) and install the bolt.
- Tighten to 9 Nm (80 lb-in).
All vehicles
10. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Position the ball joints into the wheel knuckles. Install the new lower ball joint nuts.
- Tighten to 200 Nm (148 lb-ft).
11. NOTE: The hex-holding feature can be used to prevent turning of the stud while installing the nuts.
NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Install new tie-rod end nuts.
- Tighten to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).
12. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Install new upper stabilizer bar link nuts.
- Tighten to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).
Vehicles equipped with HPAS (Hydraulic Power Assist Steering)
13. Remove the power steering gear support from the underbody of the vehicle.
14. Install the power steering gear-to-front subframe bolts and nuts.
- Tighten to 117 Nm (86 lb-ft).
15. Install the power steering line bolts.
- Tighten to 7 Nm (62 lb-in).
16. Install the engine exhaust Y-pipe.
Vehicles equipped with EPAS (Electronic Power Assist Steering)
17. Install the RH and LH exhaust flexible pipes.
All vehicles
18. Position the RH engine splash shield and install the 2 lower pin-type retainers.
Vehicles equipped with EPAS (Electronic Power Assist Steering)
19. Install the underbody shield and the 4 retainers.
All vehicles
20. Install the wheels and tires.
21. Check the front end alignment and adjust as necessary.
Factory Service Tools
Use the Manual With the Right Hardware
Pair factory procedures with proven DIY tools so the instructions are easier to execute.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.
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