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Home >> Acura Truck >> 2011 >> MDX V6-3.7L >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Steering and Suspension >> Suspension >> Stabilizer Bar >> Service and Repair >> Front Stabilizer Bar Replacement

Front Stabilizer Bar Replacement




Front Stabilizer Bar Replacement

Special Tools Required

- Ball Joint Thread Protector, 12 mm 07AAF-SDAA100
- Ball Joint Remover, 28 mm 07MAC-SL0A202
- Engine Hanger Adapter Set VSB02C000031
- Engine Support Hanger, A and Reds AAR-T1256
- Engine Hanger Balance Bar VSB02C000019
- Front Subframe Adapter EQS02BMDXSB0
- Subframe Alignment Pin 070AG-SJAA10S
* : Available through Acura Tool and Equipment Program, 888-424-6857

NOTE: When you replace the stabilizer bar, lower the front subframe from the body, and replace the front stabilizer bar through the gap created by lowering the front subframe.

1. Remove the engine cover.

2. Do the battery terminal disconnection procedure Procedures.

3. Raise and support the vehicle Service and Repair.

4. Remove the front wheels.

5. Remove the driver's dashboard undercover Driver's Dashboard Undercover Removal/Installation.

6. Remove the steering joint cover (A).






7. Loosen the upper steering joint bolt (A), and remove the lower steering joint bolt (B). Disconnect the steering joint (C) by sliding the steering joint into the column shaft (D). Tighten the upper bolt to hold the steering joint in place.

NOTE:

- If the center guide (E) is in place and has not moved, leave it in place.
- If the center guide has moved or been removed, discard it.





8. Center the steering wheel spokes, and install a commercially available steering wheel holder tool (A).






9. Disconnect the power steering pressure (PSP) switch connector (A).






10. Remove the cotter pin (A) from the tie-rod end ball joint, then remove the nut (B).

NOTE: During installation, install the new cotter pin after tightening the new nut, and bend its end as shown.





11. Disconnect the tie-rod end ball joint from the knuckle using the ball joint thread protector and the ball joint remover Ball Joint Removal.

12. Disconnect both sides of the stabilizer link from the stabilizer bar Front Stabilizer Link Removal/Installation.

13. Remove the power steering pump outlet hose mounting bolt (A).






14. Remove the air cleaner housing Service and Repair.

15. Remove the connector bracket (A) from the front cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine balance bar front arm.






16. Remove the engine mount control solenoid valve bracket (A) from the rear cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine hanger balance bar rear arm.






17. Remove the service caps (A) for the front damper flange nuts from the cowl cover (B). Position the engine hanger adapter set (VSB02C000031) with the FRONT mark facing forward over the damper flange nuts.






18. Lift and support the engine with the engine support hanger (AAR-T1256) and the engine hanger balance bar (VSB02C000019). Attach the front arm (A) to the front cylinder head with a spacer (B) and a 10 mm bolt (C), and attach the rear arm (D) to the rear cylinder head with an 8 mm bolt (E). Tighten the wing nut (F) by hand to lift, and support the engine.

NOTE:

- Be careful when working around the windshield.
- Be careful not to damage the hood opener cable when installing the engine support hanger at the front bulkhead.
- AAR-T1256 two sets required for stacking additional cross section bar.





19. Raise and support the vehicle.

20. Remove the front undercover Front Undercover Replacement and the front splash shield Splash Shield Replacement.

21. Remove the front subframe stiffener plate (A).






22. Remove exhaust pipe A Service and Repair.

23. Remove the propeller shaft and propeller shaft protectors Propeller Shaft Removal.

24. Disconnect the front engine mount control solenoid valve tube (A), then remove the front engine mount bolts (B).






25. Remove the rear engine mount bolts (A).






26. Remove the transmission lower mount bolts (A).






27. Loosen the four bolts (A) holding the adjustable arms (B) of the front subframe adapter to its center plate.






28. Line up the slots in the arms with the bolt holes on the corner of the jack base, then attach the front subframe adapter (A) to the jack base with the bolts (B) that came with the jack. Tighten all bolts securely.





29. Raise the jack to vehicle height, then attach the front subframe adapter to the front subframe using the subframe stiffener mounting bolts (C) and bolt holes.

30. Support the front subframe securely by raising the transmission jack.

31. Remove the stiffener mounting bolts (A) on both sides of the front subframe front bracket (B).





32. Loosen the front side subframe mounting bolts (C) until there is 40 mm (1.6 in) distance between the bolt seat and the mounting surface. Do not loosen the mounting bolts more than necessary.

33. Remove the stiffener mounting bolts (A) on both sides of the front subframe rear bracket (B).





34. Loosen the rear side subframe mounting bolts (C) until there is 40 mm (1.6 in) distance between the bolt seat and the mounting surface. Do not loosen the mounting bolts more than necessary.

35. Lower the transmission jack slowly with the front subframe adapter until the front subframe has dropped about 40 mm (1.6 in).

NOTE: Do not try to lower the front subframe beyond the loosened subframe mounting bolts clearance.

36. Remove the flange bolts (A) and the bushing holders (B), then remove the bushings (C).

NOTE: During installation, align the paint marks (D) on the stabilizer bar (E) with the side of the bushings.





37. Move the stabilizer bar toward the passenger's side, and remove the stabilizer bar.

38. Install the stabilizer bar.

NOTE:

- Note the right and left direction of the stabilizer bar.
- Note the direction of installation for the bushings.

39. Loosely tighten the new right-rear subframe mounting bolt (A) and the new stiffener mounting bolt (B); insert the subframe alignment pin (070AG-SJAA10S) through the positioning hole (C) on the front subframe rear bracket, through the positioning hole (D) on the subframe, and into the positioning hole (E) on the body, then tighten the subframe mounting bolt.






40. Loosely tighten the new left-rear subframe mounting bolt using the same procedure as the right-rear with the subframe alignment pin.

41. Loosely tighten the new subframe mounting bolt (A) and the stiffener mounting bolts (B) on both sides to the front subframe front bracket.






42. Tighten the subframe mounting bolts (A) to the specified torque.





43. Tighten the front and rear stiffener mounting bolts (B) to the specified torque.

NOTE: Before tightening the stiffener mounting bolts, check that the positioning holes and slot are aligned using the subframe alignment pin.

44. Install all of the removed parts in the reverse order of removal, and note these items:

- Refer to stabilizer link removal/installation to connect the stabilizer bar to the links Front Stabilizer Link Removal/Installation.
- If the center guide is in place, use it to determine the steering joint installation angle.
- If the center guide is gone, check the steering joint installation angle.
- When connecting the front and rear engine mount, first lightly tighten the mounting bolts, supporting the engine/transmission with a floor jack, then remove the jack, and tighten the bolts to the specified torque.
- Before installing the wheel, clean the mating surfaces on the brake disc and inside of the wheel.

45. Do the battery terminal reconnection procedure Procedures, then turn the ignition switch to ON (II) and check that the SRS indicator should come on for about 6 seconds and then go off.

46. Check the wheel alignment, and adjust it if necessary Service and Repair.

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