Piston & Rod Assembly

WARNING: This page is about a different variant/trim than selected.

Ensure connecting rod and connecting rod cap are marked with matching cylinder number for reassembly reference. Install piston with arrow on piston pointing toward front of engine. Install connecting rod and bearing cap with numbers on components facing same side.
With piston removed from cylinder block, hold piston with connecting rod positioned horizontally. Lift connecting rod upward. Release connecting rod and note if connecting rod drops freely. Replace piston or piston pin if connecting rod fails to drop freely.
Ensure piston pin diameter and pin-to-piston fit are as specified. See PISTONS, PINS & RINGS table under ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS.
Check center-to-center length. Ensure connecting rod bend, crankpin bore and piston pin bushing bore diameter are within specification. See CONNECTING RODS table under ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS.
To reassemble, install piston on connecting rod. Press piston pin through piston until piston pin bottoms on retaining ring. Install NEW piston pin retainer. Ensure connecting rod moves freely on piston.
On Escape, Sable and Taurus, tighten bolts in sequence to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . On LS, tighten bolts 1 and 4 in 3 stages. Next, tighten bolts 2 and 5 in 3 stages. Then bolts 3 and 6 in 3 stages. See CONNECTING ROD TIGHTENING SEQUENCE (LS) table for tightening specification.

CONNECTING ROD TIGHTENING SEQUENCE (LS)