Shock Absorber and Spring Assembly - Front Wheel Drive (FWD): Removal

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Mercury Sable, 2008 Ford Taurus X, and 2008 Ford Taurus. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: The coil spring is under extreme load. Care must be taken at all times when removing or installing a loaded spring. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

NOTE: 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 numbers 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.

All vehicles

Measure the distance from the center of the wheel hub to the lip of the fender with the vehicle in a level, static ground position (curb height).

Fig 1: Identifying Distance From Center Of Hub To Lip Of Fender

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Sedans

Remove the luggage compartment rear trim panel and the appropriate side trim panel.

Wagons

Remove the third row safety belt anchor-to-floor bolt trim cover. For additional information, refer to Interior Trim - Exploded View in INTERIOR TRIM AND ORNAMENTATION article.

All vehicles

Remove and discard shock absorber-to-upper mount nut.
Remove the wheel and tire. For additional information, refer to WHEELS AND TIRES article.

NOTE: Do not allow the brake caliper and anchor plate assembly to hang by the brake hose or damage to the hose may occur.

Remove the brake caliper anchor plate bolts and position the anchor plate and caliper assembly aside.
- Support the caliper and anchor plate assembly with mechanic's wire.
Index-mark the coil spring position on the upper spring isolator for reference during the installation procedure.
Lower the vehicle and support the front of the vehicle with jackstands.
Position a suitable floor jack under the lower arm at the shock absorber mount and raise the suspension until the toe-link is parallel to the ground.
Remove the trailing arm-to-wheel knuckle bolt.
- Discard the bolt.
Remove the trailing arm-to-subframe bolt and the trailing arm.
- Discard the bolt.
Remove the lower arm-to-wheel knuckle bolt.
- Discard the bolt.
Loosen the lower arm-to-subframe bolt.
Lower and remove the floor jack.
Remove the shock absorber lower bolt and the shock absorber and spring.
- Discard the bolt.