OEM 2002 Ford Focus Rear Crossmember

2002 Ford Focus Rear Crossmember Parts Q&A

• Q: How to Service and Repair the Rear Crossmember on 2002 Ford Focus?

  A: Service and repair operations on the rear cross-member should start with removal of the stabilizer bar. All vehicle types require loose retention of the shock absorber lower retaining bolt before fixing the shock absorber to the wheel knuckle. The front lower arm positioning marked with front needs to be noted before removing the rear lower arms from the vehicle. Note down the positions before removing the upper arms from the wheel knuckles. The vehicle should rest on a suitable cable tie to avoid damages while lowering the transmission jack. You must support the exhaust system with an axle stand before disconnecting it from the crossmember exhaust hanger insulator. This detachment enables sufficient room for work. A suitable transmission jack should support the crossmember and subsequent bolt removal of three attachments on each side. Proceed by attaching the transmission jack to its designated crossmember position then revolve three bolts on each side before slowly lowering the jack. After disconnecting the exhaust system from the crossmember exhaust hanger insulator, take away the axle stand. The upper arm retaining bolts should receive no final tightening at this time while the technician installs the upper arms to secure them against the wheel knuckles using loose bolts. Place the front lower arms without torque on their retaining bolts while keeping the rear lower arm retaining bolts loose at this time. After placing the rear lower arms mount the suspension control rods at their design height mark. Begin by tightening the side upper arm bolts that secure the crossmember retaining part and the upper arm to wheel knuckle retaining bolts. Then drain and tighten the front lower arm retaining bolts. After tightening rear lower arm to wheel knuckle retaining bolts on both sides the technician will leave installation of rear lower arm to wheel knuckle bolts until later. Both rear lower adjustment cam nuts should be tightened before securing the stabilizer bar without connecting it to rear lower arms. Detachment of rear lower arms from wheel knuckles occurs on both sides of the wagon model while shock absorber detachment from wheel knuckles happens on both sides for 3-door, 4-door and 5-door models. At the end of the process lower the suspension to design height and secure the stabilizer bar to the rear lower arms before installing springs and performing rear wheel alignment check.