OEM 2002 Lincoln LS Front Cross-Member

2002 Lincoln LS Front Cross-Member Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: How to Service and Repair the Front Cross-Member on 2002 Lincoln LS?

  A: Start the front crossmember service and repair process by taking out the upper radiator sight shield followed by hanging the radiator to the upper radiator support. The first step includes fitting the three-bar engine support before removing the front wheel assemblies with their attached tires. The procedure requires you to first remove the eight bolts in combination with two front I-braces and discard the bolts. First detach the two clips then move away the front anti-lock brake sensors before using a tool to remove the four bolts which will facilitate front brake caliper positioning aside. It is important to grip the external hex of tie rods when removing their two nuts as part of the separation process to detach tie rod ends from the front spindles. The external hex on stabilizer bar links requires holding during the process of removing and throwing away the two nuts which separate the links from the lower control arm. Both of these steps require keeping firm control of the external hex on ball joints before you discard the nuts which will split the upper ball joint from its attachment on the spindle. Start by removing the underbody splash shields then unfasten the A/C and power steering line bracket bolts while keeping in mind the nut has better access from above the front of the radiator support crossmember. You should loosen the dust cap nut two turns, remove the bolt and place the water control valve aside specifically for the 3.9L version. Position and support the power steering gear aside by detaching the block heater harness retainer followed by the bolts. Discard the nuts during this process. The next step involves removing engine mount nuts as well as lower front strut mount bolts while securing the front crossmembers to the lift table because this step can be dangerous without adequate support. First indicate the body positions for right and left crossmembers on the assembly before setting the lifting table below these points and removing four engine crossmember bolts and four radiator support crossmember bolts. To begin the operation remove the control arm nuts and bolts followed by their removal. The radiator support crossmember removal requires the removal of its bolts as well as the water control valve bracket along with discarding the bolts and setting the stabilizer bar to the side. First install the stabilizer bar before adding new bolts then put in the water control valve bracket using its corresponding bolts. You should install the new control arm cam bolts and nuts while keeping them loose before placing the assembled radiator support and engine crossmember section together with correct crossmember markings and no engine weight contact before bolting everything tight. Begin by installing the four crossmember bolts situated below the engine and the four crossmember bolts attached to the radiator support bracket. Afterward you should install the engine mount nuts together with the new lower front strut mount bolts. Strategy #2 should be followed when torqueing the new nuts but this time on the ball joint external hex and with the ball joints in the spindles. After caution for stabilizer bar links you must install the power steering gear and its bolts. Install new nuts by holding the external hex of the tie rods before placing both tie rod ends into the spindles. Install first the two front brake calipers before securing their bolts and afterward position the two front anti-lock brake sensors with their clips for 3.9L model vehicles. After installing the block heater harness the technician should place the water control valve while tightening the nut on it. Start by placing A/C and power steering brackets then bolt them into their proper position. After that position two front I-braces loosely while installing four bolts. Check that front I-brace insulators sit correctly before securing the bolts. Complete the installation by adding underbody splash shields followed by wheel and tire components then remove the three-bar engine support before taking off radiator support while installing the upper radiator sight shield with proper front suspension alignment.