B3AN

Every writeup I've seen on removing the clutch says there are 2 17mm bolts and 4 19mm bolts holding up the front subframe. I cannot find the 17mm bolts that are holding the subframe. I can find the ones holding the engine mounts and the ones holding the crossbrace and other parts to the bottom of the subframe, but I cannot find any that appear to be holding the subframe to the frame of the car.

I CAN find 6 19mm bolts that appear to be holding the subframe to the frame of the car. There are the 2 pairs of 19mm bolts on the outer edges at the rear of the subframe, and then another pair of 19mm bolts further forward that I thought were 17mm bolts but are not. Were the AP2s or DBW cars built using 19mm subframe bolts all around? This is the only thing holding me back from lowering the engine to remove the transmission now (that and the upper 3 bolts on the transmission I need to get to).

Thanks

B3AN

Here's an image describing what I'm looking at. Tell me what bolts to remove

Billman250

on the 2006-2009 model, they are all 19mm heads

on 2000-2005, the rear bolts have 17mm heads.

Stratocaster

The replacement parts are 19mm heads too. So if you order replacements for your car, the 17mm bolt head will be a 19mm bolt head.

Personally I like not having to swap sockets when I am installing or removing the sub frame.

Billman250

your green circles are correct.

The corner bolts are very long. Loosen them THREE inches exactly, but do not remove them.

Then put your jack underneath and remove the middle two. They are short.

Then lower the subframe onto the 4 corner bolts.

Dont forget to disconnect the steering rack. once you do, REMOVE the key and lock the steering wheel. If the steering wheel is allowed to rotate out of time before reconnecting, you WILL BREAK the cable reel.

Billman250

i did not know that strat good to know

B3AN

Grrrrr. I've gotten it lowered enough to break loose all the bolts (and I hope whomever put Loctite on these threads would go and DIAF). There is one remaining bolt on the passenger side that I cannot get; it is almost directly parallel with the motormount. I've got the header dangling, but I don't think remounting it and leaving it loose or completely removing it would help much. These bolts just need so much leverage to pop loose. So frustrated, I really wanted to drop off the flywheel for machining tomorrow, but that won't happen now. Grrrrr

B3AN

K, finally busted it off

FYI to anyone doing a clutch job, the subframe is not just dropped to get at the bolts, but also to have room for the transmission bellhousing to move backwards, if its not lowered enough, the top of it will hit the transmission tunnel

WayneCallar

Sorry to bump an old thread but no point in starting a new one. Does the car need a new allignment seeing as the subframe is being dropped?

Also, is it best to remove the knock sensor completely to avoid it breaking? (I hear people break these all the time!? Are they just not being careful?)

jordannn93

I would like to know about the alignment as well