OEM Cadillac XLR Front Cross-Member

Cadillac XLR Front Cross-Member Parts and Q&A

• Engine Cradle
  20850582
  Q: How to Properly Handle the Front Cross-Member Replacement Process on Cadillac XLR?

  A:

  To replace the front suspension crossmember, start with the engine being supported by the engine support fixture (J41158-B) and the vehicle being raised. Be aware that new tire and wheel sets may have designated 'left' and 'right' sides. For the previous car, the outermost part on the right side was removed first, and during installation, the opposite order was followed. Undo the stabilizer shaft, detaching the intermediate shaft lower coupling from the steering gear, and, as well as the bolts from the electronic brake control module (EBCM)/brake pressure modulator valve (BPMV) bracket. Support the ebcm/bpmv and bracket away from the crossmember, then remove the bolts from the power steering gear and the power steering fluid cooler, and remove them from the crossmember. Lift the power steering gear up off of the cross-member and support it. The transverse spring compressor (J 33432-A) must be applied to remove the transverse spring from the vehicle by the lifting of this spring. However, the lower Shock Absorber bolts must then be disconnected from the lower Control Arms; this in turn requires the removal of the lower Control Arm bolts from this arm's position into the position of the crossmember. Jack up the vehicle by keeping the transmission jack under the crossmember, then remove the lower nuts of the mount under the engine, disconnect the wiring harness of the wheel speed from the panel, disconnect the electrical harness from the clips, and the clips themselves at the crossmember from the brake pipe. Disassemble the crossmember mounting nuts and bring the crossmember down through the vehicle. For installation put the crossmember up to the vehicle and align the dowel pins to the frame rails and the engine mount studs and use new crossmember mounting nuts tighten up to 110 n.m (81 lb ft). Install engine mount lower nuts, secure the wheel speed sensor wiring harness to the retaining clips, the brake pipe on the retaining clips, and the electrical harness on the clips of the crossmember. Install the transverse spring with the aid of the transverse spring compressor (J 33432-A) attached, then install the lower Control Arm as well as the shock absorbers to the lower control arms with the aid of tightening the nuts that hold the bottom of the Shock Absorber with 28 n.m (21 lb ft). Mount the power steering gear to the cross member, fastening the mounting bolts to 100 n.m (74 lb ft), followed by the bolts to the bpmv bracket, and linking the intermediate shaft to the steering gear, and mounting the steering linkage outer tie rods to the Steering Knuckles. Lastly, connect esc sensor links place the stabilizer shaft, re-mount the tire and wheel assemblies, lower the vehicle and remove the engine support fixture, conduct the vehicle front-end alignment.