Suspension System: Removal & Installation Ford Explorer III

Item 2: Wheel Nuts Removal Note

1. With the weight of the vehicle on the wheels, loosen the wheel nuts.
2. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position on a hoist.

Item 5: Brake Caliper, Pads and Anchor Plate Removal Note

1. Position the caliper, pads and anchor plate aside.

Scheme 31

1. Using the special tool, remove the wheel stud.

Item 7: Wheel Stud Installation Note

1. Install washers and a new wheel nut on the wheel stud and tighten the nut until the stud seats against the flange. Discard the wheel nut and washers.

Item 3: Wheel and Tire Installation Note

1. Clean the wheel mounting surfaces.

Item 2: Wheel Nuts Installation Note

1. Tighten the wheel nuts.

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Scheme 35

Scheme 36

1. On 4x4 vehicles, loosen the axle retainer nut.
2. Disconnect the wheel speed sensor.
3. Remove the wheel and tire assembly. For additional information, refer to «WHEEL AND TIRE - FRONT»(ref-194026-S16116025692005092600000) .
4. To remove individual suspension components, only carry out the listed steps.
5. Illustration 1 of 2. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.
6. Illustration 2 of 2. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.

Scheme 37

1. Remove the nut and, using the special tool, separate the outboard CV joint from the wheel hub.

Scheme 38

1. Detach the wheel speed sensor harness from the brake hose.

1. Position the caliper, pads and anchor plate aside.

Item 10: Tie-Rod End-to-Wheel Knuckle Nut Removal Note

1. Using the special tool, separate the tie-rod from the wheel knuckle.

Item 11: Lower Ball Joint-to-Wheel knuckle Nut Removal Note

1. Using the special tool, separate the lower ball joint from the wheel knuckle.

Item 12: Upper Ball Joint-to-Wheel Knuckle Nut Removal Note

1. Using the special tool, separate the upper ball joint from the wheel knuckle.

Item 27: Lower Arm Installation Note

1. Check and, if necessary, align the front end. For additional information, refer to «WHEEL ALIGNMENT»(ref-194026-S17354193542005092600000) .

Item 24: Lower Arm-to-Frame Nut (forward mounting) Installation Note

1. Do not tighten until the installation procedure is complete and the weight of the vehicle is resting on the wheel and tire assemblies.

Item 21: Shock Absorber-to-Lower Arm Bolt Installation Note

1. Do not tighten until the installation procedure is complete and the weight of the vehicle is resting on the wheel and tire assemblies.

Item 16: Upper Arm Installation Note

1. Check and, if necessary, align the front end. For additional information, refer to «WHEEL ALIGNMENT»(ref-194026-S17354193542005092600000) .

Item 13: Wheel Knuckle Installation Note

1. Check and, if necessary, align the front end. For additional information, refer to «WHEEL ALIGNMENT»(ref-194026-S17354193542005092600000) .

Scheme 39

1. Remove the wheel and tire assembly. For additional information, refer to «WHEEL AND TIRE-FRONT»(ref-194026-S16116025692005092600000) .
2. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.
3. To install, reverse the removal procedure.

Item 5: Shock Absorber and Spring Assembly Removal Note

1. For additional information on the disassembly and assembly of the shock absorber and spring assembly, refer to «SHOCK ABSORBER AND SPRING ASSEMBLY»(ref-194026-S32378519392005092600000) .

Item 3: Shock Absorber-to-Lower Arm Bolt Installation Note

1. Do not tighten until the installation procedure is complete and the weight of the vehicle is resting on the wheel and tire assemblies.

Scheme 40

1. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.
2. To install, reverse the removal procedure.

Scheme 41

Scheme 42

Scheme 43

1. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table. To remove individual components, only carry out the listed steps.
2. To install, reverse the removal procedure.

1. With the weight of the vehicle on the wheels, loosen the wheel nuts.
2. With vehicle in NEUTRAL, position on a hoist.

Item 5: Caliper, Pads and Anchor Plate Removal Note

1. Remove the bolts and position the caliper, pads and anchor plate aside.

Item 9: Access Hole Knockout Removal Note

1. Using a suitable punch, remove the access hole cover from the brake shield.

Scheme 44

Scheme 45

1. Using the special tool, separate the wheel stud from the wheel hub flange.
2. Route the wheel stud through the access hole and discard the wheel stud.

Item 10: Wheel Stud Installation Note

1. Install washers and a new wheel nut on the wheel stud and tighten the nut until the stud seats against the flange. Discard the wheel nut and washers.

Item 9: Access Hole Knockout Installation Note

1. A plug must be inserted in place of the knockout to prevent contamination to the parking brake shoe assemblies.

1. Clean the wheel mounting surfaces.

1. Tighten the wheel nuts.

Scheme 46

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Scheme 51

1. Remove the parking brake shoes. For additional information, refer to «BRAKE SYSTEM»(ref-194031) .
2. To remove individual components, only carry out the listed steps.
3. Illustration 1 of 3. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.
4. Illustration 2 of 3. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.
5. Illustration 3 of 3. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.
6. To install, reverse the removal procedure.
7. Check and, if necessary, align the rear end. For additional information, refer to «WHEEL ALIGNMENT»(ref-194026-S17354193542005092600000) .

Item 1: Axle Nut Removal Note

1. Using the special tool, press the outboard CV joint until it is loose from the hub.

Item 3: Toe Link-to-Wheel Knuckle Bolt Removal Note

1. Remove the bolt and separate the toe link from the wheel knuckle.

Item 5: Upper Arm-to-Wheel Knuckle Bolt Removal Note

1. Remove the bolt and separate the upper arm from the wheel knuckle.

Scheme 52

1. Using a suitable press, remove the wheel hub.

Item 13: Wheel Bearing Removal Note

1. Using a suitable press, remove the wheel bearing.

Item 17: Stabilizer Bar Link-to-Stabilizer Bar Nut and Bushing Removal Note

1. Remove the nut and the stabilizer bar link.

Item 26: Upper Arm-to-Frame Bolt (Rearward Mounting) Removal Note

1. Remove the spare tire to gain access to the bolts.

Item 30: Upper Arm-to-Frame Bolt (Forward Mounting) Installation Note

1. Do not tighten until the installation procedure is complete and the weight of the vehicle is resting on the wheel and tire assemblies.

Item 26: Upper Arm-to-Frame Bolt (Rearward Mounting) Installation Note

1. Do not tighten until the installation procedure is complete and the weight of the vehicle is resting on the wheel and tire assemblies.

Item 23: Lower Arm-to-Frame Nut (Forward Mounting) Installation Note

1. Do not tighten until the installation procedure is complete and the weight of the vehicle is resting on the wheel and tire assemblies.

Item 20: Lower Arm-to-Frame Nut (Rearward Mounting) Installation Note

1. Do not tighten until the installation procedure is complete and the weight of the vehicle is resting on the wheel and tire assemblies.

Item 18: Shock Absorber-to-Lower Arm Bolt Installation Note

1. Do not tighten until the installation procedure is complete and the weight of the vehicle is resting on the wheel and tire assemblies.

Scheme 53

1. Remove the wheel and tire assembly. For additional information, refer to «WHEEL AND TIRE - REAR»(ref-194026-S00347919582005092600000) .
2. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.
3. To install, reverse the removal procedure.

Item 8: Shock Absorber and Spring Assembly Removal Note

1. For additional information on the disassembly and assembly of the shock absorber and spring assembly refer to «SHOCK ABSORBER AND SPRING ASSEMBLY»(ref-194026-S32378519392005092600000) .

Item 6: Shock Absorber-to-Lower Arm Bolt Installation Note

1. Do not tighten until the installation procedure is complete and the weight of the vehicle is resting on the wheel and tire assemblies.

Scheme 54

1. Remove the wheel and tire assemblies. For additional information, refer to «WHEEL AND TIRE - REAR»(ref-194026-S00347919582005092600000) .
2. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.
3. To install, reverse the removal procedure.

Scheme 55

Scheme 56

1. Remove the nut and detach the RH upper ball joint.
2. Remove the bolts and position the brake caliper aside.
3. Unclip the vapor line from the fuel tank.
4. From the RH side of the vehicle, remove the stabilizer bar.

Removal & Installation

Note. Do not remove the valve stem core to relieve the tire pressure.

Scheme 57

Scheme 58

1. Remove the wheel and tire assembly. For additional information, refer to «WHEEL AND TIRE-FRONT»(ref-194026-S16116025692005092600000) or «WHEEL AND TIRE - REAR»(ref-194026-S00347919582005092600000) .
2. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.
3. To install, reverse the removal procedure.
4. Train the tire pressure sensors. For additional information, refer to «SENSOR TRAINING COMPONENT TEST»(ref-194026-S04376344342005092600000) .
5. Inflate the tire to the pressure specified on the safety certification sticker located on the driver door jamb.

Item 2: Sensor Retainer Nut Removal Note

1. With the valve stem at the 6 o'clock position, remove the sensor retaining nut and allow the sensor to fall into the tire.

Scheme 59

1. Using a suitable tire machine, separate both beads of the tire from the wheel.
2. Place the wheel and tire on the turntable of the tire machine so that the valve stem hole is positioned 270 degrees from the mounting/dismounting fixture. Index-mark the valve stem and wheel weight positions. Lubricate the bead of the tire. Dismount the outside bead of the tire from the rim.

Item 3: Tire Installation Note

1. Lubricate and mount the outside bead of the tire to the rim.

Scheme 60

1. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.
2. To install, reverse the removal procedure.
3. Train the tire pressure sensors. For additional information, refer to «SENSOR TRAINING COMPONENT TEST»(ref-194026-S04376344342005092600000) .
4. Reconfigure the module. For additional information refer to «INFORMATION, GAUGES AND WARNING DEVICES»(ref-194055) .

Scheme 61

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Scheme 63

1. Remove the shock absorber and spring assembly. For additional information, refer to «SHOCK ABSORBER AND SPRING ASSEMBLY-FRONT»(ref-194026-S30656727052005092600000) or «SHOCK ABSORBER AND SPRING ASSEMBLY-REAR»(ref-194026-S18935106872005092600000) .
2. Using a suitable spring compressor, compress the spring until the tension is released from the shock absorber.
3. Disassemble the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.
4. To assemble, reverse the disassembly procedure.

Scheme 64

1. While holding the flats of the washer, remove the nut.