Frame and Underbody: Removal & Installation Saturn VUE II

Frame Replacement (L61)

Tools Required

1. J 43828 Ball Joint Remover. See «Special Tools»(ref-269290-S24621508062007103000000) .
2. SA9140E Toque Angle Gage. See «Special Tools»(ref-269290-S24621508062007103000000) .

Removal Procedure

1. Secure the radiator to the upper radiator support.
2. Install the engine support fixture. Refer to «Engine Support Fixture»(ref-269306-S19215029722007103000000) .
3. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to «Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle»(ref-269307-S14936445802007103000000) .
4. Remove the front wheels. Refer to «Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation»(ref-269308-S19043605372007103000000) .
5. Remove the side splash shield-to-frame fasteners.
6. Remove the front air dam-to-frame fasteners.
7. Remove the rear transaxle mount-to-frame bolts.
8. Remove the front transaxle mount through bolt.
9. Remove the steering gear-to-frame bolts.
10. Using mechanics wire, secure the steering gear to the exhaust.
11. Remove the stabilizer shaft clamp-to-frame bolts.
12. Remove the lower ball joint cotter pins. Discard the cotter pins.
13. Loosen the lower ball joint castle nut until the nut is level with the top of the ball stud.
14. Using the J 43828 . See «Special Tools»(ref-269290-S24621508062007103000000) .
15. Remove the frame-to-body bolts. Discard the bolts.
16. Carefully lower the frame from the vehicle.
17. Remove the lower control arms. Refer to «Lower Control Arm Replacement»(ref-269309-S16371478042007103000000) .

Installation Procedure

1. Install the lower control arms. Refer to «Lower Control Arm Replacement»(ref-269309-S16371478042007103000000) .
2. Raise the frame to the body.
3. Loosely install new frame-to-body bolts.
4. Connect the ball joint stud to the steering knuckle.
5. Using the SA9140E . See «Special Tools»(ref-269290-S24621508062007103000000) . Tighten: Tighten the nut to 40 N.m (30 lb ft).
6. Continue to tighten the castle nut to align the slots with the opening in the ball stud and install the ball stud cotter pin.
7. Remove the mechanics wire and install the steering gear to the frame. Tighten: Tighten the bolts to 110 N.m (81 lb ft).
8. Install the front transaxle mount through bolt. Tighten: Tighten the bolt to 110 N.m (81 lb ft).
9. Install the rear transaxle mount-to-frame bolts. Tighten: Tighten the bolts to 50 N.m (37 lb ft).
10. Install the stabilizer shaft clamp. Tighten: Tighten the bolts to 50 N.m (37 lb ft).
11. Tighten the frame-to-body bolts. Tighten: Tighten the bolts to 155 N.m (114 lb ft).
12. Install the front air dam fasteners.
13. Install the side splash shield-to-frame fasteners.
14. Install the front wheels. Refer to «Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation»(ref-269308-S19043605372007103000000) .
15. Lower the vehicle.
16. Remove the engine support fixture. Refer to «Engine Support Fixture»(ref-269306-S19215029722007103000000) .
17. Unsecure the radiator from the upper radiator support.
18. Align the front suspension. Refer to «Front Toe Adjustment»(ref-269310-S09429194092007103000000) .

Frame Replacement (L66)

Tools Required

1. J 43828 Ball Joint Remover. See «Special Tools»(ref-269290-S24621508062007103000000) .
2. SA9140E Torque Angle Gage. See «Special Tools»(ref-269290-S24621508062007103000000) .

1. Tie the radiator, air conditioning condenser, and fan module assembly to the upper radiator support to keep the assembly with the vehicle when the frame is lowered.
2. Install the engine support fixture. Refer to «Engine Support Fixture»(ref-269311-S25708016882007103000000) .
3. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to «Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle»(ref-269307-S14936445802007103000000) .
4. Remove the front wheels. Refer to «Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation»(ref-269308-S19043605372007103000000) .
5. Remove the side splash shield-to-frame fasteners.
6. Remove the front air dam-to-frame fasteners.
7. Remove the rear transmission mount-to-frame bolts.
8. Remove the front transmission mount-to-frame bolts.
9. Remove the steering gear-to-frame bolts.
10. Using mechanics wire, secure the steering gear to the exhaust.
11. Remove the stabilizer shaft clamp-to-frame bolts.
12. Remove the lower ball joint cotter pins. Discard the cotter pins.
13. Loosen the lower ball joint castle nut until the nut is level with the top of the ball stud.
14. Using the J 43828 . See «Special Tools»(ref-269290-S24621508062007103000000) .
15. Remove the reinforcement bolts (3).
16. Remove the rear frame to body bolts (2). DISCARD the bolts.
17. Remove the reinforcement (1) from the vehicle.
18. Remove the front frame-to-body bolts. DISCARD the bolts.
19. Carefully lower the frame from the vehicle.
20. Remove the lower control arms. Refer to «Lower Control Arm Replacement»(ref-269309-S16371478042007103000000) .

1. Install the lower control arms. Refer to «Lower Control Arm Replacement»(ref-269309-S16371478042007103000000) .
2. Raise the frame to the body.
3. Loosely install NEW front frame-to-body bolts.
4. Position the reinforcement (1) to the vehicle.
5. Loosely install NEW rear frame to body bolts (2).
6. Loosely install the reinforcement bolts (3).
7. Connect the ball joint stud to the steering knuckle.
8. Using the SA9140E . See «Special Tools»(ref-269290-S24621508062007103000000) . Tighten: Tighten the nut to 40 N.m (30 lb ft).
9. Continue to tighten the castle nut to align the slots with the opening in the ball stud and install the ball stud cotter pin.
10. Remove the mechanics wire and install the steering gear to the frame. Tighten: Tighten the bolts to 110 N.m (81 lb ft).
11. Install the transmission mount-to-frame bolts. Tighten: Tighten the bolt to 50 N.m (37 lb ft).
12. Install the rear transmission mount-to-frame bolts. Tighten: Tighten the bolts to 50 N.m (37 lb ft).
13. Install the stabilizer shaft clamp. Tighten: Tighten the bolts to 50 N.m (37 lb ft).
14. Tighten the frame-to-body reinforcement bolts (3). Tighten: Tighten the bolts (3) to 50 N.m (37 lb ft).
15. Tighten the frame-to-body bolts. Tighten: Tighten the bolts to 155 N.m (114 lb ft).
16. Install the front air dam fasteners.
17. Install the side splash shield-to-frame fasteners.
18. Install the front wheels. Refer to «Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation»(ref-269308-S19043605372007103000000) .
19. Lower the vehicle.
20. Remove the engine support fixture.
21. Untie the radiator, air conditioning condenser, and fan module assembly from the upper radiator support.
22. Align the front suspension. Refer to «Front Toe Adjustment»(ref-269310-S09429194092007103000000) .

1. Remove the frame from the vehicle. Refer to «Frame Replacement (L61)»(ref-269290-S41228880552007103000000) or «Frame Replacement (L66)»(ref-269290-S23012913112007103000000) .
2. Install the CH-47672 to the frame insulator that you are removing as shown. See «Special Tools»(ref-269290-S24621508062007103000000) .
3. Use the CH-47672 to remove the frame insulator from the frame. See «Special Tools»(ref-269290-S24621508062007103000000) .

1. Clean the frame insulator opening.
2. Apply thin coat of rubber lubricant GM P/N 1051717 (Canadian P/N 5728223), or equivalent to the inside of the frame insulator opening.
3. Apply thin coat of rubber lubricant GM P/N 1051717 (Canadian P/N 5728223), or equivalent to the inside of the frame insulator.
4. Install the frame insulator to the front frame opening with the alignment tabs facing up.
5. Use the CH-47672 to install the frame insulator to the frame. See «Special Tools»(ref-269290-S24621508062007103000000) .
6. Remove the CH-47672 from the frame. See «Special Tools»(ref-269290-S24621508062007103000000) .
7. Install the frame to the vehicle. Refer to «Frame Replacement (L61)»(ref-269290-S41228880552007103000000) or «Frame Replacement (L66)»(ref-269290-S23012913112007103000000) .

1. Remove the push-in retainers from the front wheelhouse liner.
2. Remove the wheelhouse liner from the vehicle.

1. Position the front wheelhouse liner to the vehicle.
2. Install the push-in retainers.

1. Remove the rear wheelhouse liner push-in retainers.
2. Remove the rear wheelhouse liner from the vehicle.

1. Align the rear wheelhouse liner to the vehicle.
2. Install the rear wheelhouse liner push-in retainers.

1. Remove the splash shield to structure push-in retainers.
2. Slide the splash shield forward to remove.

1. Position the splash shield to the vehicle by sliding rearward and aligning holes.
2. Install the splash shield to structure push-in retainers.

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to «Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle»(ref-269307-S14936445802007103000000)
2. Use the utility stand at the rear cross member of the frame to support the frame.
3. Remove the reinforcement bolts (3).
4. Remove the rear frame to body bolts (2). DISCARD the bolts.
5. Remove the reinforcement (1) from the vehicle.

1. Position the reinforcement (1) to the vehicle.
2. Loosely install NEW rear frame to body bolts (2).
3. Loosely install the reinforcement bolts (3).
4. Tighten the reinforcement bolts (3). Tighten: Tighten the bolts to 50 N.m (37 lb ft).
5. Tighten the frame to body bolts (2). Tighten: Tighten the bolts to 155 N.m (114 lb ft).
6. Remove the utility stand from the frame.
7. Lower the vehicle.