Engine Cradle Replacement

[mclarenf1gtrv12]

Help i have a big big question i crashed my car recently and i need to replace the engine cradle, lower control arms ,rack and pinion steering unit, transmission mount and sway bar. I was wondering if it is possible to use parts from a 97 SL2 on a 2002 SL2 and if not all the parts which ones can i use.


please reply i dont want to drive up to where i left my car 100 miles away from where i live and find out that the 97 Sl2 engine cradle and parts wont fit my 2002 SL2
:dazed:

[amazinghl]

Yes, it'll fit fine.

Have fun trying to get the power steering hoses off.

[FrozenPilot]

I'll second the power steering hoses being a P.I.T.A. I hope the Saturn techs have some special tool they can use, cuz I couldn't get them off (hard enough to get at them!) with regular wrenches.

[SaturnTech]

I use a crow's foot wrench to separate the lines from the rack....works every time!

[Qlara]

Is it easy to replace the cradle itself though, how heavy is the part but the important question is: How to align the new cradle in place? (Assuming no hoist, just jack stands....) :rolleyes:

2-person's job?

[wolfman]

The cradle can be reasonably aligned using the alignment holes located near the front bolt hole attaching points. LOOSELY attached all four cradle bolts, then insert a deep well socket that fits TIGHTLY INSIDE the alignment holes to align the cradle with the space frame. With the socket in place, tighten the attaching bolts. That should do it.

The cradle probably weighs around 100lbs +/- with the control arms and sway bar still attached.

[Qlara]

Oh that doesn't look too bad, assuming sway and arms were already taken out first.....

For the old cradle removal though, when I look at it....the exhaust pipe is in place as well as the steering column. Should the front pipe be completely moved out first or just taking out those two 8-shape hangers is good enough for the cradle to slide in/out?

[Applefool]

I just had my cradle off to do a tranny swap. The bad news, the cradle is rotting to heck. I put it back on for now as I can't afford a new one. When I first put it back, the car was pulling hard to the right, and the steering wheel was at about 2 o'clock. Slipped it back into the garage, and was able to slide it over a touch, which brought my alignment back perfectly.

[Craig]

Mine is getting crusty along the drivers side...thinking I'll eventually get another one and have it powdercoated before I install it.

[Qlara]

So for people with some hands-on cradle removal experience, what're the important parts need to take out/remove to have a hassle-free cradle drop?

How do you deal with the front exhaust pipe part?

Assuming no car-lift or hoist is available.....just some jacks and stands.

[Greg1]

You have to unbolt and remove that exhaust section. It wasn't very hard for the 96-98 Cal Saturns I've worked on here where the cat and downpipe were one section.

[wolfman]

Cradle removal: (abbreviated but easy enough to follow)

Jack up the car and support it with jackstands. You MUST get the car (measured at the frame) AT LEAST 16 inches off the ground.

Remove both front wheels and inner splash shields.

Remove the front (engine) splash shield from under the radiator

Seperate the tierod ends from the knuckle (both sides)
NOTE: This is NOT 100% necessary, BUT it can help to make removing the steering rack to cradle bolts easier, so I recommend you do so.

Seperate the ball joints from the knuckle. LEAVE the knuckles with brake componants, drive axles and struts still attached "hanging"

Support the engine and transaxle from ABOVE using a couple of appropriate length 2X4's layed accross the upper radiator support to the firewall upper portion and some STRONG rope/chain/cable through the lifting eyes. MAKE SURE that the engine/transaxle WILL NOT drop down when the cradle is removed from beneath them. ("Hanger" MUST be TIGHT before proceeding)

Remove the three nuts holding the exhaust down pipe to the manifold and the bracket and/or rubber hangers just forward of the catalytic convertor. Allow the down pipe to sag down (no need to remove it)

Remove the two bolts securing the steering rack to the cradle

Remove the LOWER engine dogbone mount and LOWER transaxle to cradle mount.

Tie the radiator SECURELY to the upper radiator support with some STRONG twine.

Break loose, but DO NOT REMOVE the 4 cradle to space frame bolts. ENSURE THAT NOTHING IS NOW ATTATCHED TO THE CRADLE! (except the lower control arms and sway bar) THEN remove the REAR cradle bolts FIRST. Support the FRONT of the cradle with a floor jack and THEN remove the front cradle attaching bolts.

SLOWLY lower the cradle making SURE that the RADIATOR does NOT come down with it and that NOTHING else is still attached or interfering with it lowering.

Drag the cradle with the sway bar and lower control arms still attached out the FRONT of the car, OVER the still attached exhaust pipe.

Install is reverse (LOL) DO NOT FORGET to use the front cradle alignment holes (mentioned in a post above) to align the cradle BEFORE tightening the bolts.

Hope that helps (and that I did not forget anything)

[amazinghl]

Add, remove the plastic thing that holds the brake line.. after

Remove the LOWER engine dogbone mount and LOWER transaxle to cradle mount.


I just thought you might want that brake line... you know. ;)

[Petey]

Make sure that you tighten ALL the bolts and secure ALL wires. Saturn tec forgot that step when they did mine. My backyard mechanic found a loose lower control arm when I heard a loud banging when I changed directions (reverse to forward). and I just had to replace an O2 sensor because the connector was not secured properly and it fell onto the hot pipe and melted.

[Qlara]

Definitely thanks Wolfman and others contribute the detailed steps of the cradle removal.

Wolfman: Hanging the radiator makes sense, but what about the AC condensor in front? It ties to the radiator?

The exhaust frontpipe maybe a hassle, any good tricks to remove those rusty bolts? (Behind the Cat bolts....) What about the 8-shape rubber hangers, any good tool to extract the darn thing? :D

[SaturnTech]

The condensor is bolted to the radiator, once you hang the radiator, the condensor has nowhere to go. I live in Syracuse, NY, the snow and salt capital of the world, and the 3 bolts that go from the manifold to the front pipe always come out, even on older cars. The key is to make sure your socket is sqaure on the head of the bolt before starting to apply pressure. I use a Snap-On 13mm swivel socket for the exhaust bolts so the socket will always be square to the bolt head, even if my rachet is not. I stripped a lot of volts before I bought that socket! As Wolfman said, the front pipe DOES NOT need to be removed from the vehicle to remove the cradle, it just needs to be unbolted from the manifold and let it hang down, you can get the cradle around it. Then you don't have to worry about the bolts on the cat, or any of the rubber hangers.... :-)

[Saturn-Eh!]

yeah, if one has the luxury of a hoist... Having done it, removing the cradle with the cat still attached and the car on jackstands rates pretty darn high on the "****-is-this-hard-o-meter"

If you are dropping the subframe in a driveway, do your self a favor and remove the cat from the rear pipe. Then again, I'm lucky enough to have oxy-acetylene torches to take off those stubborn cat-to-rear-pipe nuts...:D

[Qlara]

I'm thinking about pulling out the powertrain too, can anyone recommend a decent (but economical) lift crane?