Stabilizer Bar Replacement

Special Tools Required 

• Ball Joint Thread Protector, 12 mm 07AAF-SDAA100
• Ball Joint Remover, 28 mm 07MAC-SL0A202
• Engine Hanger Balance Bar VSB02C000019*
• 2008 V6 Attachment Arm SIL02C000033*
• Engine Support Hanger, A and Reds AAR-T1256*
• Subframe Adapter VSB02C000016*
• Subframe Alignment Pin 070AG-SJAA10S

  *: Available through the Honda Tool and Equipment Program, 888-424-6857

  NOTE: When you replace the stabilizer bar, lower the front subframe from the body, and replace the stabilizer bar through the gap created by lowering the front subframe.

1. Pry the passenger's side hood support strut clip, and release the passenger's side hood support strut from the pivot bolt (see HOOD SUPPORT STRUT REPLACEMENT ).
2. Remove the driver's side hood support rod bracket (A), then use it as shown to prop the hood in the wide-open position.
   NOTE:

   • Turn the hood support strut bracket inside out.
   • Do not attempt to close the hood with the support strut in the vertical position, as it will damage the support strut and the rod.
     Fig 1: Removing Driver's Side Hood Support Rod Bracket With Torque Specifications

     Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
3. Do the battery terminal disconnection procedure (see BATTERY TERMINAL DISCONNECTION AND RECONNECTION ).
4. Remove the engine cover (see step 1 in IGNITION COIL AND SPARK PLUG REMOVAL/INSTALLATION ).
5. Remove the front grille cover (see FRONT GRILLE COVER REPLACEMENT ).
6. Remove the front strut brace (see FRAME BRACE REPLACEMENT ).
7. Raise and support the vehicle (see LIFT AND SUPPORT POINTS ).
8. Remove the front wheels.
9. Disconnect both sides of the stabilizer link from the stabilizer bar (see STABILIZER LINK REMOVAL/INSTALLATION  ).
10. Remove the cotter pin (A) from the tie-rod end ball joint, then remove the nut (B).
    NOTE: During installation, install the new cotter pin after tightening the nut, and bend its end as shown.
    Fig 2: Cotter Pin And Nut With Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
11. Disconnect the tie-rod end ball joint from the knuckle using the ball joint thread protector and the bail joint remover (see BALL JOINT REMOVAL ).
12. Remove the steering joint cover (A).
    Fig 3: Identifying Steering Joint Cover

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
13. Loosen the upper steering joint bolt (A), and remove the lower steering joint bolt (B). Disconnect the steering joint (C) by sliding the steering joint into the column shaft (D). Tighten the upper steering joint bolt to hold the column shaft.
    NOTE:

    • If the center guide (E) is in place and has not moved, leave it in place.
    • If the center guide has moved or been removed, discard it.
      Fig 4: Upper Steering Joint Bolt, Lower Steering Joint Bolt, Steering Joint And Column Shaft With Torque Specifications

      Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
14. Center the steering wheel spokes, and install a commercially available steering wheel holder tool (A).
    Fig 5: Identifying Steering Wheel Holder Tool

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
15. Disconnect the power steering pressure switch connector (A).
    Fig 6: Identifying Power Steering Pressure Switch Connector

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
16. Remove the P/S pump outlet hose clamp bolt (A).
    Fig 7: P/S Pump Outlet Hose Clamp Bolt With Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
17. Remove the connector bracket (A) from the front cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the engine hanger balance bar front arm.
    Fig 8: Connector Bracket And Front Cylinder Head Bracket Bolt With Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
18. Remove the harness clamp bracket (A) from the rear cylinder head; use the bracket bolt hole to attach the 2008 V6 attachment arm.
    Fig 9: Harness Clamp Bracket With Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
19. Install the engine hanger balance bar (VSB02C000019). Attach the front arm (A) to the front cylinder head with several spacers (B) and a 10 x 1.25 mm bolt (C). Remove the rear arm from the engine hanger balance bar, then install the 2008 V6 attachment arm (SIL02C000033). Attach the 2008 V6 attachment arm to the rear cylinder head with a spacer (D) and a 8x 1.25 mm bolt (E).
    NOTE:

    • Be careful when working around the windshield.
    • Be careful not to damage the hood opener cable when installing the engine support hanger (AAR-T1256) at the front bulkhead.
    • AAR-T1256 two sets required for stacking additional cross section bar.
      Fig 10: Identifying Front Arm, Spacers And Engine Hanger Balance Bar (VSB02C000019)

      Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
20. Install the engine support hanger onto the vehicle, and attach the hook to the engine balancer bar slot. Tighten the wing nut (F) by hand, and lift and support the engine.
21. Remove the front engine mount stop (A), then remove the front engine mount bolt (B).
    NOTE: Use new huts (C) and a front engine mount bolt during reassembly.
    Fig 11: Front Engine Mount Stop And Front Engine Mount Bolt With Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
22. Remove the rear engine mount stop (A).
    NOTE: Use new nuts (B) during reassembly.
    Fig 12: Rear Engine Mount Stop And Nuts With Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
23. Remove the rear engine mount bolt (C) from the rear engine mount (D).
    NOTE: Use a new rear engine mount bolt during reassembly.
24. Raise the vehicle on the lift.
25. Remove the engine undercover (see ENGINE UNDERCOVER REPLACEMENT ).
26. Disconnect the front engine mount actuator connector (A).
    Fig 13: Identifying Front Engine Mount Actuator Connector

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
27. Disconnect the rear engine mount actuator connector (A) from the steering gearbox.
    Fig 14: Identifying Rear Engine Mount Actuator Connector

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
28. Remove exhaust pipe A:
    • 2WD (see EXHAUST PIPE AND MUFFLER REPLACEMENT )
    • 4WD (see 4WD MODEL )
29. 4WD: Remove the propeller shaft (see PROPELLER SHAFT RUNOUT ).
30. Remove the front subframe mounting bolts, and the front subframe middle mounts (A).
    NOTE: Use new mounting bolts during reassembly.
    Fig 15: Front Subframe Middle Mounts And Mounting Bolts With Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
31. Remove the nuts (A) securing the lower transmission mount (B).
    Fig 16: Lower Transmission Mount Securing Nuts With Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
32. Attach the subframe adapter (VSB02C000016) to a transmission jack, then raise up the jack to the front subframe. Loop belt (A) over the front of the subframe, then secure the belt by inserting the stop (B) and then tighten the wing nut (C).
    Fig 17: Attaching Subframe Adapter (VSB02C000016) To Transmission Jack

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
33. Remove the stiffener mounting bolt (A) on both sides of the front stiffener (B).
    Fig 18: Identifying Stiffener Mounting Bolt, Front Stiffener And Subframe Mounting Bolts

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
34. Loosen the subframe mounting bolts (C) to obtain a 10 mm (0.39 in) distance between the bolt seat and the mounting surface. Do not loosen the mounting bolts more than necessary.
35. Remove the stiffener mounting bolt (A) on both sides of the rear stiffener (B).
    Fig 19: Identifying Stiffener Mounting Bolt And Rear Stiffener

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
36. Loosen the subframe mounting bolts (C) to obtain a 30 mm (1.18 in) distance between the bolt seat and the mounting surface. Do not loosen the mounting bolts more than necessary.
37. Lower the transmission jack slowly with the front subframe adapter until the front subframe has dropped about 30 mm (1.18 in).
    NOTE: Do not lower the front subframe beyond the loosened subframe mounting bolts clearance.
38. Remove the flange bolts (A) and the bushing holders (B), then remove the bushings (C).
    Fig 20: Flange Bolts, Bushing Holders, Bushings And Stabilizer Bar With Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
39. Move the stabilizer bar (D) toward the passenger's side, and remove the stabilizer bar.
40. Install the stabilizer bar.
    NOTE:

    • Note the direction of installation for the bushings.
    • Do not set the bushings on the bent or curved part of the stabilizer bar.
41. Loosely tighten the new right rear subframe mounting bolt (A) and the new stiffener mounting bolt (B); insert the subframe alignment pin (070AG-SJAA10S) through the positioning slot (C) on the rear stiffener, through the positioning hole (D) on the front subframe, and into the positioning hole (E) on the body, then tighten the right rear subframe mounting bolt.
    Fig 21: Identifying Rear Subframe Mounting Bolt, Stiffener Mounting Bolt And Rear Stiffener

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
42. Loosely tighten the new left rear subframe mounting bolt and the new stiffener mounting bolt with the same procedure as the right rear using the subframe alignment pin.
43. Loosely tighten the new subframe mounting bolt (A) and the stiffener mounting bolt (B) to both front stiffeners (C).
    Fig 22: Identifying Subframe Mounting Bolt, Stiffener Mounting Bolt And Front Stiffeners

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
44. Using the subframe alignment pin, tighten the right rear subframe mounting bolt (A) to the specified torque.
    Fig 23: Rear Subframe Mounting Bolt And Front Side Subframe Mounting Bolts With Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
45. Using the subframe alignment pin, tighten the left rear subframe mounting bolt (B) to the specified torque.
46. Tighten the front side subframe mounting bolts (C) to the specified torque.
    NOTE: Check all of the subframe mounting bolts, and retighten if necessary.
47. Tighten the stiffener mounting bolts (D) to the specified torque.
    NOTE: Before tightening the stiffener mounting bolts, check that the positioning holes and slot are aligned using the subframe alignment pin.
48. Install all of the removed parts in the reverse order of removal, and note these items:
    • Refer to stabilizer link removal/installation to connect the stabilizer bar to the links (see STABILIZER LINK REMOVAL/INSTALLATION  ).
    • If the center guide is in place, use it to determine the steering joint installation angle.
    • If the center guide is gone, check the steering joint installation angle (see step 3 in STEERING COLUMN REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION ).
    • Before installing the wheel, clean the mating surfaces of the brake disc and the inside of the wheel.
49. Do the battery terminal reconnection procedure (see BATTERY TERMINAL DISCONNECTION AND RECONNECTION ).
50. Check the wheel alignment, and adjust it if necessary (see WHEEL ALIGNMENT ).