Part 2
Transaxle - 3.5LRemoval (Steps 26-55)
All wheel drive (AWD) vehicles
26. Remove and discard the front wheel hub nut.
All vehicles
27. Remove the RH lower control arm nuts.
28. CAUTION: When the lower ball joint is separated from the wheel knuckle, the lower arm may strike the outer constant velocity (CV) joint boot with enough force to damage the boot clamp. This will result in a loss of grease from the outer CV joint. Place a block of wood, or similar item, between the lower arm and the outer CV joint to prevent the lower arm from striking the outer CV joint.
NOTE: Once pressure is applied to the ball joint with the special tool, it may be necessary to tap the wheel knuckle at the ball joint area to separate the ball joint from the wheel knuckle.
Using the special tools, separate the 2 lower ball joints from the wheel knuckle and remove the wheel knuckle.
29. Remove the bolt connecting the RH damper fork to the lower control arm.
30. Remove the 2 engine roll restrictor bracket bolts.
31. Remove the bolts and position the power steering cooler tube aside.
32. Remove the 3 steering gear bolts and position the steering gear aside with mechanic's wire.
33. Position a suitable drivetrain lift table under the subframe
34. Remove the 2 rear subframe nuts.
35. Remove the 4 bolts and the 2 subframe support brackets.
36. NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.
Remove the 2 front subframe nuts and remove the subframe
Front wheel drive (FWD) vehicles
37. Remove the 2 catalytic converter bracket bolts.
38. Remove the 2 nuts and remove the catalytic converter support bracket.
39. Remove the 3 bolts and position the RH halfshaft aside.
AWD vehicles
40. Using the special tool, press the halfshaft out of the wheel hub.
41. Remove the 2 bolts and the RH halfshaft.
42. Index the driveshaft, remove the 4 bolts and position the driveshaft aside.
43. Disconnect the RH catalyst monitor electrical connector.
44. Remove the 2 catalytic converter bracket bolts.
45. Remove the 4 nuts and the RH catalytic converter.
46. Remove the 5 bolts and the power transfer unit (PTU) support bracket.
47. NOTE: A new halfshaft seal must be installed anytime the RH halfshaft is removed.
NOTE: The seal deflector will be damaged during removal. Be careful not to damage the cover seal directly behind the seal deflector.
Remove the seal deflector.
48. Using the special tools, remove the halfshaft seal from the PTU.
49. Remove the 5 bolts and the PTU.
All vehicles
50. Remove the 2 fasteners and the inspection cover.
51. Remove and discard the 4 torque converter nuts.
52. Disconnect the transmission fluid cooler hoses.
53. Position a suitable high-lift transmission jack under the transaxle.
54. Remove the 7 torque converter housing bolts and remove the transaxle.
55. If installing a new transaxle, the transmission fluid cooler will need to be backflushed and cleaned. Carry out transmission fluid cooler tube backflushing and cleaning.