Front Crossmember Swap Difficulty?

[bmwman91]

How difficult is it to remove the front crossmember? I want to weld in engine mount reinforcements, and laying directly under MIG activity is...not the best. It seems like I just need to unbolt the front sway bar, get the control arm balljoint ends loose, unbolt the steering rack and support the engine so that I can unbolt the mounts. Assuming I do all of that, can the crossmember drop/slide out once I remove the 4 big chassis bolts? Any other pro-tips from experienced wrenchers?

Thanks!

[jlevie]

That is pretty much it, though I'd just disconnect the rack from the column, disconnect the tie rods, and drop the subframe and rack as a unit.

Before re-installing the subframe chase the threads and use anti-seize. If corroded, I'd use new bolts.

[bmwman91]

Good info, thanks! I take it that trying to slide the crossmember down/back from the steering rack is sort of a pain then?

[nrubenstein]

Good info, thanks! I take it that trying to slide the crossmember down/back from the steering rack is sort of a pain then?

I prefer to leave the rack in place and slide the subframe off. It's easier to pull those bolts than disconnect it.

[jeffnhiscars]

Installing a rack around the subframe tabs can be a pain even with a raised engine but I'm thinking that an unbolted subframe should pivot out and around an installed rack rather nicely.

[bmwman91]

Good info, thanks folks. I'll try sliding the subframe out and leaving everything in place. Assuming I don't get lazy, I will try to take pics and do a little write-up for others.

[f4tj0n]

I had to do this last weekend to change my oil pan gasket on my 24v and broke all four crossmember bolts.. now im really fucked.