How to Replace Front CV Axle 01-12 Ford Escape
Difficulty: Advanced · About 120 min · Ford Escape
Replace the front CV axle, including the brake caliper and sway bar link, on a 2001-2012 Ford Escape.
Tools you will need
- Floor jack
- Jack stands
- Ratchet
- 10mm socket
- 15mm wrench
- 18mm wrench
- 4mm hex wrench
- 5mm hex wrench
- 7mm hex wrench
- Rust penetrant
- Hammer
- Pry bar
- Flat blade screwdriver
- Center punch
- Anti-seize grease
- Needle-nose pliers
- Torque wrench
- 1/2 inch breaker bar
Parts and supplies
- Front CV axle
Steps
- Remove the wheel
Loosen the lug nuts with the car on the ground, then raise and support it and pull the wheel.
- Loosen the axle nut
Brace the rotor with a pry bar, then loosen the center axle nut with a 1-1/4 inch socket and breaker bar.
- Disconnect the brake line, ABS sensor and sway bar
Unclip the brake line with pliers and free it from its bracket, remove the ABS bracket's and sensor's 10mm bolts, remove the sway bar link's upper nut with a 15mm wrench and 5mm hex bit, then remove the lower strut bolts with an 18mm wrench and socket, marking their position first if the holes are slotted, and break the axle nut loose a few threads before tapping the axle free of the hub and knuckle with a punch and hammer.
- Remove the caliper and old axle
Pop the rubber boots off the caliper, pry the anti-rattle spring out after squeezing its ends with pliers, remove the caliper's bolts with a 7mm hex bit, set it aside, thread a lug nut onto the rotor to hold it, then pull the old axle out.
- Install the new axle and caliper
Seat the new axle into the housing and knuckle by hand until it locks, insert the lower strut bolts and torque them to about 85 ft-lb, refit the brake pads and caliper, torque its bolts to about 18 ft-lb, then refit the rubber boots and anti-rattle clip.
- Reconnect the sensors and sway bar
Tighten the ABS sensor's and bracket's 10mm bolts, clip the brake line back into its bracket, then reconnect the sway bar link's upper bolt and torque its nut to about 46 ft-lb.
- Tighten the axle nut and reinstall the wheel
Brace the rotor with a pry bar and torque the axle nut to about 221 ft-lb, remove the placeholder lug nut, then refit the wheel and torque its lug nuts to about 100 ft-lb in a crossing pattern.
Check your vehicle’s repair manual for exact specifications and fit.