One of my engine mount points on the front subframe is falling apart and I want to replace it before things get ugly. I flipped through the FSM and found plenty of information about pulling the rear subframe (which I replaced last year) but nothing on the front.

I haven't had a good chance to crawl under there and find all the bolts yet, but I'm looking for any tips and tricks that might help. I'm also wondering if there's any difference between the S4 and S5 subframes or the coupe and convertible versions.

 

It's a piece of cake. All the bolts are easily accesible. The hardest part is supporting the car. If your subframes are junk, I would have doubts about using the frame rails. Hell, I'd even have doubts about the integrity of the entire car at that point.
There are good supports where the bumper mounts as where the sway bar mounts.

 

Yeah, I've never seen a subframe rusted out and I live in what's called the "rust belt" of Ontario. The subframe is quite thick. If it's damaged, I don't even want to see the rest of the car. Are you sure it's just not crusty surface rust? That can look pretty bad but a few minutes with a wire wheel and can of paint will fix it up.

 

Yes very easy and straight forward. My friend did mine at his shop in less than an hour. At home it would probably take a lot longer though.

 

It's not a rust problem on the subframe (not saying there isn't rust issues elsewhere though.) The car looks like it was run aground at one point and the passenger side cup was crushed a bit which makes getting that engine mount in a royal pain.

That corner was also hurled into a curb and I've already had to replace a few steering components, a lower control arm, steering knuckle, and bent control arm link. Some welded a little 6"x2"x1/4" piece of steel running between the forward control arm mount and the center of the frame which makes me a little wary of the subframe's straightness and integrity.