Below guide will teach you How to Replace a Control Arm . Please follow the instructions carefully.
Things You’ll Need:
- Combination Wrench Set
- Ball Joint Separator
- Ball Peen Hammer
- Socket and Ratchet Set
- Jack Stand Set
- Pry Bar
- 1/2 in. Drive Torque Wrench
- Control Arm
Estimated Costs:
- DIY Costs: Est. $262.06 parts only
- Shop Costs: Est. $451.52 parts and labor
Image may not be specific to your car
Instructions:
- Make sure the car is parked on a leveled surface and parking brake is on.
- Loosen the lug nuts of the front wheels, but don’t remove them.
- With the help of floor jack, raise the front of the vehicle.
- To ensure your safety during the repair work, set the vehicle on jack stands. Also, put logs behind the rear wheels.
- Take the loosen lug nuts away and dismiss the front wheels.
- Make certain what sort of suspension your vehicle have. In case of coil spring with a SLA suspension, prop up the lower control arm with a floor jack. You have to hold the coil spring before releasing the lower control arm. In case of torsion bar suspension, you have to remove the tension first.
- Take the cotter pin away from the ball joint nut. Unfasten the nut but don’t take it out. In case a pinch bolt is holding the ball joint, unfasten the bolt.
- With the help of ball joint separator, disconnect the ball joint from the steering knuckle. You can also use hammer to remove the ball joint by tapping it. Take the nut away and remove the knuckle.
- Remove any of the suspension component attached to the lower control arm.
- Take the control arm assembly out by unfastening the bolts holding the assembly in place.
- Take a new control arm and secure it in place by tightening the bolts. You have to torque the bolts later when the vehicle is at riding height.
- Reinstall the steering knuckle onto the control arm or ball joint assembly.
- Keeping in view the specifications, torque the castle nut properly.
- Cover the castle nut with a new cotter pin.
- Reconnect all the other components which you had removed earlier.
- Put the front wheels back and secure them lug nuts.
- Remove the jack stands and lower down the vehicle and torque the lug nuts according to vehicle specifications.
- Don’t forget to torque the control arm nut. Follow the specifications for your car and torque the control arm nut accordingly.
