Radius Arm Bushing

This procedure covers the replacement of the lower control arm radius arm bushings on the 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L V8 engine, requiring removal of the lower control arm.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Lower control arm radius arm bushing × 2 — Moog K200867 or equivalent
• Ball joint cotter pin × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Anti-seize compound × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
4. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at factory lift points
5. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed at frame rails
6. Remove front wheels completely
7. Spray all suspension fasteners with penetrating oil and allow to soak for 15-30 minutes

Procedure

1. 1

   Disconnect sway bar link
   Locate the sway bar link connected to the lower control arm. Hold the shaft with an Allen key to prevent spinning and remove the nut connecting the sway bar link to the lower control arm. Swing the link upward and out of the way.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link76 Nm (56 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove ball joint cotter pin
   Locate the lower ball joint nut at the steering knuckle. Straighten and remove the cotter pin from the ball joint castle nut. Discard the old cotter pin as a new one will be installed during reassembly.
3. 3

   Loosen ball joint nut
   Loosen the ball joint castle nut but do not remove it completely yet. Leave it threaded on 2-3 turns to protect the ball joint stud threads and prevent sudden separation.
   ⚠Do not fully remove the nut yet to prevent the control arm from dropping suddenly when the ball joint releases.
4. 4

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Position a ball joint separator or pickle fork between the lower control arm and steering knuckle. Strike the separator firmly with a hammer to break the taper fit. Once the ball joint releases from the knuckle, remove the castle nut completely and lower the control arm away from the knuckle.
   ℹ️Using a pickle fork will likely damage the ball joint boot. If reusing the ball joint, use a proper ball joint separator tool.
5. 5

   Support lower control arm
   Position a floor jack under the lower control arm near the ball joint to support its weight. Raise slightly to take tension off the control arm mounting bolts.
6. 6

   Remove lower control arm bolts
   Locate the two control arm mounting bolts at the frame. The front bolt passes through the radius arm bushing, and the rear bolt passes through the rear bushing. Remove both bolts completely. Note the orientation and position of any washers or sleeves.
   ⚠Control arm bolts may be extremely tight. Use a breaker bar or impact wrench for removal.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Remove lower control arm
   Lower the floor jack slowly and guide the control arm down and out from the vehicle. Maneuver it past any brake lines or ABS wiring. Place the control arm on a clean work surface.
8. 8

   Remove old radius arm bushing
   Using a hydraulic press and appropriate bushing removal tools or a specialized bushing removal kit, press out the old radius arm bushing from the front of the control arm. Apply pressure evenly to avoid damaging the control arm bore. Clean the bushing bore thoroughly with a wire brush and inspect for damage or excessive wear.
   ⚠Ensure the press tooling is properly aligned to prevent damage to the control arm.
9. 9

   Install new radius arm bushing
   Apply a light coat of soapy water or bushing lubricant to the outer shell of the new radius arm bushing. Position the new bushing in the control arm bore with correct orientation (check manufacturer markings). Using a hydraulic press and proper installation tools, press the new bushing into place until it is fully seated and flush with the control arm housing. Ensure the bushing is installed square and straight.
10. 10

    Reinstall lower control arm
    Position the control arm back into its mounting location on the frame. Align the radius arm bushing and rear bushing with the frame mounting points. Insert both control arm bolts and thread them by hand. Do not torque at this time as these bolts must be torqued with vehicle weight on the suspension.
11. 11

    Reconnect ball joint to knuckle
    Raise the lower control arm with a floor jack to align the ball joint stud with the hole in the steering knuckle. Insert the ball joint stud through the knuckle. Install the castle nut and torque to specification. Align the castle nut slots with the ball joint stud hole and install a new cotter pin. Bend the cotter pin ends to secure.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut110 Nm (81 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reconnect sway bar link
    Position the sway bar link back into the lower control arm mounting point. Install the nut, hold the shaft with an Allen key, and torque the nut to specification.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link76 Nm (56 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reinstall wheels
    Reinstall the front wheels and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Lower the vehicle until the tires just contact the ground but the suspension is not fully loaded yet.
14. 14

    Torque control arm bolts with vehicle weight
    With the vehicle weight resting on the wheels but still partially supported by the jack, torque both lower control arm bolts to specification. This ensures proper bushing preload. Remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle completely to the ground.
    ℹ️Control arm bolts must be torqued with suspension at normal ride height to prevent premature bushing failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Final torque wheel lug nuts
    With the vehicle fully on the ground, torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern to ensure even seating.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts169 Nm (125 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Apply anti-seize to all bolt threads during reassembly
2. Always install new cotter pins; never reuse old ones
3. Ensure all suspension fasteners are clean and free of debris before installation
4. Double-check that control arm bolts are torqued with vehicle weight on suspension

Verification

• Test drive the vehicle at low speed and verify no unusual noises or vibrations from the front suspension
• Perform a visual inspection of all fasteners to ensure proper installation and torque
• Check for any binding or unusual resistance when turning the steering wheel
• Schedule a professional alignment as suspension work affects wheel alignment specifications

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