suspension

Radius Arm

for 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 EcoTec3 L83 · RWD

Editorial review:Chris Hackleman — Master Technician · 20+ years · Jeff Moore — Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years

Difficulty

Moderate

Time

2.6 h

Tools

Steps

✓Expert-verified. Personally reviewed and approved by OLP's master technicians (Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — 20+ years each). Always follow the vehicle's factory service information and torque specs.

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the lower control arm (radius arm) on a 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L V8 engine.

Warnings

⚠️Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Always use jack stands rated for the vehicle weight.

⚠Control arm bushings are under tension. Use caution when removing bolts to prevent sudden movement.

⚠Ball joint taper fit can release suddenly when separated. Keep hands and body clear of potential pinch points.

ℹ️Control arm bolts must be torqued with vehicle weight on the suspension to prevent premature bushing failure.

Tools required

Floor jack and jack standsEssential

Wheel chocksEssential

Torque wrench (50-200 Nm range)Essential

Socket set (10mm-24mm)Essential

Breaker barEssential

Ball joint separator or pickle forkEssential

Pry bar

Wire brush

Penetrating oil

Hammer

New cotter pin punchEssential

Parts

Lower control arm (radius arm) × 1 — Use OEM specification
Cotter pin for ball joint × 1 — Use OEM specification
Anti-seize compound × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
Loosen wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground but do not remove
Raise front of vehicle and support with jack stands under frame rails
Remove wheel and tire assembly completely
Spray all fasteners with penetrating oil and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes

Procedure

1
Disconnect sway bar link
Locate the sway bar link connection to the lower control arm. Hold the link shaft with an Allen key to prevent spinning, then remove the lower sway bar link nut. Disconnect the sway bar link from the control arm and move it aside.
Torque spec
Sway Bar Link76 Nm (56 lb-ft)
2
Remove shock absorber lower mounting
Locate the lower shock absorber mounting bolt that connects to the lower control arm. Remove the bolt and nut. Push the shock absorber up and out of the way to provide clearance for control arm removal.
3
Remove ball joint cotter pin and nut
Locate the lower ball joint stud where it connects to the steering knuckle. Straighten and remove the cotter pin using a punch or pliers. Remove the castle nut from the ball joint stud. Do not reuse the old cotter pin.
Torque spec
Ball Joint Nut110 Nm (81 lb-ft)
4
Separate ball joint from knuckle
Use a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork to break the taper fit between the ball joint stud and steering knuckle. Position the separator between the control arm and knuckle, then strike or tighten according to tool type. The ball joint will release with a pop. Support the knuckle to prevent damage to brake hose or ABS wiring.
⚠Ball joint may release suddenly. Keep hands clear of pinch points between control arm and knuckle.
5
Support lower control arm
Position a floor jack under the outer end of the lower control arm near the ball joint. Raise jack just enough to slightly compress the suspension and relieve tension on the control arm mounting bolts. This prevents the arm from dropping suddenly when bolts are removed.
6
Remove front control arm bolt
Locate the front control arm mounting bolt at the frame bracket. This is typically the smaller of the two frame mounting points. Remove the nut and bolt completely. Note the orientation and any shims or washers for reinstallation.
Torque spec
Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
7
Remove rear control arm bolt
Locate the rear control arm mounting bolt at the frame bracket. Remove the nut and bolt completely. The control arm is now free from the vehicle. Lower the jack slowly and remove the control arm from under the vehicle. Inspect mounting points for damage or excessive wear.
Torque spec
Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
8
Prepare new control arm
Compare new control arm to old unit to verify correct part. Clean mounting bolt holes and frame brackets with wire brush. Apply a thin coat of anti-seize to bolt threads and contact surfaces. Ensure ball joint boot is intact and joint moves freely without excessive play.
9
Install control arm to frame
Position new control arm into frame brackets. Install front and rear mounting bolts finger tight only. Do not torque at this time. Ensure any alignment shims or washers are in their original positions. The control arm should move freely on the bolts.
10
Connect ball joint to knuckle
Use the floor jack to raise the outer end of the control arm to align the ball joint stud with the hole in the steering knuckle. Insert the stud into the knuckle. Install the castle nut and tighten to specification. Align the castle nut slots with the stud hole and install a new cotter pin. Bend cotter pin ends to secure.
Torque spec
Ball Joint Nut110 Nm (81 lb-ft)
11
Reconnect shock absorber
Lower the shock absorber back into position at the lower control arm mounting point. Install the lower shock bolt and nut, then tighten to specification.
12
Reconnect sway bar link
Position the sway bar link into the lower control arm mounting point. Install the nut while holding the link shaft with an Allen key to prevent rotation. Tighten to specification.
Torque spec
Sway Bar Link76 Nm (56 lb-ft)
13
Install wheel and lower vehicle
Install wheel and tire assembly. Thread lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading. Snug lug nuts in a star pattern but do not fully torque yet. Lower vehicle until tires just contact the ground with slight weight on suspension but vehicle still supported by jack stands.
14
Torque control arm bolts with weight on suspension
With vehicle weight now on the suspension, torque the front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification. This is critical - torquing with suspension hanging will cause premature bushing failure. Torque both bolts in this loaded condition.
⚠Control arm bolts must be torqued with vehicle weight on suspension to prevent bushing damage.
Torque spec
Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
15
Final wheel installation
Remove jack stands and lower vehicle completely to ground. Torque wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern to ensure even pressure and proper wheel seating.
Torque spec
Wheel Lug Nuts169 Nm (125 lb-ft)

Reassembly

Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification
Confirm new cotter pin is properly installed and bent
Check that no tools or parts were left in wheel well

Verification

Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no unusual noises from front suspension
Check for proper steering response and straight-line tracking
Inspect for any fluid leaks or loose components after test drive
Schedule a professional alignment as control arm replacement affects camber and caster settings

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