This procedure covers removal and replacement of the front upper control arm bushings on a 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L V8 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front upper control arm bushings (left and right) × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Upper ball joint cotter pin × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
3. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at manufacturer recommended lift points
4. Support vehicle securely on jack stands under frame rails
5. Remove front wheel on side being serviced
6. Spray control arm bolts and ball joint nut with penetrating oil if corroded

Procedure

1. 1

   Support lower control arm
   Position floor jack under lower control arm near the lower ball joint to support suspension weight. Raise jack until it just contacts the arm but does not lift the vehicle further. This maintains suspension geometry during disassembly.
2. 2

   Remove upper ball joint cotter pin and nut
   Remove and discard the cotter pin from the upper ball joint castle nut. Using appropriate socket, remove the upper ball joint nut completely. Note: Do not reuse the cotter pin.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut110 Nm (81 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Separate upper ball joint from knuckle
   Install ball joint separator tool between upper control arm and steering knuckle. Tighten tool to apply pressure, then strike knuckle boss area sharply with hammer to break taper free. Remove separator tool once ball joint stud releases from knuckle.
   ⚠Ball joint may release suddenly. Maintain control of steering knuckle and keep hands clear.
4. 4

   Mark control arm orientation
   Before removing control arm, mark the orientation of the control arm to the frame mounting brackets. This ensures proper alignment during installation and maintains caster/camber settings.
5. 5

   Remove front control arm bolt
   Remove the front control arm mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the frame bracket. Support the control arm as the bolt is removed to prevent it from dropping.
6. 6

   Remove rear control arm bolt
   Remove the rear control arm mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the frame bracket. Once removed, carefully lower and remove the upper control arm from the vehicle.
7. 7

   Press out old bushings
   Secure control arm in a vise or press fixture. Using the control arm bushing press kit, select the appropriate receiver cup and driver. Press the old bushings out of the control arm sleeves, working from one side to the other. Clean the bushing bores thoroughly with wire brush to remove rust and debris.
8. 8

   Install new bushings
   Position new bushings at control arm mounting holes, ensuring proper orientation (note any offset or directional markings). Using bushing press kit with appropriate driver and receiver, press new bushings into control arm sleeves until fully seated and flush with control arm surface. Verify bushings are centered and seated evenly on both sides.
9. 9

   Install control arm to frame
   Position upper control arm back into frame mounting brackets, aligning with orientation marks made during removal. Insert front and rear control arm bolts hand-tight only. Do not torque at this time - bolts must be torqued with vehicle weight on wheels.
   ℹ️Control arm bolts are installed hand-tight only at this stage. Final torque occurs after vehicle is lowered.
10. 10

    Connect upper ball joint to knuckle
    Guide steering knuckle up and align with upper ball joint stud. Install new castle nut onto ball joint stud and tighten to specification. Install new cotter pin through castle nut and ball joint stud, then bend pin ends to secure.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut110 Nm (81 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Remove floor jack from lower control arm
    Carefully lower and remove the floor jack from under the lower control arm. Verify all components are properly connected before proceeding.
12. 12

    Install wheel and lower vehicle
    Install wheel onto hub and hand-tighten lug nuts in star pattern. Lower vehicle from jack stands until wheels just touch ground but majority of weight still supported. Torque lug nuts to specification in star pattern. Fully lower vehicle so all weight is on wheels.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts169 Nm (125 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Torque control arm bolts with vehicle loaded
    With vehicle weight fully on wheels, torque both front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification. This must be done with suspension at normal ride height to prevent bushing bind and premature wear.
    ⚠Control arm bolts must be torqued at normal ride height. Torquing at full droop or full compression will cause bushing failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. If replacing bushings on both sides, repeat entire procedure for opposite side
2. Verify all fasteners are properly torqued per specifications
3. Check that cotter pin is properly installed and secured on ball joint

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 upper control arm area for any loose components or interference
• Schedule front end alignment immediately after this repair to ensure proper camber and caster settings

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