Upper Control Arm - Rear

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

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear upper control arm × 1 — Use OEM or equivalent
• Cotter pin × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake
2. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
3. Raise rear of vehicle and support with jack stands under the frame rails
4. Remove rear wheel completely
5. Spray all fasteners with penetrating oil and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes

Procedure

1. 1

   Support the rear axle
   Position a floor jack under the rear axle housing near the control arm mounting point. Raise just enough to support the axle weight and relieve tension on the control arm. The axle should remain in its normal ride height position.
2. 2

   Remove ball joint cotter pin
   Locate the upper control arm ball joint at the axle housing. Straighten and remove the cotter pin from the ball joint castle nut using a punch and hammer. Discard the old cotter pin.
3. 3

   Remove ball joint nut
   Using an 18mm socket, remove the ball joint castle nut from the upper control arm ball joint stud. Keep the nut for reference but a new nut may be included with the replacement control arm.
4. 4

   Separate ball joint from axle
   Using a ball joint separator or pickle fork, separate the upper control arm ball joint from the axle housing. Position the separator between the control arm and axle housing, then strike or tighten to pop the taper loose. Avoid damaging the ball joint boot if reusing the control arm.
   ⚠Ball joint separator may release suddenly. Keep hands clear of pinch points.
5. 5

   Remove front control arm bolt
   Locate the front mounting bolt securing the upper control arm to the frame bracket. Using a 21mm socket and wrench, remove the bolt and nut. Note the orientation of the bolt for reinstallation. The bolt may be tight due to bushing friction.
6. 6

   Remove rear control arm bolt
   Using a 21mm socket and wrench, remove the rear mounting bolt and nut securing the upper control arm to the frame bracket. Note the orientation and any washers or spacers present.
7. 7

   Remove upper control arm
   With both mounting bolts removed and ball joint separated, remove the upper control arm from the vehicle. You may need to pry or manipulate the arm to clear the frame brackets and axle housing.
8. 8

   Prepare new control arm
   Compare the new upper control arm to the old one to verify correct part. Clean the mounting areas on the frame brackets and axle housing with a wire brush. Inspect ball joint stud threads and mounting bolt holes for damage.
9. 9

   Install new control arm
   Position the new upper control arm into the frame brackets. Insert the front and rear mounting bolts in the same orientation as removed. Thread nuts onto bolts but do NOT torque at this time - leave them finger tight plus 1-2 turns.
10. 10

    Connect ball joint to axle
    Align the ball joint stud with the hole in the axle housing. You may need to use the floor jack to raise or lower the axle slightly to align the holes. Push the stud through the axle housing until fully seated.
11. 11

    Install and torque ball joint nut
    Thread the ball joint castle nut onto the stud by hand, then tighten to specification using an 18mm socket. Align the castle nut slots with the hole in the stud. If slots don't align, tighten further (do not loosen) until alignment is achieved. Install a new cotter pin and bend the ends to secure.
    Torque spec

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

    Lower vehicle for final torque
    Remove the jack stands and carefully lower the vehicle until the full weight is on the wheels, but keep the floor jack positioned for safety. The suspension must be at normal ride height with vehicle weight on the wheels before torquing control arm bolts.
    ⚠Control arm bushings must be torqued at ride height to prevent premature wear and binding.
13. 13

    Torque control arm bolts
    With vehicle weight on wheels, torque both the front and rear upper control arm mounting bolts to specification using a 21mm socket and torque wrench. Torque the nuts, not the bolt heads.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Reinstall wheel
    Raise vehicle slightly, remove floor jack from under axle, and reinstall the rear wheel. Thread lug nuts by hand, then lower vehicle completely. Torque lug nuts to specification in a star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts169 Nm (125 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Double-check that all fasteners are torqued to specification
2. Verify cotter pin is properly installed and bent in ball joint nut
3. Confirm no tools or parts were left in the wheel well area

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no unusual noises from rear suspension
• Check for any clunking or looseness over bumps
• Schedule a four-wheel alignment as soon as possible - camber and toe angles will have changed
• After 50-100 miles, re-check all fastener torques to ensure nothing has loosened

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

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