Control Arm Bushing - Front Upper

This procedure replaces the front upper control arm bushings on a 1992 Dodge Viper by removing the control arm from the vehicle, pressing out the old bushings, installing new bushings, and reinstalling the control arm.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front upper control arm bushing kit × 1 — Use OEM specification or aftermarket equivalent

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface 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 and support securely on jack stands under frame rails
5. Remove front wheel on side being serviced
6. Spray penetrating oil on control arm fasteners and ball joint stud nut and allow to soak

Procedure

1. 1

   Support Lower Control Arm
   Position floor jack under lower control arm near the ball joint to support the suspension load. Raise jack just enough to take up slight pressure, keeping suspension at normal ride height position. This prevents the suspension from dropping when upper control arm is disconnected.
2. 2

   Disconnect Upper Ball Joint
   Remove the cotter pin from the upper ball joint castle nut. Remove the castle nut from the upper ball joint stud. Use a ball joint separator or pickle fork to separate the ball joint stud from the steering knuckle. Strike the separator firmly to break the taper connection. Once separated, support the knuckle to prevent strain on the brake hose.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Mark Control Arm Position
   Before removing control arm mounting bolts, use a paint marker or scribe to mark the position of the alignment cam bolts (eccentric adjusters) relative to the frame bracket. This will provide a baseline for initial reinstallation alignment. Note the orientation of the cam adjusters at both mounting points.
4. 4

   Remove Front Control Arm Mounting Bolt
   Locate the front control arm mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the frame bracket. Using a breaker bar and socket, remove the bolt completely. Note the orientation of any washers or shims. Support the control arm as the bolt is removed to prevent it from dropping.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts115 Nm (85 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove Rear Control Arm Mounting Bolt
   Remove the rear control arm mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the frame bracket. Again note the position and number of any shims or washers. Once this bolt is removed, carefully lower and remove the upper control arm from the vehicle. Keep all shims and hardware organized for reinstallation.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts115 Nm (85 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Inspect Control Arm and Bushings
   Examine the control arm for cracks, bends, or damage. Inspect the bushing bores for wear, elongation, or cracks. Check the ball joint for excessive play or torn boots. If control arm or ball joint show damage beyond bushing wear, replacement of the entire control arm assembly may be necessary.
7. 7

   Press Out Old Bushings
   Using a hydraulic press and appropriate bushing removal adapters, press the old bushings out of the control arm. Apply pressure slowly and evenly to avoid damaging the control arm. The bushings should press out with steady force. If using a bushing press kit, ensure the receiving cup is large enough to accept the bushing as it exits the bore.
8. 8

   Clean Bushing Bores
   Wire brush the bushing bores in the control arm to remove rust, corrosion, and old bushing material. Inspect the bores for damage. The bore surface should be smooth and free of gouges. If slight corrosion is present, use emery cloth to smooth the surface. Wipe clean with a rag.
9. 9

   Press In New Bushings
   Position new bushings at the control arm bores, ensuring proper orientation per bushing manufacturer instructions. Some bushings have voids or flats that must align with the control arm's axis of rotation. Using the hydraulic press and appropriate installation adapters, press new bushings in evenly until fully seated and flush with the control arm housing. Apply steady, even pressure to avoid cocking the bushing in the bore.
10. 10

    Install Control Arm to Frame
    Position the control arm back into the frame brackets. Install the front and rear mounting bolts with the alignment cam bolts (eccentric adjusters) set to their original positions as marked during removal. Thread bolts by hand initially to ensure proper alignment. Do not fully tighten the bolts at this time—they will be torqued later with vehicle weight on the ground.
11. 11

    Connect Upper Ball Joint to Knuckle
    Position the upper ball joint stud into the steering knuckle. Install the castle nut and tighten to specification. Install a new cotter pin through the castle nut and ball joint stud, bending the pin ends to secure. Ensure the cotter pin is fully seated and will not interfere with suspension travel.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Install Wheel and Lower Vehicle
    Reinstall the front wheel and thread lug nuts by hand. Lower vehicle from jack stands until full vehicle weight rests on the wheels, but keep jack partially supporting vehicle for safety. Tighten wheel lug nuts in a star pattern to specification.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Torque Control Arm Bolts at Ride Height
    With vehicle weight fully on the wheels and suspension at normal ride height, torque both front and rear upper control arm mounting bolts to specification. This is critical—torquing the bushings with suspension hanging or compressed will pre-load the bushings and cause premature failure. Use a torque wrench and tighten each bolt to the specified value.
    ⚠Control arm bolts MUST be torqued at ride height to prevent bushing bind. Failure to do this will result in rapid bushing wear and handling problems.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts115 Nm (85 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Remove Jack and Final Wheel Torque
    Remove floor jack completely from under vehicle. Perform final torque check on wheel lug nuts in a star pattern to ensure proper seating.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reinstall components in reverse order of removal
2. Ensure all alignment shims are returned to their original positions
3. Use new cotter pins for all castellated nuts

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no clunking or abnormal noises from front suspension
• Check that steering returns to center normally and without binding
• Verify wheel lug nuts are torqued to specification after 50-100 miles of driving
• Schedule front end alignment as bushing replacement affects camber and caster settings

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