Lateral Arm

Remove and replace the rear lateral arm (lower control arm) on a 1992 Dodge Viper, including disconnection from the knuckle and chassis mounting points.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear lateral arm (lower control arm) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Ball joint nut (if damaged during removal) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Control arm mounting bolts (if corroded) × 2 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on a level, paved surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks in front of both front wheels
3. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is still on the ground
4. Raise rear of vehicle using floor jack at manufacturer-approved lift point
5. Support vehicle securely on jack stands positioned under rear subframe or axle mounting points
6. Remove rear wheel completely and set aside
7. Spray all fasteners to be removed with penetrating oil and allow 10-15 minutes to soak

Procedure

1. 1

   Support the rear knuckle assembly
   Position a floor jack under the rear knuckle or lower suspension arm to support the weight of the suspension components. Raise jack until it just contacts and supports the assembly without lifting the vehicle. This prevents sudden dropping when the lateral arm is disconnected.
2. 2

   Remove the ball joint castle nut
   Locate the connection where the lateral arm attaches to the rear knuckle. Determine the fastener type per the factory service manual (the Viper rear lower arm typically uses a through-bolt/nut rather than a tapered castle-nut ball joint). Remove the securing fastener using the correct socket size, and retain the fastener only if its threads are undamaged. Verify the exact fastener type and size against the FSM before proceeding.
3. 3

   Separate the ball joint from the knuckle
   Verify the arm-to-knuckle connection type against the factory service manual. If it is a bolted through-connection, remove the bolt/nut and slide the arm free. If it is a genuine tapered ball joint, use a ball joint separator or two-jaw puller to break the taper fit. Once disconnected, lower the floor jack slightly to provide clearance for arm removal.
   ⚠Ball joint will separate suddenly once taper breaks. Maintain control of the tool and keep hands clear of pinch points.
4. 4

   Remove the front chassis mounting bolt
   Locate the front mounting bolt that secures the lateral arm to the chassis or subframe. This is typically a through-bolt with a nut on the opposite side. Using wrenches of the correct size to hold the nut and turn the bolt head (verify size against the factory service manual), remove the front mounting bolt completely. Note the orientation of any washers or spacers for reinstallation.
5. 5

   Remove the rear chassis mounting bolt
   Locate the rear mounting bolt that secures the lateral arm to the chassis or subframe. Using wrenches of the correct size to hold the nut and turn the bolt head (verify size against the factory service manual), remove the rear mounting bolt completely. Again note the orientation of any washers or spacers.
6. 6

   Remove the lateral arm from the vehicle
   With both mounting bolts removed and the ball joint disconnected, maneuver the lateral arm out of the mounting brackets and remove it from the vehicle. The arm may require rotating or angling to clear the chassis and suspension components. Inspect the removed arm for damage, cracks, or worn bushings.
7. 7

   Inspect mounting points and clean threads
   Inspect the chassis mounting brackets for damage, cracks, or excessive wear. Check the knuckle ball joint taper bore for damage or elongation. Use a wire brush to clean all bolt threads in the chassis mounting points. Remove any corrosion or debris from the mounting surfaces. Apply anti-seize compound to bolt threads if working in a corrosive environment.
8. 8

   Install the new lateral arm to chassis mounts
   Position the new lateral arm into the chassis mounting brackets. Install the front and rear mounting bolts with any washers or spacers in their original orientation. Thread the bolts and nuts by hand to ensure proper thread engagement. Do NOT torque these bolts yet - they must be tightened with vehicle weight on the wheels. Snug the bolts finger-tight plus approximately 1/4 turn to hold the arm in position.
9. 9

   Connect the ball joint to the knuckle
   Raise the floor jack under the knuckle to align the ball joint stud with the tapered hole in the knuckle. The stud should slide into the taper with hand pressure. If alignment is difficult, use the jack height and a pry bar to position the knuckle. Once the stud is fully seated in the taper, install the castle nut and tighten by hand.
10. 10

    Torque the ball joint castle nut
    Torque the arm-to-knuckle fastener to the factory specification using the correct socket size. If the fastener is a castle nut, tighten only to align the next slot with the cotter pin hole (never loosen to align) and install a new cotter pin, bending the ends to secure. Confirm the fastener type, socket size, and torque value against the FSM before finalizing.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reinstall the wheel and lower the vehicle
    Reinstall the rear wheel, threading all lug nuts by hand first. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern using hand tools only at this stage. Remove the floor jack from under the knuckle. Carefully lower the vehicle from the jack stands until the tire just contacts the ground but the suspension is not yet fully loaded.
12. 12

    Final torque of control arm bolts and wheel lug nuts
    With the vehicle weight now on the wheels and suspension at ride height, torque the front and rear lateral arm mounting bolts to the factory-specified value (verify in the FSM). This ensures the bushings are torqued in their normal operating position, preventing premature wear. Then torque all wheel lug nuts in a star pattern to the factory specification (Viper lug nut torque is approximately 90-100 lb-ft — confirm in the FSM). Fully lower the vehicle and remove jack stands.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts102 Nm (75 lb-ft)

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reassembly is covered in the installation steps above
2. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification with vehicle weight on wheels
3. Verify cotter pin is properly installed and bent on ball joint castle nut

Verification

• Bounce the rear of the vehicle several times and verify no unusual noises from the lateral arm area
• Visually inspect that the ball joint castle nut cotter pin is properly secured
• Test drive the vehicle at low speed and verify normal handling with no clunking or binding
• Have a qualified alignment shop perform a four-wheel alignment after suspension work
• After 50-100 miles, re-check torque on all lateral arm fasteners to ensure they remain tight

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