Lower Control Arm - Front

This procedure covers removal and installation of the front lower control arm on a 1992 Dodge Viper, including disconnection from the ball joint and frame mounting points.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Lower control arm × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Ball joint cotter pin × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Control arm bushings (if applicable) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Loosen front wheel lug nuts 1/2 turn while vehicle is on ground
4. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at manufacturer-recommended lift point
5. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed at frame rails or designated support points
6. Remove front wheel completely

Procedure

1. 1

   Disconnect sway bar link
   Locate the sway bar end link connecting the sway bar to the lower control arm. Remove the nut securing the end link to the control arm. You may need to hold the ball stud with a wrench to prevent spinning while removing the nut. Detach the end link from the control arm. Note: Socket set (SAE/imperial)
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link44 Nm (32 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove ball joint cotter pin
   Locate the lower ball joint where it connects to the steering knuckle. Straighten and remove the cotter pin from the castle nut on the ball joint stud. Discard the old cotter pin as it must be replaced with a new one during reassembly.
3. 3

   Loosen ball joint castle nut
   Loosen but do not fully remove the castle nut on the ball joint stud. Leave the nut threaded on a few turns to protect the threads and prevent the knuckle from dropping suddenly when the taper releases.
4. 4

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Using a ball joint separator or pickle fork, position the tool between the control arm and steering knuckle at the ball joint taper. Strike or apply force according to the tool type to break the tapered fit. Once the taper releases, remove the castle nut completely and separate the ball joint stud from the knuckle.
   ⚠Ball joint separator tools can cause sudden release. Keep hands and body clear of pinch points.
5. 5

   Support lower control arm
   Position a floor jack under the outer end of the lower control arm near the ball joint to support its weight. Raise the jack just enough to take up the weight but not to lift the vehicle further. This prevents the control arm from dropping when the mounting bolts are removed.
6. 6

   Remove control arm front mounting bolt
   Locate the front control arm mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the front crossmember or frame bracket. This bolt typically passes through the front bushing of the control arm. Remove the nut and bolt completely. Note the orientation and any washers or spacers for reinstallation.
7. 7

   Remove control arm rear mounting bolt
   Locate the rear control arm mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the rear crossmember or frame bracket. This bolt passes through the rear bushing of the control arm. Remove the nut and bolt completely. Again note orientation and hardware position.
8. 8

   Remove lower control arm
   With both mounting bolts removed and the ball joint disconnected, carefully lower the floor jack supporting the control arm. Guide the control arm out of the mounting brackets and remove it from the vehicle. Inspect the mounting points and bushings for wear, damage, or corrosion.
9. 9

   Prepare new control arm
   Compare the new control arm to the old unit to verify correct part. If bushings are serviceable separately and require replacement, press or install new bushings into the control arm per manufacturer specifications before installation. Clean mounting bolt holes and brackets with a wire brush if necessary.
10. 10

    Install control arm to frame
    Position the new control arm into the mounting brackets aligning the bushings with the bolt holes. Support the outer end with the floor jack. Insert the front mounting bolt through the bracket and bushing, then thread the nut on loosely. Insert the rear mounting bolt and thread its nut on loosely as well. Do not torque these bolts yet.
11. 11

    Connect ball joint to knuckle
    Raise the floor jack under the control arm to align the ball joint stud with the hole in the steering knuckle. Insert the stud through the knuckle and thread the castle nut onto the ball joint stud. Torque the castle nut to specification, then advance the nut as needed to align the next castellated slot with the hole in the stud for cotter pin installation. Install a new cotter pin and bend the legs to secure.
    ℹ️Never back off castle nut to align cotter pin hole. Only advance nut to next slot if needed.
    Torque spec

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

    Reconnect sway bar link
    Align the sway bar end link with the mounting point on the lower control arm. Install the fastener and torque to specification. Hold the ball stud with a wrench if it spins during tightening.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link44 Nm (32 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reinstall wheel
    Mount the wheel onto the hub and thread all lug nuts on by hand. Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a wrench but do not torque yet. Remove jack stands and carefully lower the vehicle until the tires contact the ground but the suspension is not yet fully loaded.
14. 14

    Torque control arm mounting bolts
    With the vehicle weight now on the wheels and suspension at normal ride height, torque the front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification in that sequence. This ensures the bushings are properly aligned and not preloaded in a twisted position.
    ⚠Torquing control arm bolts with suspension unloaded will cause premature bushing failure. Vehicle weight must be on wheels.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Final torque wheel lug nuts
    Lower the vehicle fully to the ground. Torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern to ensure even seating of the wheel.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reassembly is covered in the procedure steps above
2. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification
3. Verify new cotter pin is properly installed and secured

Verification

• Visually inspect that all fasteners are tight and properly secured
• Verify cotter pin is installed in ball joint castle nut and legs are bent
• Check that sway bar link is properly connected and torqued
• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no unusual noises or handling issues
• Have front end alignment checked and adjusted as control arm replacement affects camber and caster settings

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

Codes that commonly send this job to the bay — tap one for symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps.

Chasing one of these codes and not sure which part is guilty? Ask a master mechanic about YOUR car →

More procedures for this vehicle